A vehicle steering system has a pitman arm being pivotable about a pitman arm pivot axis in response to pivoting of a steering column, a link pivotally connected to the pitman arm, an idler arm pivotally connected to the link and being pivotable about an idler arm pivot axis, the link extending between the pitman arm and the idler arm, a first tie rod pivotally connected to the pitman arm and extending from the pitman arm in a first direction, and a second tie rod pivotally connected to the idler arm and extending from the idler arm in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction. A vehicle having the vehicle steering system is also described.

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.

The general layout for a front wheel drive, three-wheeled vehicle with two steerable driven wheels in the front of the vehicle, and the motor or motors located in the mid-section of the vehicle. The vehicle is designed for compact motors, in-hub motors, and direct connect motors which allow a significant portion of the vehicle's weight to be moved forward, while integrating location of the passenger seating, steering, and driven wheels allows for a highly stable vehicle. The layout maintains the traditional bucket or bench style seats as found in today's automobiles, and yet allows for weighting and cockpit adaptability for different market demographics.

A wheel for a vehicle is provided. The wheel has a rim configured for mounting a tire thereto. The wheel also has a rotary drive member that is integrally connected to the rim. The drive member is configured to be operatively connected to a motor of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a modular way to build a rolling chassis using composite materials without custom forming, and yielding appropriate weight distribution (centre of gravity) and torsional and bending rigidity.

A vehicle has a driver module and a propulsion module selectively connected to the driver module. The modules are separable from each other as independent units. The driver module has a driver module frame, at least one front wheel operatively connected to the driver module frame, at least one front suspension assembly operatively connecting the at least one front wheel to the driver module frame, and a seat connected to the frame. The propulsion module has a propulsion module frame, at least one rear wheel operatively connected to the propulsion module frame, at least one rear suspension assembly operatively connecting the at least one rear wheel to the propulsion module frame, a motor operatively connected to the at least one rear wheel, and an energy storage device operatively connected to the motor.

A step-through type vehicle includes: a frame assembly; at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel connected to the frame assembly and rotated by a power unit; and a plurality of portions comprising one or more flexible portions, and one or more fixed portions. The fixed portions include a front structure, a rear structure, and a top structure disposed between the front structure and the rear structure. The flexible portions include at least one retractable member. The top structure and the retractable member include a plurality of solar panels. The retractable member is detachably attached with the top structure, and is retracted upwardly towards the top structure, and stretched downwardly from the top structure towards the front wheel and the rear wheel. The retractable member is foldably stowed inside at least one box like compartment, which is at least one part of the rear structure.

A vehicle including a first member rotatably supporting a rear wheel, a second member disposed in front of the first member, and a coupling member disposed between the first member and the second member and fixed to the first member and the second member to support the first member and the second member swingably in a left-right direction about an axial line in a front-rear direction. The coupling member is provided so that a position of the post-swing ground contact point is closer to the axial line than a position of the post-swing ground contact point in the left-right direction before the first member swings, the ground contact point being a center in an area on a surface of the rear wheel in contact with a road surface, the post-swing ground contact point being the ground contact point after the first member swings about the axial line.

A method and system for assembling a vehicle of a family of vehicles includes providing a group of engines. A first engine including a first number of cylinders corresponds to a first vehicle. A second engine including a second number of cylinders corresponds to a second vehicle. The second number is greater than the first number which is at least one. A cylinder plane extends vertically and longitudinally. At least one cylinder is disposed at least partly forward of a front wheel plane. The transmission assembly is rearward of the selected engine and one of the transmission assembly and the selected engine is in a same location whether the selected engine is the first or the second. The seat is at least in part longitudinally rearward of the transmission assembly. The selected engine is laterally disposed between the centers of the footrests.

The general layout for a front wheel drive, three-wheeled vehicle with two steerable driven wheels in the front of the vehicle, and the motor or motors located in the mid-section of the vehicle. The vehicle is designed for compact motors, in-hub motors, and direct connect motors which allow a significant portion of the vehicle's weight to be moved forward, while integrating location of the passenger seating, steering, and driven wheels allows for a highly stable vehicle. The layout maintains the traditional bucket or bench style seats as found in today's automobiles, and yet allows for weighting and cockpit adaptability for different market demographics.