A vehicular sensing system, a vehicle and a method of performing one or both of vehicular mapping and navigating operations using the sensing system. The sensing system is secured to a roof or other suitable location on the vehicle and includes one or more sensors configured to acquire at least one of vehicular mapping and navigational data, a retractable mounting structure to move the sensor or sensors between a deployed and stowed position, and an aerodynamic spoiler, air dam or deflector. The body of the spoiler acts as a housing with a recess formed in its upper surface such that upon placement of the spoiler on the roof, the recess provides a location within the spoiler to permit storage of the mounting structure and sensors when they are in their deployed (non data-acquisition) mode of operation. The size and placement of the mounting structure and sensors is such that they do not detract from the aerodynamic or aesthetic qualities of the spoiler.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle spoiler, which can stabilize the airflow passing through the vehicle, thereby improving the aerodynamic performance. The vehicle spoiler includes a plurality of skin portions arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle and overlapping each other in sequence in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a plurality of movable portions respectively supporting the plurality of skin portions and movable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The plurality of skin portions change the overall length in the front-rear direction of the vehicle through movement of at least one of the plurality of movable portions in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Moreover, the plurality of skin portions are maintained to overlap in the movable range of the plurality of movable portions.

A method to control a high performance road vehicle equipped with a rear spoiler that has at least one adjustable aerodynamic profile, the control method includes the steps of: detecting the tendency to oversteer or understeer when cornering, adjusting the setting of the adjustable aerodynamic profile of the rear spoiler to a greater angle of incidence in order to increase the overall downforce generated by the rear spoiler if oversteering is detected when cornering, and adjusting the setting of the adjustable aerodynamic profile of the rear spoiler to a lower value of the angle of incidence in order to reduce the overall downforce generated by the rear spoiler if understeering is detected when cornering.

The invention provides a movable spoiler device, which may be easily stored and operated stably. The movable spoiler device includes a fixed plate fixed on a body of a vehicle; a movable plate disposed to be movable between a storage position connected to the fixed plate and an unfolding position closer to the rear position than the storage position; a linkage mechanism that is pivotally supported on the fixed plate at one end and pivotally supported on the movable plate at the other end; a sliding mechanism including a track portion disposed on one of the fixed plate and the movable plate, and a sliding portion disposed on the other of the fixed plate and the movable plate; and an actuator driving the linkage mechanism or the sliding mechanism to drive the movable plate to move relative to the fixed plate.

A hatchback door includes a load-bearing inner panel made of composite plastic material, a plastic top outer panel glued on a top portion of the inner panel, and a plastic bottom outer panel glued on a bottom portion of the inner panel. The top panel includes a first layer of transparent plastic material and a second layer of opaque plastic material or opaque paint. The opaque layer covers only some of the transparent layer such that the top panel is transparent in a central part overlying a rear-window opening of the inner panel and in its peripheral portions that function as transparent elements for two lateral sets of lights and a third top set of lights. The light sets are without a front transparent element and are connected to a rear side of the top panel. The transparent peripheral portions constitute the front transparent elements of the light sets.

A deflector device having a deflector body that is configured to be deployed in front of a front wheel of a vehicle by being rotated in a deploy direction and to suppress airflow onto the front wheel, and that is configured to be stowed in a body of the vehicle by being rotated in a stow direction; a rotation shaft that is configured to rotate the deflector body by rotation of the rotation shaft; and a transmission member that is configured to transmit drive force to the rotation shaft to rotate the rotation shaft, and to be moved, when an external force has acted on the deflector body such that the deflector body is rotated in the stow direction from a stowed position, by movement of the rotation shaft in an axial direction being limited.

An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

An active side vent system for a vehicle can include a housing disposed in a side vent opening defined by a recessed surface in a rear portion of a front fender of the vehicle, a set of louvers disposed in the housing and configured to pivot such that (i) in an open position, none of the set of louvers extends beyond an outer surface of the front fender and (ii) in a closed position, the set of louvers are substantially flush with the recessed surface of the front fender, and an actuator configured to control the pivoting of the set of louvers.

A vehicle substructure includes at least one wing device for producing at least one underflow and at least one overflow from inflowing air to improve a downforce, the at least one wing device having at least one air-guiding apparatus for dividing the inflowing air into at least one wing air flow for the underflow of the wing device and into at least one structure air flow for at least one vehicle component. The air-guiding apparatus includes at least one adaptable air-guiding element. A dividing ratio of the at least one wing air flow and the at least one structure air flow can be flexibly set by at least one adaptation of the air guiding element.

A vehicle styling bar is provided for a truck including a cab and an open cargo bed. The vehicle styling bar is made of plastic and formed into an integral U-shaped hollow piece adapted to be installed widthwise across the cargo bed, immediately next to the cab for blocking sunlight that may pass through a rear window of the cab. The vehicle styling bar has a reduced weight and can be installed more easily than existing vehicle styling bars.