Provided is a vehicle sub-frame including a front cross member, a rear cross member, and left and right side members mounted to connect the front cross member and the rear cross member to each other. Each of the left and right side members has a protrusion that protrudes laterally at a corner portion of a rear end portion thereof, the corner portion being joined to a corner portion of the rear cross member. A weld joint is formed by welding to the rear cross member along a laterally extending portion of a trim line portion of the protrusion, in which the trim line portion of the protrusion is the perimeter of the protrusion.

A rear suspension cross member (4) is suspended from and supported by left and right side members (31, 3r) on a lower side of a floor (2) of a vehicle body, a drive unit (8) including a driving motor (9) is mounted on the rear suspension cross member (4), and a power supply unit (20) including a junction box (21) is mounted on an upper side of the floor (2). A framework member (43) is spanned between brackets (421, 42r) erected on the left and right side members (31, 3r) to support a rear part of a seat cushion (39a) of a rear seat (39), the framework member (43) is disposed at a position rearward of the power supply unit (20) and at a position forward of the rear end of the rear suspension cross member (4) by a dimension (L1), and is used to mitigate input from another vehicle in a rear end collision.

A rear suspension cross member (4) is suspended from and supported by left and right side members (31, 3r) on a lower side of a floor (2) of a vehicle body, a drive unit (8) including a driving motor (9) is mounted on the rear suspension cross member (4), and a power supply unit (20) including a junction box (21) is mounted on an upper side of the floor (2). A framework member (43) is spanned between brackets (421, 42r) erected on the left and right side members (31, 3r) to support a rear part of a seat cushion (39a) of a rear seat (39), the framework member (43) is disposed at a position rearward of the power supply unit (20) and at a position forward of the rear end of the rear suspension cross member (4) by a dimension (L1), and is used to mitigate input from another vehicle in a rear end collision.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A leading-edge steering system is provided for a front suspension of an off-road vehicle. The leading-edge steering system is comprised of a spindle assembly that supports a drive axle assembly to conduct torque from a transaxle to a front wheel. A first rod-end joint pivotally couples an upper suspension arm and the spindle assembly, and a second rod-end joint pivotally couples a lower suspension arm and the spindle assembly. A steering rod-end joint pivotally couples a first end of a steering rod with a leading-edge portion of the spindle assembly. A steering gear is coupled with a second end of the steering rod and configured to move the steering rod, such that the spindle assembly rotates with respect to the upper and lower suspension arms. The leading-edge portion is configured to exert primarily tensile forces on the steering rod during travel over rough terrain.

A vehicle includes a body including a first frame rail and a second frame rail and a cross-brace directly connected to the first frame rail and the second frame rail. A powertrain-electrification component is supported by the cross-brace. A vehicle subframe is directly connected to the cross-brace. A vehicle-steering gear is connected to the subframe. The direct connection of the subframe to the cross-brace dampens vibration, e.g., road vibration and noise, in the subframe to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness transferred to a vehicle occupant through the vehicle-steering gear.

An embodiment vehicle impact energy absorption system includes a dash panel, a pair of front side members extending toward a front of the dash panel, a front subframe disposed below the pair of front side members, and an electric motor mounted on the front subframe, wherein a front edge of the electric motor is pivotally connected to the front subframe, and a rear edge of the electric motor is pivotally connected to the dash panel.

A front portion of a vehicle body includes front side frames, a subframe, and a vehicle compartment front structure body. The subframe has a subframe body, a leg portion, a front fastening portion, and a rear fastening portion. The front side frame has a subframe mounting portion which is arranged on a front side of a bending starting point and to which the front fastening portion is fastened. A component mounting bracket having an inclined guide portion with a front surface inclining downward toward a vehicle rear side is coupled to a rear side of the bending starting point of the front side frame. The inclined guide portion is arranged on a track in which the leg portion detached from the front side frame is displaced rearward when an impact load is input from the front of the vehicle.

A wet dry barrier support system for a vehicle includes a support structure portion with mounting locations for mounting suspension components of a vehicle, mounting locations for coupling to a body of the vehicle, and a barrier portion to provide an environmental barrier to separate a first area of the vehicle from a second area of a vehicle. The support structure portion may provide a stiff mounting interface between the body and the suspension components by transferring loads therebetween and may define a through-cavity configured to pass a vehicle component through the through-cavity. The barrier portion may plastically deform upon receiving an energetic input from an impact of the vehicle and may prevent the wet dry barrier support system from entering a passenger compartment during the impact.

A wet dry barrier support system for a vehicle includes a support structure portion with mounting locations for mounting suspension components of a vehicle, mounting locations for coupling to a body of the vehicle, and a barrier portion to provide an environmental barrier to separate a first area of the vehicle from a second area of a vehicle. The support structure portion may provide a stiff mounting interface between the body and the suspension components by transferring loads therebetween and may define a through-cavity configured to pass a vehicle component through the through-cavity. The barrier portion may plastically deform upon receiving an energetic input from an impact of the vehicle and may prevent the wet dry barrier support system from entering a passenger compartment during the impact.