Abstract: A body of a vehicle equipped with a high-voltage battery is disclosed. The vehicle body includes a rear cross member mounted below the rear side of the front seat so as to be oriented in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, a front cross member mounted in front of the rear cross member so as to be oriented in the lateral direction of the vehicle body, a high-voltage battery mounted between the front cross member and the rear cross member, and a plurality of longitudinal support members mounted to support the bottom of the high-voltage battery and to connect the front cross member and the rear cross member to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a bumper reinforcement attached to a front end of a side frame in a vehicle front part; and a load transmission member attached at a position offset upward from the center of a side end portion of the bumper reinforcement. The load transmission member is joined to a front face of the side end portion such that a front end portion projects forward in the vehicle front-rear direction from the front face of the side end portion. A plate is provided at a position offset downward from the center of the side end portion in the up-down direction, the position being a position where the plate overlaps the front end portion when the plate is viewed from above in the vehicle up-down direction. The plate projects forward in the vehicle front-rear direction to the same extent as the front end portion.

Abstract: The proposed connection device includes attachment portions that are separated from each other such that the one of the crash absorbing member and the vehicle body component is insertable between the attachment portions. This allows for a transverse slidable motion of the one of the crash absorbing member and the vehicle body component with respect to the main body. Thus, the crash absorbing member or the vehicle body component, whichever is going to be attached to the attachment portions, is slidable in transverse direction, i.e. substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of e.g. the crash absorbing member.

Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure of an electric vehicle that can ensure desired resistance to rear-end collision even if a tunnel of a front floor panel is eliminated. The lower vehicle-body structure of the electric vehicle includes a pair of left and right side sills; a substantially flat front floor panel; a first floor cross member and a second floor cross member connecting the left and right side sills in a vehicle-width direction. The lower vehicle-body structure further includes a kick-up portion raised from a rear end of the front floor panel toward a vehicle upper side; a rear floor panel connected to a vehicle rear side of the kick-up portion; and a kick-up reinforcing element connecting a substantial middle of the kick-up portion in the vehicle-width direction and the front floor panel in front of the substantial middle of the kick-up portion.

Abstract: A streamlined tailfin pivotably attached to a shaft-shaped member disposed on a vehicle provides for reduced drag in winds varying in direction impinging thereon.

Abstract: A bodywork structure for a passenger vehicle includes a bodywork shell construction with two longitudinal girders and a flexible crossmember device attached to the two longitudinal girders. The flexible crossmember device has a first flexible crossmember and two energy absorption elements where the two energy absorption elements are respectively fixed to the two longitudinal girders and the first flexible crossmember is connected to the two longitudinal girders via the two energy absorption elements. A support framework is disposed between the two longitudinal girders and has a second flexible crossmember that is at least indirectly connected to the two longitudinal girders and is convexly curved in a direction of the first flexible crossmember. The support framework has a load divider disposed between the first flexible crossmember and the second flexible crossmember in the longitudinal direction of the passenger vehicle and extending in the transverse direction of the passenger vehicle.

Abstract: A tonneau system for use with a cargo box of a pickup truck. The tonneau system includes a pair of side rails for mounting to the sidewalls of the cargo box and a tonneau cover having at least two tonneau sections and being moveable relative to one another between an unfolded state and a folded state. In the unfolded state the tonneau sections substantially covering the cargo box and in the folded state the tonneau sections being arranged in a stack. The stack of tonneau sections is pivotally connected to the side rails by a pivot connection that is moveable between secure and release positions. In the secure position, the stack being retainingly engaged with the side rails and, in the release position, the stack being removably engaged with the side rails whereby the stack is removable from the cargo box while the side rails remain mounted therewith.

Abstract: A multi-linkage vehicle door hinge and door hinge system for use in passenger vehicle entry/exit doors. The door hinge includes a first four bar linkage connected to a second four bar linkage. The door hinge operates to move a vehicle door panel between a closed position and an open position along a path of travel in a movement envelope that is parallel to the exterior surface of the vehicle. In one aspect, the door hinge provides twice as much lift as is required to package the door hinge in the vehicle. In another aspect, the door panel further rotates toward the vehicle centerline for applications having low vertical clearance. In another aspect, the door hinge includes a six-bar linkage.

Abstract: A vehicle body lower part structure includes: a floor panel; and a vehicle body frame member including a frame body, an inner side wall, a joint flange projecting inward in a vehicle width direction from an inner surface of the inner side wall in the vehicle width direction, and having a joining surface on which an end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction is stacked and to which the end of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction is joined, and a recess provided to the frame body, recessed outward in the vehicle width direction from the inner surface of the inner side wall in the vehicle width direction, and having a surface that is continuous and flush with the joining surface of the joint flange.

