Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle is disclosed which combines rigidity, speed of manufacture, and a small environmental footprint. Such a chassis comprises a framework of Interconnected tubular sections (14, 18) and at least one composite sheet (50) bonded to the framework, at least part of the composite sheet being of unidirectional fibers. The sheet can be non-flat, and is preferably a concave geometry such as a tub. It can be composed of a plurality of sections (78, 80). The part of the composite sheet that Is of unidirectional fibers extends obliquely rearwardly from a tubular section on one side of the chassis toward a further tubular section on another side of the chassis, the fibers also being oriented obliquely rearwardly In the same sense. A further similar part extends in the opposite direction/symmetrically, overlapping as necessary.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises front and rear wheels, a passenger cell, and an engine, wherein the engine is located entirely aft of the foremost extent of the passenger cell, the engine having a cooling circuit, further comprising a radiator that is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit, the radiator being located aft of the front wheel centers and in front of the engine, and in an airflow path that extends from an underside of the vehicle to an exit on a rear face of the vehicle, wherein the airflow path is ducted at least in a portion around the radiator. This arrangement succeeds in placing the radiator close to the engine, thereby avoiding long conduit paths and their associated weight. The ducting causes a region of high pressure on the face of the radiator, and the exit on the rear face of the vehicle opens into the low pressure region behind the vehicle, so that air is drawn along the flow path, through the radiator.

Abstract: A seat belt arrangement for a vehicle seat having a seat part and a back part and which is positioned substantially centrally between the nearside and offside of a vehicle. First and second anchorage points are provided on the vehicle structure on opposite sides of the seat part, the first anchorage point providing an anchorage for one end of the seat belt and the second anchorage point comprising a latching mechanism for receiving a latch carried by the seat belt. A third anchorage point comprising a retractor system is located on the vehicle structure behind the seat. The first, second and third anchorage points are each located at a relatively low position; and an upper mounting provided on the back part (towards an upper end thereof) is at a higher level than the first, second and third anchorage points.

Abstract: A seating arrangement for a vehicle having at least three seats, comprising two rear passenger seats aligned substantially transversely, and a driver's seat arranged substantially centrally and in front of said two rear passenger seats. The driver's seat extending rearward beyond the front of the legs of the rear passengers when seated in the passenger seats. The seats being arrangeable in multiple configurations: a three-seat configuration with a storage space behind the passenger seats, a two-seat configuration with one of the passenger seats folded down to extend said storage space and a one-seat configuration in which both passenger seats are folded down to extend further said storage space. A vehicle engine is mounted in a space beneath said storage space behind the passenger seats and/or beneath the passenger seats and a fuel tank, batteries or other power source is mounted beneath the driver's seat.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension comprises an assembly of a hub carrier and a support arm, the support arm being attached to the hub carrier at two points spaced from each other in the direction of travel and extending inwardly therefrom to a support arm attachment point for fixing to a chassis, and a trailing link extending from the assembly in a direction transverse to that of the support arm, toward a trailing link attachment point for fixing to the chassis. The trailing link preferably extends from the assembly in a forward direction, and is preferably connected directly to the hub carrier. A strut can extend upwardly toward an attachment point for fixing to a chassis, to provide a spring and damper. The support arm can comprise a pair of arms extending divergently from the attachment point to each of the two points. The hub carrier can include a pivot pin extending in a fore/aft alignment, passing through two pivot points on the support arm thereby to define the two points.

Abstract: A compact seating arrangement for a vehicle, the seating arrangement has at least three seats comprising two rear passenger seats aligned substantially transversely, and a driver's seat arranged substantially centrally and in front of the two rear passenger seats. The driver's seat extends transversely; to be positioned in front of part of each of the passenger seats and extends rearward beyond the front of the legs of the rear passengers (when seated in the passenger seats). Each of the seats being arranged to seat a person in a generally upright position: the seat backs being inclined to the vertical at an angle of 30 degrees or less, an upper surface which supports the occupant of each seat base being spaced 400-500 mm above a substantially horizontal floor space provided adjacent the seats, and the passengers' feet being placed on the horizontal floor space on either side of the driver's seat.

Abstract: Electric vehicles usually inherit a chassis of a pressed steel construction from a conventional vehicle design. This imposes a substantial weight penalty on the vehicle. We disclose a chassis element for a vehicle, formed of an outer skin material, an inner core material enveloped by the outer skin material, and at least one array of aligned fibres, and comprising a restraint for an electrical battery adapted to locate the battery over the at least one array. There can be multiple arrays of aligned fibres, preferably disposed at a transverse angle relative to each other of less than 90°. We particularly prefer three arrays of aligned fibres, which can be disposed relative to each other at an angle of 60°. The fibres can be disposed within the skin material.

Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle has a locally narrower portion within which is mounted a wheel, and a rigid member extending from the chassis toward the quiescent position of the wheel and ending at a point which is spaced radially from the outer profile and located axially within the thickness of the wheel. Under an impact, the wheel itself will be crushed against the rigid member, absorbing some of the impact energy. The impact energy can also be transmitted via the rigid member to the remainder of the chassis, providing a load path to major mass concentrations elsewhere in the vehicle and allowing energy to be dissipated by the deformation of other structures elsewhere. This can then limit frontal damage to the vehicle and hence reduce the risk of intrusions into the passenger cell. The rigid member can be a column extending towards the wheel, and can end with a flat plate that is positioned tangentially to a local portion of the outer profile.

