Abstract: A vehicle including: a frame; front suspension assemblies and wheels; a rear left suspension assembly connected to the frame; a rear right suspension assembly connected to the frame; rear wheels having a wheel axis and an inner rim radius; a rear gear train; and a motor. Each rear suspension assembly including a swing arm; a shock assembly; a knuckle including: a first portion connected to a wheel hub, and a second portion extending upward from the first portion; a first link having an outward end connected to the first portion and an inward end connected to the frame; and a second link having an outward end connected to the second portion and an inward end connected to the frame, the outward end of the second link being distanced from the corresponding wheel axis by a distance greater than the inner rim radius.

Abstract: A vehicle including a frame; a front left suspension assembly with a front left wheel; a front right suspension assembly with a front right wheel; a front gear train; a motor; shafts connected between the front wheels and the front gear train. Each front suspension assembly including a knuckle including: a first portion connected to a wheel hub and including a first ball joint, and a second portion extending upward from the first portion and including a second ball joint; a lower A-arm connected to the first ball joint; an upper A-arm connected to the second ball joint; the second ball joint being distanced from the wheel axis by a distance greater than the inner rim radius; and a shock assembly connected to the lower A-arm and the frame, the shafts passing below the ball joint of the shock absorber assembly which is vertically higher than the shaft.

Abstract: A rack and pinion assembly for a steering assembly is disclosed. The rack and pinion assembly has: a housing; a rack disposed in the housing, the rack being translatable in the housing; a pinion engaging the rack for causing translation of the rack; and at least one rolling element connected to the rack. The at least one rolling element is translatable with the rack. The at least one rolling element rolls along an inner surface of the housing as the rack translates. A steering assembly having the rack and pinion assembly and a vehicle having the steering assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, seats, front and rear suspension assemblies, front and rear wheels, a motor, a rear differential, left and right constant velocity joints operatively connected to the rear differential; and left and right half-shaft operatively connecting the constant velocity joints to the rear wheels. Each of the rear suspension assemblies has: a trailing arm having a front end pivotally connected to the frame; a knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm; lower and upper links pivotally connected between the trailing arm and the frame; and a toe link pivotally connected between the knuckle and the frame. Each of the rear suspension assemblies has an instant center axis passing through a connection between the trailing arm and the frame. Centers of the velocity joints are laterally outward of their corresponding instant center axes when viewed in a top plan view of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, seats, front and rear suspension assemblies, front and rear wheels, a motor, a rear differential, left and right constant velocity joints operatively connected to the rear differential; and left and right half-shaft operatively connecting the constant velocity joints to the rear wheels. Each of the rear suspension assemblies has: a trailing arm having a front end pivotally connected to the frame; a knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm; lower and upper links pivotally connected between the trailing arm and the frame; and a toe link pivotally connected between the knuckle and the frame. Each of the rear suspension assemblies has an instant center axis passing through a connection between the trailing arm and the frame. Centers of the velocity joints are laterally outward of their corresponding instant center axes when viewed in a top plan view of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels, and a motor. Each rear suspension assembly has a trailing arm, a knuckle pivotally connected to the trailing arm, a lower link having laterally outward and inward ends pivotally connected to the trailing arm at a first connection point and to the frame at a second connection point respectively, an upper link having laterally outward and inward ends pivotally connected to the trailing arm at a third connection point and to the frame at a fourth connection point respectively, and a toe link having laterally outward an inward ends pivotally connected to the knuckle at a fifth connection point and to the frame at a sixth connection point respectively. The fifth connection point is laterally further from a longitudinally and vertically extending center plane than the first and third connection points.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, driver and passenger seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels, and a motor operatively connected to at least two of the wheels. Each rear suspension assembly has a trailing arm having a front end pivotally connected to the frame, a knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm, a link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and the knuckle and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame, and a fastener fastening the laterally outward end of the link, the knuckle and the trailing arm together.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, driver and passenger seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels, and a motor operatively connected to at least two of the wheels. Each rear suspension assembly has a trailing arm having a front end pivotally connected to the frame, a knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm, a link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and the knuckle and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame, and a fastener fastening the laterally outward end of the link, the knuckle and the trailing arm together.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels, and a motor. Each rear suspension assembly has a trailing arm, a knuckle pivotally connected to the trailing arm, a lower link having laterally outward and inward ends pivotally connected to the trailing arm at a first connection point and to the frame at a second connection point respectively, an upper link having laterally outward and inward ends pivotally connected to the trailing arm at a third connection point and to the frame at a fourth connection point respectively, and a toe link having laterally outward an inward ends pivotally connected to the knuckle at a fifth connection point and to the frame at a sixth connection point respectively. The fifth connection point is laterally further from a longitudinally and vertically extending center plane than the first and third connection points.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, driver and passenger seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels, and a motor operatively connected to the at least two wheels. Each rear suspension assembly has a trailing arm having a front end pivotally connected to the frame; a knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm; a lower link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame; an upper link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame; and a toe link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the knuckle and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, a motor, a driveshaft operatively connected to the motor, a front differential operatively connected to the driveshaft, a pair of front half-shafts operatively connecting the front differential to front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a steering wheel, a steering column operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack and pinion assembly operatively connected to the steering column, the rack and pinion assembly being disposed rearward of the front differential, a right tie rod having a left end operatively connected to a rack of the rack and pinion assembly and a right end operatively connected to the right wheel, and a left tie rod having a right end operatively connected to the rack and a left end operatively connected to the left wheel. The inner ends of the tie rods are disposed forwardly of a vertically and laterally extending central plane of the rack.

Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, driver and passenger seats, two front and two rear suspension assemblies, two front and two rear wheels, and a motor operatively connected to the at least two wheels. Each rear suspension assembly has a trailing arm having a front end pivotally connected to the frame; a knuckle pivotally connected to a rear portion of the trailing arm; a lower link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame; an upper link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the trailing arm and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame; and a toe link having a laterally outward end pivotally connected to the knuckle and a laterally inward end pivotally connected to the frame.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having front and rear suspension systems adapted to change the track width of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed having front and rear suspension systems adapted to change the track width of the vehicle.