Abstract: A snowmobile includes a frame with a tunnel, a fuel tank disposed thereon and an engine connected thereto. A throttle body fluidly communicates with the engine. A throttle valve is disposed in the throttle body for regulating fluid flow through the throttle body into the engine, a position of the throttle valve being movable between an open position and a closed position. A throttle operator connected to the frame to control the position of throttle valve is moveable between an idle position and a drive position. A throttle valve actuator operatively connected to the throttle valve and the throttle operator controls a position of the throttle valve based at least in part on the throttle operator position, the throttle valve actuator being an electric throttle valve actuator and disposed longitudinally between the fuel tank and the engine. Vehicles and methods of operating the vehicles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame and left and right suspension assemblies connected to the frame. Each suspension assembly has a suspension support connected to the frame; a lower control arm having an inner end pivotally connected to the suspension support at two longitudinally spaced positions; an upper control arm having an inner end pivotally connected 5 to the suspension support at two longitudinally spaces positions; a knuckle pivotally connected to outer ends of the lower and outer control arms; and a shock absorber having an upper end pivotally connected to the suspension support and a lower end pivotally connected to one of the lower and upper control arms. A sway bar has ends connected to two of the control arms and is pivotally connected to the suspension supports. Wheels are rotationally 10 connected to the knuckles.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

Abstract: Snowmobile having a suspension assembly comprising an upper A-arm, a lower A-arm, and a ski leg. The ski leg is pivotably connected to the upper A-arm via an upper A-arm connector and to the lower A-arm via a lower A-arm connector and is pivotable about a kingpin axis. A ski is connected to the ski leg via a ski connector. The upper A-arm connector, the lower A-arm connector and the ski connector are positioned one with respect to the others such that the kingpin axis is behind the ski connector at a level of the ski connector when the ski is viewed from the side.

Abstract: An anchor for removably attaching an accessory to a frame member having an outer surface and a slot defined in the outer surface. The anchor comprises a body that has a surface that is generally complementary in shape to a portion of the outer surface of the frame member that surrounds the slot, a shank that from the surface, the shank being sized to be received in the slot and defining an aperture extending from a free end of the shank toward the surface. The aperture is adapted to receive a fastener. The anchor also includes at least one projection extending from a side of the shank. A vehicle having the frame member and the anchor is provided. A method of attaching a component to a frame member using the anchor is provided.

Abstract: A helmet has a helmet shell and a visor pivotally connected to the helmet shell. The helmet further has an electrical device attached to the visor. First and second helmet electrical contacts are attached at both sides of the helmet and are adapted for electrically connecting to an electrical power source. First and second visor electrical contacts are attached to each side of the visor and are electrically connected to the electrical device. The first and second visor electrical contacts are pivotally connected to the helmet shell about first and second pivot axes passing through the first and second helmet electrical contacts respectively. The first and second visor electrical contacts are in contact with the first and second helmet electrical contacts respectively, at all positions of the pivoting visor.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly has a front portion, a middle portion rearward of the front portion, a rear portion rearward of the middle portion, a top part and a bottom part disposed below the top part. At least one of the front and rear portions is curved from the middle portion. The at least one of the front and rear portions extends below the middle portion. The bottom part is joined to the top part. At least one of the top and bottom parts defines a recess. The top and bottom parts define therebetween a passage formed in part by the recess. A width of the passage varies along a length of the heat exchanger assembly. The passage has an inlet and an outlet. A snowmobile with a heat exchanger assembly and a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a seat connected to the frame, a member connected to the frame, a storage container receiving surface connected to the frame, a protrusion protruding from the storage container receiving surface, and a storage container selectively disposed on the storage container receiving surface. The storage container has a storage container body having a bottom surface and a clip. The bottom surface defines a recess. The protrusion is selectively received in the recess. The clip is connected to the storage container body. The member is selectively received in the clip. The storage container is selectively removable from the vehicle.