Abstract: A seat belt arrangement for a vehicle seat having a seat part and a back part and which is positioned substantially centrally between the nearside and offside of a vehicle. First and second anchorage points are provided on the vehicle structure on opposite sides of the seat part, the first anchorage point providing an anchorage for one end of the seat belt and the second anchorage point comprising a latching mechanism for receiving a latch carried by the seat belt. A third anchorage point comprising a retractor system is located on the vehicle structure behind the seat. The first, second and third anchorage points are each located at a relatively low position; and an upper mounting provided on the back part (towards an upper end thereof) is at a higher level than the first, second and third anchorage points.

Abstract: A seating arrangement for a vehicle having at least three seats, comprising two rear passenger seats aligned substantially transversely, and a driver's seat arranged substantially centrally and in front of said two rear passenger seats. The driver's seat extending rearward beyond the front of the legs of the rear passengers when seated in the passenger seats. The seats being arrangeable in multiple configurations: a three-seat configuration with a storage space behind the passenger seats, a two-seat configuration with one of the passenger seats folded down to extend said storage space and a one-seat configuration in which both passenger seats are folded down to extend further said storage space. A vehicle engine is mounted in a space beneath said storage space behind the passenger seats and/or beneath the passenger seats and a fuel tank, batteries or other power source is mounted beneath the driver's seat.

Abstract: A compact seating arrangement for a vehicle, the seating arrangement has at least three seats comprising two rear passenger seats aligned substantially transversely, and a driver's seat arranged substantially centrally and in front of the two rear passenger seats. The driver's seat extends transversely; to be positioned in front of part of each of the passenger seats and extends rearward beyond the front of the legs of the rear passengers (when seated in the passenger seats). Each of the seats being arranged to seat a person in a generally upright position: the seat backs being inclined to the vertical at an angle of 30 degrees or less, an upper surface which supports the occupant of each seat base being spaced 400-500 mm above a substantially horizontal floor space provided adjacent the seats, and the passengers' feet being placed on the horizontal floor space on either side of the driver's seat.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises front and rear wheels, a passenger cell, and an engine, wherein the engine is located entirely aft of the foremost extent of the passenger cell, the engine having a cooling circuit, further comprising a radiator that is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit, the radiator being located aft of the front wheel centres and in front of the engine, and in an airflow path that extends from an underside of the vehicle to an exit on a rear face of the vehicle, wherein the airflow path is ducted at least in a portion around the radiator. This arrangement succeeds in placing the radiator close to the engine, thereby avoiding long conduit paths and their associated weight. The ducting causes a region of high pressure on the face of the radiator, and the exit on the rear face of the vehicle opens into the low pressure region behind the vehicle, so that air is drawn along the flow path, through the radiator.

Abstract: A compact seating arrangement for a vehicle, the seating arrangement comprising three seats: a front driver's seat arranged centrally and, at least to some extent, forward of two transversely aligned rear passenger seats, wherein the driver's seat extends transversely so as to be positioned in front of part of each of the rear passengers' seats, the extent of the overlap in the transverse position of the driver's seat and the rear passenger seats being such that each side of the driver's seat is required to be shaped so as to be able to accommodate at least part of a leg of a passenger seated in a forward facing position in a respective one of the passenger seats.

Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle is disclosed which combines rigidity, speed of manufacture, and a small environmental footprint. Such a chassis comprises a framework of Interconnected tubular sections (14, 18) and at least one composite sheet (50) bonded to the framework, at least part of the composite sheet being of unidirectional fibres. The sheet can be non-flat, and is preferably a concave geometry such as a tub. It can be composed of a plurality of sections (78, 80). The part of the composite sheet that Is of unidirectional fibres extends obliquely rearwardly from a tubular section on one side of the chassis toward a further tubular section on another side of the chassis, the fibres also being oriented obliquely rearwardly In the same sense. A further similar part extends in the opposite direction/symmetrically, overlapping as necessary.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension comprises an assembly of a hub carrier and a support arm, the support arm being attached to the hub carrier at two points spaced from each other in the direction of travel and extending inwardly therefrom to a support arm attachment point for fixing to a chassis, and a trailing link extending from the assembly in a direction transverse to that of the support arm, toward a trailing link attachment point for fixing to the chassis. The trailing link preferably extends from the assembly in a forward direction, and is preferably connected directly to the hub carrier. A strut can extend upwardly toward an attachment point for fixing to a chassis, to provide a spring and damper. The support arm can comprise a pair of arms extending divergently from the attachment point to each of the two points. The hub carrier can include a pivot pin extending in a fore/aft alignment, passing through two pivot points on the support arm thereby to define the two points.

Abstract: A chassis (10) for a vehicle is disclosed which combines rigidity, speed of manufacture, and an small environmental footprint. Such a chassis comprises a framework of interconnected tubular sections (12,14,16,18, 20, 22, 28) and at least one sheet (50) bonded to the framework. Laser cutting, CNC bending, and computer-controlled welding mean that the required production time can be kept to 120 seconds and the rigidity of the structure as a whole is sufficient. Such a chassis also has an exceptionally low carbon footprint. The sheet can be metallic, such as Aluminium or Aluminium honeycomb, or it can be a composite material such as one comprising a paper-based core and a fibre-reinforced plastics coating. The sheet can be non-flat, and is preferably a concave geometry such as a tub. It can be composed of a plurality of sections, ideally joined by a method allowing a positional tolerance so that any tolerance in the construction of the framework can be accommodated.

Abstract: A compact seating arrangement for a vehicle, the seating arrangement comprising three seats: a front driver's seat arranged centrally and, at least to some extent, forward of two transversely aligned rear passenger seats, wherein the driver's seat extends transversely so as to be positioned in front of part of each of the rear passengers' seats, the extent of the overlap in the transverse position of the driver's seat and the rear passenger seats being such that each side of the driver's seat is required to be shaped so as to be able to accommodate at least part of a leg of a passenger seated in a forward facing position in a respective one of the passenger seats.