Abstract: A climate control system for a vehicle includes a thermal management system and a controller configured to activate the thermal management system. The controller activates the thermal management system to satisfy a remote precondition request for a cabin of the vehicle, responsive to receiving the remote precondition request, data indicating the vehicle is in a ventilated area, and an estimated precondition time being less than a threshold precondition time. Each of the estimated precondition and threshold precondition times are derived from the remote precondition request and data.

Abstract: A vehicular climate control system may include a coolant subsystem configured to circulate coolant between an engine, a thermal generator, and a cabin heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to an air inlet temperature of the heat exchanger exceeding a threshold, retard engine spark timing to increase heat generation. The threshold may be defined by a quotient of (i) a difference between a discharge temperature target and the air inlet temperature and (ii) a thermal effectiveness parameter that is based on an air flow rate and a coolant flow rate.

Abstract: A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating element, a steering wheel position monitoring device and a controller configured to control the radiant heating element in response to steering wheel position data received from the steering wheel position monitoring device. A method of controlling operation of a radiant system.

Abstract: A vehicular climate control system may include a coolant subsystem configured to circulate coolant between an engine, a thermal generator, and a cabin heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to an air inlet temperature of the heat exchanger exceeding a threshold, retard engine spark timing to increase heat generation. The threshold may be defined by a quotient of (i) a difference between a discharge temperature target and the air inlet temperature and (ii) a thermal effectiveness parameter that is based on an air flow rate and a coolant flow rate.

Abstract: A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating element, a steering wheel position monitoring device and a controller configured to control the radiant heating element in response to steering wheel position data received from the steering wheel position monitoring device. A method of controlling operation of a radiant heating system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal management system for a vehicle powertrain includes a heater core, a transmission fluid warmer selectively in thermal communication with the heater core, a bypass valve between the heater core and transmission fluid warmer configured to control fluid flow therebetween, a control module configured to control the bypass valve, and a timer linked to the control module configured to delay deactivation of the bypass valve.