A self-piercing rivet for connecting high-strength steels. The rivet having a head which has a head diameter (DH); a shank which has a shank diameter (DS); and, located at the foot end of the shank opposite the head, the shank has radially outward a flat surface section and radially inward an axial recess defining an axial depth (LB). The ratio of axial depth (LB) of the recess to the shank diameter (DS) is smaller than 0.3.

A method and apparatus for evaluating the driving of a vehicle performing a journey on a road network is disclosed. The method comprises determining a fuel usage rate and an engine speed of a vehicle, and determining when the vehicle is coasting based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle. An acceleration of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be coasting, is compared with a predetermined reference acceleration, and an application of braking during the coasting is determined based on the result of the comparison. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for determining a score indicative of the relative amount of time for which the vehicle is coasting without braking during a journey.

There is obtained an automatic transmission control apparatus that makes it possible that even when an abnormality occurs in a sensor for detecting a motor rotation angle or the like, control of an automatic transmission is appropriately performed. Inputted first, second, and third detection signals are compared with one another; it is determined that at least two detection signals, out of these detection signals, that coincide with each other are normal and another detection signal is abnormal; then, based on the result of the determination, switching of the ranges of the automatic transmission is controlled.

There is obtained an automatic transmission control apparatus that makes it possible that even when an abnormality occurs in a sensor for detecting a motor rotation angle or the like, control of an automatic transmission is appropriately performed. Inputted first, second, and third detection signals are compared with one another; it is determined that at least two detection signals, out of these detection signals, that coincide with each other are normal and another detection signal is abnormal; then, based on the result of the determination, switching of the ranges of the automatic transmission is controlled.

A shift change practice device capable of improving the effect of learning a shift change operation is provided. The shift change practice device includes: an optimum speed calculation unit that calculates an optimum value or an optimum range of an engine revolution speed in the event of a shift change; a revolution speed comparison unit that determines whether or not a detected revolution speed that is a detected value of the engine revolution speed is equal to the optimum value or whether or not the detected revolution speed is included in the optimum range, in a state where a clutch is disconnected; and a notification instruction unit that instructs a notification device to give a predetermined notification to a driver when the detected revolution speed is equal to the optimum value or the detected revolution speed is included in the optimum range, in the state where the clutch is disconnected.

A shift change practice device capable of improving the effect of learning a shift change operation is provided. The shift change practice device includes: an optimum speed calculation unit that calculates an optimum value or an optimum range of an engine revolution speed in the event of a shift change; a revolution speed comparison unit that determines whether or not a detected revolution speed that is a detected value of the engine revolution speed is equal to the optimum value or whether or not the detected revolution speed is included in the optimum range, in a state where a clutch is disconnected; and a notification instruction unit that instructs a notification device to give a predetermined notification to a driver when the detected revolution speed is equal to the optimum value or the detected revolution speed is included in the optimum range, in the state where the clutch is disconnected.

A pushbutton shifter interface is provided on a vehicle and includes a plurality of pushbutton keys arranged horizontally on a dashboard. The pushbutton shifter interface may be fixedly coupled with the dashboard generally forward of a driver seat. The pushbutton shifter interface is accessible by a driver to select a vehicle operating mode.

A vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain includes an electric machine coupled between an automatic gearbox and an engine. The vehicle includes paddle shifters configured to output a driver requested gear change. The hybrid powertrain is configured to selectively operate in an economy mode that optimizes fuel economy. While operating in the economy mode, a controller may selectively inhibit the driver requested gear change when the change may negatively impact fuel economy. In the economy mode, the driver requested gear change may be inhibited during a demand for braking. If the driver requested gear change is a downshift request, the downshift is inhibited and simulated using electric machine torque.

A vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain includes an electric machine coupled between an automatic gearbox and an engine. The vehicle includes paddle shifters configured to output a driver requested gear change. The hybrid powertrain is configured to selectively operate in an economy mode that optimizes fuel economy. While operating in the economy mode, a controller may selectively inhibit the driver requested gear change when the change may negatively impact fuel economy. In the economy mode, the driver requested gear change may be inhibited during a demand for braking. If the driver requested gear change is a downshift request, the downshift is inhibited and simulated using electric machine torque.

A speed change display control device includes a display screen generator generating a first display screen and a second display screen. The first display screen includes: an auxiliary speed change stage display area displaying auxiliary speed change stages; a main speed change stage display area displaying main speed change stages assigned to the auxiliary speed change stages; and an engaged speed change stage display area displaying engaged speed change stages. The second display screen includes: the auxiliary speed change stage display area; the main speed change stage display area; a lower limit selection area where the speed change stage defining a lower limit of a vehicle speed change ratio is selected; an upper limit selection area where the speed change stage defining an upper limit of the vehicle speed change ratio is selected; and a selected speed change stage display area displaying the currently selected upper limit and lower limit speed change stages.