A transaxle system for a golf car, wherein the system comprises a transaxle and a matting interface. The transaxle comprises a plurality of mounting flanges fixedly mountable to at least one axle tube of the golf car, wherein the at least one axle tube houses at least one wheel axle, and the transaxle is operably couplable to the at least one wheel axle. The transaxle additionally comprising a transaxle mounting collar that is fixedly mounted to or integrally formed with a housing of the transaxle. The mating interface is mountable to the transaxle mounting collar, and is structured and operable to have an integrated internal combustion engine-transmission unit of the golf car mounted thereto.

A side-by-side vehicle includes a vehicle body frame including a cabin frame part surrounding a riding space; a driving power unit which is supported by the vehicle body frame and generates driving power for allowing the vehicle to travel; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to which the driving power is transmitted from the driving power unit, in a state in which the CVT is supported by the vehicle body frame; an air-intake unit including in an inside thereof, an air-intake passage through which intake-air flows to the CVT, and an air inlet through which the intake-air is introduced into the air-intake passage; and a cargo carrier having a depressed loading space in a state in which the cargo carrier is supported by the vehicle body frame, wherein the air inlet of the air-intake unit is directed downward and faces a surface of the cargo carrier.

A vehicle transaxle comprising a plurality of mounting flanges fixedly mountable to an axle tube of the vehicle absent any additional structure for mounting the transaxle to the vehicle. The axle tube houses a wheel axle to which the transaxle is operably couplable. The transaxle additionally comprises a transaxle mounting collar that is fixedly mounted to or integrally formed with a housing of the transaxle. The mounting collar is structured and operable to have a prime mover of the vehicle mounted thereto and to support the weight/mass of the prime mover such that the prime mover is mountable to the vehicle via only the mounting collar absent any additional structure for mounting the prime mover to the vehicle such that the prime mover can be cantilevered from (e.g., suspended from) the transaxle, e.g., the prime mover is free floating.

A side-by-side vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame including a cabin frame part surrounding a riding space in which seats for a driver and a passenger are provided; an engine which is mounted on the vehicle body frame and generates driving power for allowing the side-by-side vehicle to travel; an air-intake unit including in an inside thereof, an air-intake passage through which intake-air flows to the engine, and an air inlet through which the intake-air is introduced into the air-intake passage; and a cargo carrier having a loading space with a depressed shape in a state in which the cargo carrier is supported by the vehicle body frame, and the air-intake unit is disposed so that the air inlet is directed downward and faces a surface of the cargo carrier.

A vehicle transaxle comprising a plurality of mounting flanges fixedly mountable to an axle tube of the vehicle absent any additional structure for mounting the transaxle to the vehicle. The axle tube houses a wheel axle to which the transaxle is operably couplable. The transaxle additionally comprises a transaxle mounting collar that is fixedly mounted to or integrally formed with a housing of the transaxle. The mounting collar is structured and operable to have a prime mover of the vehicle mounted thereto and to support the weight/mass of the prime mover such that the prime mover is mountable to the vehicle via only the mounting collar absent any additional structure for mounting the prime mover to the vehicle such that the prime mover can be cantilevered from (e.g., suspended from) the transaxle, e.g., the prime mover is free floating.

A vehicle may include a continuously variable transmission which requires non-recycled air. The continuously variable transmission may provide non-recycled air to a first number of sheaves of the continuously variable transmission with a second number of air supply conduits, the second number being less than the first number. A cover of the continuously variable transmission may have a unitary body.

A vehicle configuration wherein the center of mass of the vehicle is approximately superimposed upon the passenger and driver centers of mass when seated within the vehicle. An occupant's center of mass can be approximated using a standard center of mass position approximation, or a combination of any number of standard center of mass position approximations. The vehicle's center of mass can be approximately superimposed upon the occupant's center of mass in at least the longitudinal and vertical directions.

An air intake system for a vehicle has a conduit having an internal wall forming an air passage. A deflector is disposed within the air passage. A restricting structure is disposed within the air passage between the deflector and a conduit outlet. The restricting structure defines at least in part an opening substantially laterally aligned with the deflector. The restricting structure has a lateral wall disposed downstream of the deflector and extending within the air passage. The lateral wall has a front surface generally facing a conduit inlet, and a plurality of surface-increasing features provided on the front surface. Each of the surface-increasing features has a length of at least 1 mm measured from the front surface in a direction normal thereto. An air intake system having a collector connected to the deflector and positioned to collect at least some moisture from air flowing past the deflector is also described.

A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame, a powertrain assembly, a front suspension assembly, and a rear suspension assembly. A cargo bed may be supported by the frame at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes an operator seat and at least one passenger seat positioned within an operator area. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes doors to enclose the operator area.

A drive pulley for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) has a pulley shaft with a fixed sheave, a movable sheave and a back plate thereon. The movable sheave has a movable sheave surface with first and second surface portions that faces the back plate. A biasing member biases the sheaves away from each other. A slider is disposed between the back plate and the movable sheave. The slider has a flat engagement zone surface, and a curved driving zone surface extending outward from the engagement zone surface. From rest, as the pulley shaft accelerates, the engagement zone surface of the slider slides radially outward against the first portion of the movable sheave surface and then the driving zone surface of the slider slides radially outward against the second portion of the movable sheave thereby pushing the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave. A vehicle having the CVT is also disclosed.