Abstract: An articulating slanted back soft top assembly for 4-door and 2-door SUVs. A fabric cover is supported by a frame that is at least partially articulatable from at least a closed position to at least one open air position. The frame includes at least one forward fabric support bow member and at least one rearward fabric support bow member. The rear fabric support bow member being positioned when in the closed position in a manner which allows the fabric to clear a sport bar or “roll bar” member of a vehicle in the closed position such that a rear portion of the top is angled from the vertical when viewing the vehicle from the side.

Abstract: A hinge assembly can removably mount a tailgate to a vehicle. The hinge assembly includes a first bracket attached to a first part. The hinge assembly further includes an engagement member and a second bracket attached to a second part and including a resilient member. A pivot shaft pivotally connects the first and second brackets. The engagement member engages the resilient member when the first part is at a first position and disengages the resilient member when the first part is at a second position.

Abstract: A step assembly for a vehicle has first and second arms pivotably attached to brackets which are mountable on the chassis or body of a vehicle. The arms pivot about coaxial axes defined by the brackets. A tread is mounted on the arms. The tread is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. Respective biasing elements act between each arm and bracket to bias the tread into the closed position. When the step assembly is mounted on the vehicle adjacent to a compartment defined by the vehicle body the tread acts as a door when in the closed position and a step when in the open position.

Abstract: To improve bending rigidity of a side sill against an inward load in a vehicle width direction during a lateral collision while suppressing a weight increase of the side sill, a vehicle side body structure includes: a side sill; a wheel house, a front lower portion; a center pillar; and a door formed to be opened at a position above the side sill and behind the center pillar. A rear portion of an impact bar provided to the door overlaps the rear portion of the side sill in side view when the door is closed. The side sill includes a reinforcing member reinforcing bending rigidity against an inward load. The side sill reinforcing member is provided in an intermediate portion of the side sill where the center pillar is located and the rear portion of the side sill in a longitudinal direction of the side sill.

Abstract: A vehicle rear body structure improves rigidity of a portion around a wheel house while suppressing an increase in body weight (number of components) as much as possible. While a wheel house inner is provided with a second inner side reinforcement extending in a vertical direction, in a wheel house outer, a bulged section, which is formed to be bulged to a cabin outer side, includes a wheel arch-shaped section formed in an arch shape to cover a rear wheel from above when seen in a vehicle side view. The wheel house outer is formed with an upward extending ridgeline section that extends upward above the wheel arch-shaped section along a bulged shape of the bulged section to the cabin outer side and at least a portion of which overlaps the second inner side reinforcement when seen in the vehicle side view.

Abstract: Structural liner (20) of a motor vehicle hatchback (10) having an outer face (22) oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and an inner face (24) oriented towards the inside of the vehicle when the hatchback (10)) is assembled on the latter, and at least one groove (23) borne by one of the two faces (22, 24), the groove (23) forming a zone of mechanical weakness able to facilitate the execution of an opening (28) within the structural liner (20).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a vehicle bed shell. The system includes a pair of sidewalls with each including a top portion and two horizontal railings. The sidewalls are coupled to parallel sides of a bed of a vehicle. The system also includes at least one cross beam coupled perpendicularly to each of the horizontal railings of the sidewalls configured to stabilize each sidewall. The system also includes a plurality of cylindrical inserts, including a bottom. The system also includes a hinge element, with a sleeve, one or more hinge plates, and a vertical railing. The hinge element is coupled to a back side of each of the sidewalls, and the sleeve and the one or more hinge plates are configured to slide along the vertical railing. The system also includes a back wall that is coupled to at least one of the sidewalls via the hinge element.

Abstract: A bumper reinforcement includes a body portion joined to a vehicle body front end portion through portions of the body portion on a first direction side and a second direction side in the vehicle width direction, and a reinforcing member joined to the body portion along the body portion. The body portion includes a first standard rigidity region, a high rigidity region, and a second standard rigidity region arrayed next to each other in this order in the vehicle width direction. The high rigidity region has rigidity higher than rigidity of the first standard rigidity region and rigidity of the second standard rigidity region and is positioned in a center of the body portion in the vehicle width direction. The reinforcing member is provided so as to at least partially overlap the high rigidity region and the first standard rigidity region through a first boundary position.

Abstract: Provided herewith is a customizable bumper system for a vehicle and a related method of customizing. The customizable bumper system includes a central weldment that bolts onto a frame of the vehicle. The central weldment includes a height adjustable hitch receiver attachment structure in the form of an array of parallel holes for attaching a hitch receiver at a selected hitch height position along the central weldment. The central weldment also includes a pair of height adjustable extension attachment structures in the form of arrays of parallel holes for selectively attaching a respective pair of lateral bumper extension members upon which one or more selected light components are optionally installed. These lateral bumper extension members are also attached at a selected extension height position. Additional component attachment structures enable one aftermarket components to be optionally installed upon the central weldment.

