Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to reduce the overall weight of a rear differential cooling system of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a body panel system. That body panel system includes (a) a rear diffuser, having a front air inlet, (b) an underbody panel, overlying the rear diffuser as well as (c and d) first and second air tunnels formed between the rear diffuser and the underbody panel, and (e) a rear valance, including first and second vent openings for discharging air received from the first air tunnel. A heat exchanger is provided between the air tunnels and the vent openings. A related method for improving weight distribution and reducing overall weight of a rear differential cooling system is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing torque arbitration for a hybrid powertrain. In one example, a method may include operating the hybrid powertrain over a predetermined route with a torque arbitration, and updating the torque arbitration based on a vehicle mass.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ride height sensing system that includes an encoded electromagnetic source as an input unit for a Hall Effect sensors and the signal from the electromagnet is encoded to enable the rejection of ambient magnetic field. In various embodiments, the ride height sensing system includes a self-calibration system including at least one Hall effect sensor mounted at a fixed distance and orientation with respect to the electromagnetic source to provide for continuous calibration of the system. In one embodiment, the enhanced ride height sensing system includes at least two inertial measurement units, such as accelerometers mounted to each of the body frame of the vehicle and the axle frame of the vehicle. This enables the system to optimize power usage by more accurately and efficiently measuring the ride height at high frequency rates with relatively lower power consumption.

Abstract: A body panel system is provided for a motor vehicle. That body panel system includes a rear diffuser having a front air inlet. Further, that body panel system includes an underbody panel overlying the rear diffuser as well as a first air tunnel formed between the rear diffuser and the underbody panel. Additionally, that body panel system includes a rear valance, including a first vent opening for discharging air received from the first air tunnel. A related method for improving weight distribution and reducing overall weight of a rear differential cooling system is also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ride height sensing system that includes an encoded electromagnetic source as an input unit for a Hall Effect sensors and the signal from the electromagnet is encoded to enable the rejection of ambient magnetic field. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a band pass filter is used for signal processing of the encoded electromagnetic data. Additionally, several Hall Effect sensors may be used with a single electromagnetic source to provide multi-axis sensing and as such, provides robustness in determining ride height changes, or in the case of dependent suspensions (solid axle), a single electromagnetic source can used to determine ride height at multiple locations on the axle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ride height sensing system that includes an encoded electromagnetic source as an input unit for a Hall Effect sensors and the signal from the electromagnet is encoded to enable the rejection of ambient magnetic field. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a band pass filter is used for signal processing of the encoded electromagnetic data. Additionally, several Hall Effect sensors may be used with a single electromagnetic source to provide multi-axis sensing and as such, provides robustness in determining ride height changes, or in the case of dependent suspensions (solid axle), a single electromagnetic source can used to determine ride height at multiple locations on the axle.

Abstract: A body panel system is provided for a motor vehicle. That body panel system includes a rear diffuser having a front air inlet. Further, that body panel system includes an underbody panel overlying the rear diffuser as well as a first air tunnel formed between the rear diffuser and the underbody panel. Additionally, that body panel system includes a rear valance, including a first vent opening for discharging air received from the first air tunnel. A related method for improving weight distribution and reducing overall weight of a rear differential cooling system is also provided.