The invention relates to a crossmember for motor vehicle construction, having at least two modules that can be arranged one above the other, wherein each module has an inner side wall and an outer side wall, which are connected to one another at their upper ends by an upper wall and at their lower ends by a lower wall, wherein the upper wall of the lower module has, over the longitudinal extent thereof, a raised portion or depression, which engages in a complementary depression or raised portion of the lower wall of the upper module.

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.

An invented all electric powered multi-modular vehicle system consists of a driving module and different types of non-driving vehicle modules, such as enhanced capacity module for more passengers, sports utility module, a truck-bed module, a recreational vehicle module, four-wheel-drive module and cargo truck module etc. When given a command the vehicle modules shall be automatically configured into one vehicle or detached back to individual vehicle modules as commanded. The entire coupling and configuration and decoupling and deconfiguration may be operated with a wireless user device. The modular vehicle system offers users with different options over capacities and functions, as well as cost-saving and more efficient vehicle utilization rate. Vehicle owners may buy a particular set of modules while rent or lease or exchange other non-driving modules via vehicle rental service or a media network connecting owners of the modular vehicles when needed.

An invented all electric powered multi-modular vehicle system consists of a driving module and different types of non-driving vehicle modules, such as enhanced capacity module for more passengers, sports utility module, a truck-bed module, a recreational vehicle module, four-wheel-drive module and cargo truck module etc. When given a command the vehicle modules shall be automatically configured into one vehicle or detached back to individual vehicle modules as commanded. The entire coupling and configuration and decoupling and deconfiguration may be operated with a wireless user device. The modular vehicle system offers users with different options over capacities and functions, as well as cost-saving and more efficient vehicle utilization rate. Vehicle owners may buy a particular set of modules while rent or lease or exchange other non-driving modules via vehicle rental service or a media network connecting owners of the modular vehicles when needed.

Vehicle chassis with interchangeable performance packages and related methods. are disclosed herein. An example vehicle chassis disclosed herein includes a frame including a first chassis portion including a cavity, a battery platform coupled to first chassis portion, and a first subframe couplable within the cavity, the first subframe including a first motor and a first suspension assembly, and a second subframe couplable within the cavity, the second subframe including a second motor and a second suspension assembly, the second motor having a greater power than the first motor, the second suspension assembly having a greater stiffness than the first suspension assembly.

Vehicle chassis with interchangeable performance packages and related methods. are disclosed herein. An example vehicle chassis disclosed herein includes a frame including a first chassis portion including a cavity, a battery platform coupled to first chassis portion, and a first subframe couplable within the cavity, the first subframe including a first motor and a first suspension assembly, and a second subframe couplable within the cavity, the second subframe including a second motor and a second suspension assembly, the second motor having a greater power than the first motor, the second suspension assembly having a greater stiffness than the first suspension assembly.

A vehicle corner module (VCM) is provided for regulating motion of a host vehicle which comprises a vehicle-on-board vehicle-controller. The VCM comprises a sub-frame mountable to a reference frame of the host vehicle; a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub; VCM-sub-systems mediating between the sub-frame and the wheel-hub assembly, e.g., a drive subsystem, a steering subsystem, a suspension subsystem and/or a braking subsystem; and an VCM-onboard VCM-controller, comprising one or more processors and a computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to establish a communication link with a vehicle-controller, including electronically transferring information about the VCM from the VCM-controller to the vehicle-controller, and to perform, in response to an installation of the VCM on a vehicle, a post-installation validation-process that includes validating the VCM-subsystems and communicating a result of the validating to the vehicle-controller.

Some embodiments relate to a vehicle corner module (VCM) connectable to a VCM-connection interface of a reference-frame of a vehicle platform (e.g. for regulating motion of a vehicle). Some embodiments relate to a multi-interface connection-element for connection of multiple electronic or flow vehicle subsystems of a vehicle to a Vehicle Corner Module (VCM). Related methods are disclosed herein.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for multi-position wheel assembly mounts. An example vehicle frame disclosed herein includes apertures adjacent to each of a plurality of wheel assembly locations on the vehicle frame, and a wheel assembly mount at each of the wheel assembly locations, the wheel assembly mount having protrusions extending toward the vehicle frame and positionable in the apertures in a first position to provide a first ride height of the vehicle frame and a second position to provide a second ride height of the vehicle frame, the first ride height less than the second ride height.