Abstract: A soft top assembly which includes lift assist and improved fabric management. The assembly includes front side rails pivotally connected to rear side rails. A plurality of fabric control bows with control linkages provide fabric control to the top material during pivoting of the front side rails. A first and second gas strut are attached to the rear side rails to assist lifting and controlled motion as the top is moved between a closed position and open sunroof position, as one strut is fully loaded and compressed while the other strut is fully loaded and open, for lift assist and dampening.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes a first interlock coupled to an inner frame panel. A second interlock coupled to an inner trim panel. The first and second interlocks are separated to define a ready state. During an impact condition, the first and second interlocks selectively engage one another to define an impact state that resists deflection of the inner trim panel away from the inner frame panel.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a bumper beam extending in a left-right direction, and left and right side members functioning as a frame member supporting both ends of the bumper beam. The bumper beam includes a connecting member that connects the both ends to suppress the extension between the both ends.

Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes a hood, a radiator support upper member, a bracket mounted on an upper portion of the radiator support upper member, and a stopper attached to an upper portion of the bracket and configured to be contacted, when the hood is closed, by a protruding portion on a lower surface of the hood, in which the bracket is a member having a channel shape in cross section and protruding upward in a vehicle vertical direction, and is composed of leg plates and a top plate. The bracket is mounted on the upper portion of the radiator support upper member in a state where the leg plates and the top plate extend along a vehicle width direction, and the leg plates also extend in the vehicle vertical direction along a direction in which the protruding portion makes contact with the stopper.

Abstract: A bumper crossbeam comprises a beam profile and a closing plate. The beam profile extends in its longitudinal axis in the vehicle transverse direction (y direction) and is open in the travel direction (x direction). The beam profile comprises an upper leg, a lower leg and a web connecting the legs, and thus providing a chamber. The closing plate is attached to the upper and lower legs. At least one reinforcing element or a reinforcing element assembly comprising such a reinforcing element is installed in the profile chamber, wherein the reinforcing element comprises, on each of its ends facing in the profile longitudinal direction, a leg angled in the direction toward the web of the beam profile and ending with spacing to the web.

Abstract: A plenum assembly for a vehicle includes a plenum body, a plenum grid coupled to the plenum body, the plenum grid including a grid surface having a plurality of grid openings and a separation member extending from the grid surface toward the plenum body, and a vent port including a side surface extending from the plenum body and a domed surface formed integrally with the side surface, the vent port including an edge defining a vent port opening in the side surface such that a flow of air passes through the vent port and through the plurality of grid openings in the grid surface.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis and a vehicle body coupled to the chassis. The vehicle body includes a cab disposed on a forward end of the chassis and a cargo body disposed on a rear end of the chassis. The cab includes a front door that is slidably engaged to the cab. The cargo body includes a side door that is slidably engaged to the cargo body. The front door and the side door are disposed on the same side of the vehicle.

Abstract: An interior trim part (10) for cladding an inner side of a motor vehicle body has a cladding panel (12) forming an inner surface (14) and delimiting a passenger compartment. A flexible insulation layer (18) is fastened to a rear surface (16) of the cladding panel (12) that points away from the inner surface (14). The cladding panel (12) has a protruding fastening element (22) projecting through an opening (20) of the insulation layer (18). The fastening element (22) has a lateral receiving opening (28) and the insulation layer (18) has a retaining strip (32) unconnected to the rear surface (16). The retaining strip (32) is inserted into the receiving opening (28). A situation in which the fastening element (22) is covered by the extended insulation layer (18) is avoided by the retaining strip (32) inserted in the lateral receiving opening (28).

Abstract: A vehicle is provided including a bumper attachment member, a radiator support beam, and a bumper support assembly coupled to the bumper attachment member and the radiator support beam. The bumper support assembly includes a center stay fixed to the radiator support beam and a center stay support having a receiver, an arm, and an anti-rotation pin. The arm extends in a vehicle-longitudinal direction from the receiver. The receiver is configured to receive and engage the bumper attachment member. The anti-rotation pin extends in the vehicle-lateral direction proximate an end of the arm opposite the receiver and engages the center stay to inhibit movement of the bumper attachment member with respect to the radiator support beam.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a primary tailgate having a cargo bed access opening. The primary tailgate moveable between a closed position and a fully open position relative to a cargo bed of a vehicle. The tailgate assembly further including a secondary tailgate that can move between a blocking position where the secondary tailgate extends into the cargo bed access opening and an accessing position where the secondary tailgate is retracted away from the cargo bed access opening. The secondary tailgate in the accessing position at least partially retracted into a portion of the primary tailgate that is vertically beneath the cargo bed access opening when the primary tailgate is in the closed position.

Abstract: Presented are multilayer, fiber-reinforced impact protection structures with honeycomb-core or corrugated-layer designs, methods for making/using such structures, and vehicles with traction battery packs supported on skid plates fabricated from such structures. A multilayer impact protection structure includes a first layer with continuous fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix, and a second layer that is attached to the first layer and includes an elastomeric polymer. A third layer, which is attached to one side of the first layer opposite that of the second layer, includes a fiber-reinforced polymer honeycomb and/or corrugated structure. An optional fracture detection circuit is attached to the first or third layer, and is configured to detect a break in the impact protection structure. The corrugated structure may include multiple reinforcement ribs that are interposed within and substantially orthogonal to a series of mutually parallel, elongated ridges.