Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle support structure and a steering linkage. The vehicle support structure includes a dash wall. The dash wall separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. The dash wall has an energy absorption member supported by the support structure on an engine compartment side of the dash wall. The steering linkage extends through an opening of the dash wall between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. The steering linkage includes a steering column in the passenger compartment. The steering linkage further includes an abutment. The abutment is positioned and configured to contact the energy absorption member upon a frontal impact of the vehicle to transfer energy from the steering linkage to the energy absorption member and to limit a rearward displacement of the steering linkage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle support structure and a steering linkage. The vehicle support structure includes a dash wall. The dash wall separates an engine compartment and a passenger compartment. The dash wall has an energy absorption member supported by the support structure on an engine compartment side of the dash wall. The steering linkage extends through an opening of the dash wall between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. The steering linkage includes a steering column in the passenger compartment. The steering linkage further includes an abutment. The abutment is positioned and configured to contact the energy absorption member upon a frontal impact of the vehicle to transfer energy from the steering linkage to the energy absorption member and to limit a rearward displacement of the steering linkage.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 1 at a standstill of a vehicle after cold starting can switch its combustion mode to a homogenous combustion mode or a stratified combustion mode. An operation range of the stratified combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is expanded relative to an operation range of the homogenous combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting as an inclination of the vehicle decreases. With this technique, the operation range of the stratified combustion can be expanded while assuring an intake air negative pressure required for achieving the brake performance, so that HC reduction at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is obtained.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine 1 at a standstill of a vehicle after cold starting can switch its combustion mode to a homogenous combustion mode or a stratified combustion mode. An operation range of the stratified combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is expanded relative to an operation range of the homogenous combustion at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting as an inclination of the vehicle decreases. With this technique, the operation range of the stratified combustion can be expanded while assuring an intake air negative pressure required for achieving the brake performance, so that HC reduction at the standstill of the vehicle after cold starting is obtained.