Abstract: A motor vehicle having a front end, a pair of opposing front wheel wells rearward of the front end, and an air guide duct having at least one air inlet disposed forward of the front wheel wells and facing the front end of the motor vehicle. The air guide duct also has at least one air outlet opening into at least one of the front wheel wells such that incoming air from the front end of the motor vehicle is guided into at least one of the front wheel wells.

Abstract: A motor vehicle having a front end, a pair of opposing front wheel wells rearward of the front end, and an air guide duct having at least one air inlet disposed forward of the front wheel wells and facing the front end of the motor vehicle. The air guide duct also has at least one air outlet opening into at least one of the front wheel wells such that incoming air from the front end of the motor vehicle is guided into at least one of the front wheel wells.

Abstract: A vehicle engine compartment airflow directing member for use with an airflow introducing and directing system includes a base portion and a bottom breather airflow directing portion. The base portion is configured to be secured to support rods provided in the vehicle engine compartment and to enclose a space disposed immediately rearward of the vehicle bumper beam. The bottom breather airflow directing portion extends from the base portion and narrows a bottom breather airflow path within the vehicle engine compartment while also preventing bottom breather airflow from recirculating to a position underneath the vehicle bumper beam.

Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a fascia member defining a forward end of an engine compartment of the vehicle and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the fascia member. At least one structural brace extends from a location at or near an underside of the vehicle to a location at or near an upper end of the engine compartment. A duct member is interposed between the fascia member and the radiator. The duct member at least partially blocks the radiator and defines a duct passage extending from an underside opening of the vehicle to the radiator. The duct member has at least one recess defined therein that receives the at least one structural brace.

Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a facia member defining a forward end of an engine compartment of the vehicle and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the facia member. A duct member is interposed between the facia member and the radiator. The duct member at least partially blocks the radiator and defines a duct passage extending from an underside opening of the vehicle to the radiator. At least one duct opening is defined in the duct member for supplementing air flow to the radiator from the underside opening.

Abstract: A vehicle including a battery residing in a compartment having at least one vented wall. The vehicle further includes an at least partially hollow frame having an air inlet. A conduit extends between the frame and the battery box providing fluid communication therebetween.

Abstract: A modified air dam includes an integral spring-like, corrugate-shaped portion for absorbing impact forces imposed on the air dam. A lower portion of the air dam is generally planar and angled slightly from a vertical plane toward the front of the vehicle. The air dam also includes a rounded portion to provide a horizontal offset between upper and lower portions of the air dam and to direct airflow toward a bottom portion of the radiator. The air dam may also be curved side-to-side or employ an inverted, generally U-shaped portion as a first force absorbing region and a spaced rib that serves as a second force absorbing region. The generally U-shaped portion also advantageously extends over a fastener and mounting region of the air dam.

Abstract: A vehicle including a battery residing in a compartment having at least one vented wall. The vehicle further includes an at least partially hollow frame having an air inlet. A conduit extends between the frame and the battery box providing fluid communication therebetween.

Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a fascia member defining a forward end of a engine compartment and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the fascia member. The front end structure further includes a duct member receiving airflow from an opening in the fascia member and directing the airflow to a location adjacent the radiator for restricting airflow around the radiator.

Abstract: A vehicle engine compartment airflow directing member for use with an airflow introducing and directing system includes a base portion and a bottom breather airflow directing portion. The base portion is configured to be secured to support rods provided in the vehicle engine compartment and to enclose a space disposed immediately rearward of the vehicle bumper beam. The bottom breather airflow directing portion extends from the base portion and narrows a bottom breather airflow path within the vehicle engine compartment while also preventing bottom breather airflow from recirculating to a position underneath the vehicle bumper beam.

Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a fascia member defining a forward end of an engine compartment of the vehicle and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the fascia member. At least one structural brace extends from a location at or near an underside of the vehicle to a location at or near an upper end of the engine compartment. A duct member is interposed between the fascia member and the radiator. The duct member at least partially blocks the radiator and defines a duct passage extending from an underside opening of the vehicle to the radiator. The duct member has at least one recess defined therein that receives the at least one structural brace.

Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a facia member defining a forward end of an engine compartment of the vehicle and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the facia member. A duct member is interposed between the facia member and the radiator. The duct member at least partially blocks the radiator and defines a duct passage extending from an underside opening of the vehicle to the radiator. At least one duct opening is defined in the duct member for supplementing air flow to the radiator from the underside opening.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission fluid cooler system includes a transmission fluid cooler and an airflow ducting assembly engaged therewith. The airflow ducting assembly is provided to increase the amount of airflow directed toward the transmission fluid cooler so as to improve the cooling performance thereof, and includes a dam member, a duct member, and air guides. The duct member forms a passage communicating an airflow inlet opening with an airflow outlet opening. The dam member operates to scoop and direct airflow into the airflow inlet opening, and the air guides cooperate with the dam member to increase the amount of airflow scooped by the dam member which is directed into the airflow inlet opening. The airflow outlet opening is positioned to direct the airflow which has passed through the duct member to the transmission fluid cooler.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for maximizing cooling and fuel economy. A grille opening in the vehicle allows air to flow toward the engine compartment along a first path and a bottom breather opening allows air to flow toward the engine compartment along a distinct, second path. An air separator extends between the first and second paths to prevent mixing of airflow along these paths. The air separator may be a thin dividing wall of a deformable material that extends toward a condenser/radiator assembly at low vehicle speeds. At increased vehicle speeds, the deformable portion deflects to enhance airflow along the second path. An associated method of controlling airflow includes terminating the air separator closely adjacent a condenser/radiator assembly to limit mixing of airflow along separate paths, and deflecting in response to increased air flow to alter airflow through at least one of the first and second paths.

Abstract: A modified air dam includes an integral spring-like, corrugate-shaped portion for absorbing impact forces imposed on the air dam. A lower portion of the air dam is generally planar and angled slightly from a vertical plane toward the front of the vehicle. The air dam also includes a rounded portion to provide a horizontal offset between upper and lower portions of the air dam and to direct airflow toward a bottom portion of the radiator. The air dam may also be curved side-to-side or employ an inverted, generally U-shaped portion as a first force absorbing region and a spaced rib that serves as a second force absorbing region. The generally U-shaped portion also advantageously extends over a fastener and mounting region of the air dam.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for maximizing cooling in fuel economy in automotive vehicle having an argument. A grille opening in the vehicle allows air to flow toward the engine compartment along a first path and a bottom breather opening allows air to flow toward the engine compartment along a distinct, second path. An air separator extends between the first and second paths to prevent mixing of airflow along these paths. In one embodiment, the air separator is a thin dividing wall preferably formed of a deformable material. The deformable portion extends toward a condenser/radiator assembly at low vehicle speeds. At increased vehicle speeds, the deformable portion deflects and preferably adopts a generally curvilinear contour of ducting to enhance airflow along the second path. An associated method of controlling airflow is provided by terminating the air separator closely adjacent a condenser/radiator assembly to limit mixing of airflow along separate paths.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission fluid cooler system includes a transmission fluid cooler and an airflow ducting assembly engaged therewith. The airflow ducting assembly is provided to increase the amount of airflow directed toward the transmission fluid cooler so as to improve the cooling performance thereof, and includes a dam member, a duct member, and air guides. The duct member forms a passage communicating an airflow inlet opening with an airflow outlet opening. The dam member operates to scoop and direct airflow into the airflow inlet opening, and the air guides cooperate with the dam member to increase the amount of airflow scooped by the dam member which is directed into the airflow inlet opening. The airflow outlet opening is positioned to direct the airflow which has passed through the duct member to the transmission fluid cooler.