Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for warming a tire of a driven wheel of a vehicle, in which the vehicle includes one or more driven wheels and one or more non-driven wheels. The method includes determining a range of a transmission associated with the vehicle and determining a position of a throttle pedal associated with an engine of the vehicle. Based on the determined range of the transmission and the determined position of the throttle pedal, the method includes outputting one or more control signals to apply a braking force to the one or more non-driven wheels of the vehicle and outputting one or more control signals to drive the one or more driven wheels to warm the tire of the one or more driven wheels.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes moving a lift generating device to generate lift when a vehicle speed is greater than a pre-defined speed, a steering angle of the vehicle is equal to or less than a minimum angle value, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is equal to or less than a minimum lateral acceleration value, and a corner brake fluid pressure at any of the wheels is equal to or less than a minimum brake fluid pressure. A downforce generating device is moved to generate downforce when the vehicle speed is greater than the pre-defined speed, the steering angle is equal to or greater than a maximum angle value, the lateral acceleration is equal to or greater than a maximum lateral acceleration value, and the corner brake fluid pressure at any of the wheels is equal to or greater than a maximum brake fluid pressure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for warming a tire of a driven wheel of a vehicle, in which the vehicle includes one or more driven wheels and one or more non-driven wheels. The method includes determining a range of a transmission associated with the vehicle and determining a position of a throttle pedal associated with an engine of the vehicle. Based on the determined range of the transmission and the determined position of the throttle pedal, the method includes outputting one or more control signals to apply a braking force to the one or more non-driven wheels of the vehicle and outputting one or more control signals to drive the one or more driven wheels to warm the tire of the one or more driven wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear spoiler having a central portion, a first vertical side plate that is disposed at a first lateral edge of the central portion, and a second vertical side plate that is disposed at a second lateral edge of the central portion. An actuating system is coupled to the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side plate for moving the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side plate independently of each other about a first vertical axis and a second vertical axis respectively. A vehicle controller senses a current operating condition of the vehicle, determines an optimal position for each of the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side plate respectively for the current operating condition, and signals the actuating system to move the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side into their respective optimal positions.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear spoiler having a central portion, a first vertical side plate that is disposed at a first lateral edge of the central portion, and a second vertical side plate that is disposed at a second lateral edge of the central portion. An actuating system is coupled to the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side plate for moving the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side plate independently of each other about a first vertical axis and a second vertical axis respectively. A vehicle controller senses a current operating condition of the vehicle, determines an optimal position for each of the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side plate respectively for the current operating condition, and signals the actuating system to move the first vertical side plate and the second vertical side into their respective optimal positions.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes moving a lift generating device to generate lift when a vehicle speed is greater than a pre-defined speed, a steering angle of the vehicle is equal to or less than a minimum angle value, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is equal to or less than a minimum lateral acceleration value, and a corner brake fluid pressure at any of the wheels is equal to or less than a minimum brake fluid pressure. A downforce generating device is moved to generate downforce when the vehicle speed is greater than the pre-defined speed, the steering angle is equal to or greater than a maximum angle value, the lateral acceleration is equal to or greater than a maximum lateral acceleration value, and the corner brake fluid pressure at any of the wheels is equal to or greater than a maximum brake fluid pressure.

Abstract: Methods and systems automatically controlling a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining that a vehicle operating mode has been selected by a user; and in response to the determining, automatically preparing at least one component of the vehicle for the vehicle operating mode.