Abstract: A vehicle floor configured to direct water flow comprising a floor portion that extends front-to-back and side-to-side in the vehicle including a surface that faces the vehicle occupant. The floor portion surface includes one or a plurality of raised rib portions and one or a plurality of web regions in-between said raised rib portions, wherein the one or plurality of web regions provides a downwardly sloping floor surface that is configured to direct water to one or a plurality of desired locations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crash box (3) comprising two generally U-shaped members (11, 12) having legs (11a, 12a) and provided at respective leg with at least two adjacent trigger means (13) and an intermediate portion (14) formed between said trigger means (13). The U-shaped members (11, 12) is welded together at areas along a trim edge (15) except for the trim edge (15) formed between respective legs of respective trigger means (13) so as to form a crash box (3) having aligned trigger means (13) and intermediate portion (14). The trigger means (13) are arranged normal to crash box (3), and the intermediate portion (14) of respective leg (11a, 12a) is welded together at the trim edge (15) thereof by a weld bead (20) having a length (L) which is longer that the shortest length (1) between two adjacent trigger means (13). The invention also relates to a method for producing such a crash box.

Abstract: An active air curtain apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a duct that is formed with a suction port, a discharge port, and an air flow path from the section port to the discharge port and that is mounted to the inner surface of a bumper of the vehicle. A flap having a plate shape is operated by being supported and guided by the duct and is configured to open and close the discharge port.

Abstract: A lower body structure includes a floor panel forming a floor surface of a vehicle interior, a floor cross member extending in a vehicle width direction above the floor panel, a console support bracket supporting a console at the center of the floor panel and mounted to the floor cross member, and a shift lever support bracket having an upper part supporting the shift lever and a lower part fixed to the console support bracket in front and rear portions. A mount point at which the shift lever is mounted to the shift lever support bracket is offset forward with respect to front and rear side fixing parts in which the shift lever support bracket is fixed to the console support bracket in the front and rear portions, and the front side fixing part of the console support bracket has a rigidity higher than the rear side fixing part.

Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure of a vehicle includes a first cross member disposed on an intermediate portion of a front floor panel in a vehicle front-rear direction as a bridge in a vehicle width direction; a second cross member disposed in a kick-up portion between the front floor panel and a rear floor panel as a bridge in the vehicle width direction at a position in which at least a center portion in the vehicle width direction is higher than the first cross member; and a battery unit disposed below at least the front floor panel to a rear end position of the front floor panel. A high-strength portion for the front floor panel is formed on a rear end of the front floor panel on a lower end portion of the kick-up portion, and is coupled to both of a pair of left and right side sills.

Abstract: A lower vehicle-body structure of an electric vehicle includes a bending facilitating portion located outward of a bent portion of a kick-up and bends as a breakage starter in a lateral collision, earlier than the bent portion, to reduce the amount of projection from the bending facilitating portion toward an outer side and reduce the likelihood of interference with a battery. Each of left and right side portions in a vehicle width direction of a kick-up is bent downward from a position inward of a rear side frame toward a side sill and connected to the side sill. A bending facilitating portion that facilitates bending under a lateral-collision load is formed outward of a bent portion of the kick-up and an outer side portion of the battery, and either inward of an inner end of the rear side frame or at substantially the same position as the inner end.

Abstract: Provided is an energy absorption member including a plate shaped rear wall portion which extends in a vehicle width direction; and an extension wall portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and extends forward from an intermediate part in a height direction of the rear wall portion; wherein the rear wall portion takes on an arch shape that projects forward in a plan view, and the extension wall portion is inclined downward or upward from its rear end part toward its front end part.

Abstract: A side-by-side off-road vehicle has a cockpit, a storage compartment disposed rearward of the cockpit, a motor compartment disposed rearward of the storage compartment, a frame, four ground engaging members, a motor, and a pivotable cargo bed. In a lowered position, the cargo bed extends over at least a portion of the motor and storage compartments. At least one first partition defines at least in part a front of at least a portion of the storage compartment. At least one second partition defines at least in part a rear of at least a portion of the storage compartment. A floor defines at least in part a bottom of the storage compartment. The storage compartment has left and right access apertures defined in left and right sides of the vehicle. A method of assembling a vehicle of a family of vehicles is also contemplated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle rear body structure in which a meeting section is constructed at an upper corner of a rear gate opening that is opened rearward in a body rear portion, and in the meeting section, a roof side rail that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction in a body side portion and a rear header that extends in a vehicle width direction in the body rear portion meet. The vehicle rear body structure that improves rigidity of the body rear portion while suppressing relative displacement between the rear header and the roof side rail.

Abstract: An impact energy absorbing system for a vehicle includes a first impact energy absorbing structure to absorb energy from an impact with an external object, and a second energy absorbing structure to absorb energy from an impact with an internal displaceable object internal. The second energy absorbing structure may be disposed between the displaceable object and a protected object internal to the vehicle. The second impact energy absorbing structure may be disposed within the vehicle and configured to protect the protected object from impact by the displaceable object being displaced toward the protected object during a collision. Additionally, the second impact energy absorbing structure may cause the displaceable object to avoid impacting and/or damaging the protected object.

Abstract: An impact protection reinforcement of a vehicle construction, which is supportively fastenable in the vehicle construction against the action of external mechanical extraordinary load conditions and comprises the following features: an elongated profile element with a longitudinal center line and a transversal center line arranged transversely to the longitudinal center line, which has in the longitudinal direction at each end side a fastening end and a central part therebetween, wherein the central part consists of a circumferentially closed hollow profile with a base layer and a top layer arranged opposite to the base layer, which are connected to each other via lateral faces, and the fastening ends each have a flat shape with at least two fastening points which are spaced apart differently from the transversal center line and the longitudinal center line and are provided as welding connection points to the vehicle construction.