Abstract: A side-by-side off-road vehicle has a frame defining at least in part a cockpit area, and a power pack area being disposed rearward of the cockpit area. The vehicle has driver and passenger seats connected to the frame and disposed in the cockpit area on first and second sides of a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The vehicle further has a power pack connected to the frame and disposed at least in part in the power pack area. A partition is connected to the frame and extends laterally across the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The partition separates the cockpit area from the power pack area. The power pack includes an internal combustion engine and a fuel vapor containment system operatively connected to the engine. The fuel vapor containment system includes a fuel evaporation canister, and the canister is supported at least in part by the partition.

Abstract: A stackable container assembly is disclosed, the assembly having a base container having a container body having a top surface and a bottom surface, an attachment base adapted for connecting the base container to a vehicle, and a fixture assembly attached to the top surface; and an accessory container having an accessory body having an accessory bottom surface, and an accessory base on the accessory bottom surface selectively connecting the accessory container to the fixture assembly of the base container such that the accessory container is stacked on top of the base container. A container and a vehicle provided with the stackable container assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A snowmobile has a frame, a front and a rear suspension assembly connected thereto, at least one ski, an endless drive track, and a motor. The frame includes a longitudinally extending tunnel, the rear suspension assembly being connected thereto. The tunnel includes a top wall extending generally horizontally and comprising a left edge and a right edge. A planar left bevel wall extends downwardly and leftwardly from the left edge. A left side wall extends downwardly from the left bevel wall. A planar right bevel wall extends downwardly and rightwardly from the right edge. A right side wall extends downwardly from the right bevel wall. An upper rear support includes a left leg and a right leg, each having a lower end connected to the corresponding one of the left bevel wall and the right bevel wall and extending forwardly, upwardly and laterally inwardly therefrom to an upper end.

Abstract: A rear suspension assembly for a snowmobile has a front suspension arm, a rear suspension arm, a pair of slide rails, at least one shock absorber, and at least one suspension coupler. The at least one suspension coupler couples the rear suspension arm with the front suspension arm. The at least one suspension coupler generates a coupling force to continuously couple the front and rear suspension arms with each other during a full range of movement between the fully extended position and the fully compressed position. A snowmobile having the rear suspension assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sleeve for a vehicle accessory connector for mounting a vehicle accessory to a tubular frame of a vehicle which comprises a tubular body having a first open end, a second open end and a body thickness, the body thickness being circumferentially eccentric, the tubular body comprising two connectable portions; and an open ended slot defined in the tubular body, the open ended slot extending from the first open end towards the second open end and being spaced from the second open end.

Abstract: A storage assembly for a vehicle has an outer compartment defined by an outer peripheral wall, an outer compartment lid operatively connected to the outer peripheral wall and moveable between an open position providing access to an interior of the outer compartment and a closed position blocking access to the interior of the outer compartment; and an inner compartment integrally formed within the outer compartment, the inner compartment being defined by an inner peripheral wall. The inner compartment comprises an inner compartment lid operatively connected to the inner peripheral wall and being moveable between an open position providing access to an interior of the inner compartment and a closed position blocking access to the interior of the inner compartment, and a sealing assembly for sealing the interior of the inner compartment when the inner compartment lid is in the closed position. A vehicle including the storage assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a passenger presence sensor mounted thereto, and a seat assembly removably connected to. The seat assembly includes a driver seat disposed on the frame and a passenger seat disposed on the frame rearward of the 5 driver seat, at least the passenger seat being selectively disposed on the frame. A rigid passenger presence responsive member (PPRM) is retained in the passenger seat and movable with respect to the frame between at least a first position and a second position responsive to a weight of a passenger seated on the passenger seat. The PPRM is coupled to the passenger presence sensor in at least one of the first and 10 second positions, the passenger presence sensor is thereby configured to detect a presence of the passenger. Removable passenger seats for a vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, at least one ground engaging member, an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger fluidly connected to an air intake port of the engine, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT has a CVT housing defining at least one CVT inlet for fluidly communicating an interior of the CVT housing with an atmosphere, a primary pulley housed in the CVT housing and operatively connected to the engine, a secondary pulley housed in the CVT housing and operatively connected to at least one of the at least one ground engaging member, a belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys, and a CVT outlet conduit having an outlet portion. The outlet portion is oriented to generate a cooling air flow cooling at least one of: at least a portion of the turbocharger; and at least a portion of a component of the vehicle.