Abstract: A motor vehicle independent rear-wheel suspension system including a left-hand and a right-hand transverse link, each articulated at an inner end on a chassis of the motor vehicle and fixedly connected at an outer end to a wheel carrier. The suspension system having a left-hand and a right-hand trailing arm unit. Each trailing arm unit articulated a front end on the chassis of the motor vehicle and at a rear end on a wheel carrier. Open installation space is formed between the trailing arm units and the transverse links for at least a partial accommodation of an electrical drive train.

Abstract: A roof-rack for a vehicle and method of operation where the siderails and the crossbars are both automatically movable via a control circuit to clear snow from a vehicle roof.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of exhaust openings. The seat belt system also has an air porous compressible material disposed within the passageway. The seat belt buckle has an air delivery device that supplies air to the seat belt, wherein the air porous compressible material allows air to flow through the passageway when compressed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for lead vehicle monitoring for adaptive cruise control. An example vehicle includes a communication module for V2V communication, a camera, a sensor, and an adaptive cruise control unit. The adaptive cruise control unit is to determine an acceleration oscillation value of a lead vehicle based upon measurements collected via at least one of the camera and the sensor and send, via the communication module, an instruction to the lead vehicle to activate cruise control responsive to determining the acceleration oscillation value exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: The disclosed inventive concept provides an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine that demonstrates reduced NVH. The disclosed inventive concept provides an intake manifold having intersecting ribs that extend along both the plenum and the intake runners. Impressions or recessed areas are selectively disposed at critical locations between certain ones of the intersecting ribs. Flat areas are formed between each impression and the adjacent ribs. The shapes of the impressions may be polygonal, round or oval or mixture thereof. The thickness of the intake manifold wall may be constant or variable. The location, shape and depth of each of the impressions are selected to thereby optimize both NVH and flow performances. These impressions provide additional localized stiffness that improves high frequency noise without increasing wall thickness, weight, design complexity, or overall cost of tooling, material or manufacture.

Abstract: Roof header modules in a vehicle comprises a base configured to interface with a windshield, a headliner and an A-pillar. The plurality of components is attached to the base through a plurality mounts designed to receive the plurality of the components. The plurality of components may include one of a sun visor, a vanity mirror, an overhead console, rear view mirror or monitor, a rain sensor, a camera, and/or a radar and may be attached by mounts. The roof header module is a preassembled single piece.

Abstract: A vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly or crash sensor assembly includes a body, wherein a first portion of the body comprises a polymer composite material and a sensor mount portion of the body is connected to the first portion; and a sensor directly attached to the sensor mount portion. The sensor mount portion comprises a polymer composite material and a flexible reinforcement material over-molded within the polymer composite material. A method for enabling tunable deceleration characteristics in a vehicle structural or semi-structural component assembly includes forming a structural or semi-structural component for a vehicle from a polymer composite material; over-molding a flexible reinforcement material within the polymer composite material at one or more locations along the component; and attaching a sensor directly to at least one of the one or more locations.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery cell, a thermal interface material adjacent the battery cell and a heater element integrated with the thermal interface material.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a grouping of battery cells and an array plate assembly contacting at least one cell of the grouping of battery cells. The array plate assembly including a spring plate adapted to exert a compressive spring force against the at least one cell. The compressive spring force may be based on a dimensional profile of the grouping of battery cells.

Abstract: A vehicle having a controller is provided. The controller may be configured to, responsive to identification of a braking event predicted to occur in the future, hydraulically charge an accumulator, and responsive to a pressure of the accumulator exceeding a first threshold, cease charging the accumulator, and satisfy transmission line pressure demand with pressure from the accumulator to begin depleting the accumulator to a before initiation of the braking event.

Abstract: An electrode for a fuel cell includes a catalyst layer adjacent to a gas diffusion layer and a proton exchange membrane, and ionomer-free active metal-loaded carbon nanostructures and active metal-free ionomer-coated carbon nanostructures arranged to define pores therebetween to facilitate transport of reactant gases and product water in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A first fuel economy value of a vehicle is determined upon extension of a running board. The running board is determined to be operational when the first fuel economy value is below an estimated vehicle fuel economy value by at least a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A lower seating structure comprises an upper support layer, an intermediate resilient layer, a molded bottom seat panel, a seat frame assembly, and a tension member. The molded bottom seat panel extends across a width of the lower seating structure and the tension member is fixedly attached to each of a pair of opposed sides of the molded bottom seat panel and extends across the width of the lower seating structure.

Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment assembly includes a housing and a pivoting door. A floating storage bin is pivotally connected to each of the housing and the pivoting door whereby on translation of the door to an open configuration the storage bin deploys forwardly from an interior of the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides an ethylene-based polymer formed from reacting at least the following: ethylene and at least one asymmetrical polyene, comprising an “alpha, beta unsaturated end” and a “C—C double bond end,” and wherein the reaction takes place in the presence of at least one free-radical initiator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for an engine wherein one group of cylinders is active and a second group of cylinders is switchable, such that under low loads the second group of cylinders is deactivated, and under high loads the second group of cylinders is activated. Following deactivation of the second group of cylinders a throttling element in an intake line for the second group of cylinders is gradually closed. The closing of the throttling element may reduce pumping losses and thus increase engine efficiency.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a shift by wire (SBW) module that allows for electronic shifting between various gears, such as park, neutral, drive, etc. The SBW module includes one or more buttons that enable the shifting between the various gears. When the park gear is selected, a light source illuminates a symbol or a portion of the button associated with placing the vehicle into park. A controller is programmed to darken or dim the light source in response to an operator pressing one of the buttons while the vehicle is in the park gear. For example, when the vehicle is already in park, another depression of the park button can darken or dim the light source associated with the park button.

Abstract: A driver coaching system may have an input device generating an input signal indicative of a road condition. The system may also include an advisory device determining an output conveyed to a driver and indicative of a fuel efficiency rating based on an actual vehicle speed and an optimum fuel efficient speed. The advisory device may not decrease the fuel efficiency rating when the road condition does not warrant the optimum fuel efficient speed.