A rotating mudguard assembly having fixed and rotating parts includes a locking mechanism to limit the relative movement between the fixed and rotating parts of the assembly. The locking mechanism has a locking pin which can selectively engage with a locking plate, the pin and the plate on respective parts of the rotating mudguard assembly. The locking mechanism may be an integral part of the assembly, or the locking mechanism may be a kit of parts for installation on or retrofitting to an assembly.

The present disclosure relates to a hybrid material panel assembly for a vehicle. The panel assembly includes a panel and a plurality of mounting flanges integrally formed with the panel. The panel is formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The plurality of mounting flanges are formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, where each of the plurality of mounting flanges include a mounting area that defines a mounting surface and at least one mounting hole. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

Systems and methods for controlling movement of a mudflap hanger arm, to reliably return from a deflected position to a resting position, while providing improved manufacturability and reduced corrosion and wear through the use of guidance surfaces on a mounting plate and a frame seat that form the interface between the hanger arm and a vehicle frame. When the hanger arm pivots about an axis on one side of the mounting plate and frame seat, guidance surfaces on the opposite side are in contact or near-contact, preventing the mounting plate and frame seat from being laterally displaced or rotated with respect to each other. The improved mounting plate and frame seat can reduce or eliminate manufacturing operations such as welding, coating, etc., reducing the cost of the apparatus, while enhancing manufacturability and operation.

Decrease in rigidity of an outer panel around its opening is suppressed. A vehicle outer panel assembly includes a fender panel lower part, which is an outer panel for a vehicle, and a bracket that reinforces the fender panel lower part. The fender panel lower part is perforated in a part thereof and thereby includes a frame part formed therein. The frame part includes a narrow rear crosspiece formed at an end edge of the fender panel lower part. The bracket is overlapped on and secured to the rear crosspiece.

An outer panel structure includes a front fender panel, which is an outer panel, and a charging receiver module or fuel receiver module. The front fender panel is provided at a side part of a vehicle, and includes a frame part formed therein by having a part thereof perforated in a thickness direction. The charging receiver module or fuel receiver module is inserted and fixed in the frame part. The charging receiver module or fuel receiver module includes a lid that can be opened and closed. The outer panel structure further includes a reinforcement bracket mounted to the front fender panel at a part located below an opening/closing hinge axis of the lid in terms of a vehicle height direction.

A rear part structure of a vehicle body includes: a rear side frame, extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body on an outside of a floor of a rear part of the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction; and a wheelhouse, arranged outside the rear side frame in the vehicle width direction. At least a portion of an outer wall of the rear side frame in the vehicle width direction is formed by the wheelhouse. A partition member provided within a section of the rear side frame has one end in the vehicle width direction joined to the outer wall formed by the wheelhouse, extends from the outer wall to a front side of the vehicle body and inward in the vehicle width direction, and has the other end in the vehicle width direction joined to an inner wall of the rear side frame.

A vehicle includes a vehicle body having an underbody, the vehicle body defining an inner fender, the inner fender forming an opening in the underbody of the vehicle body. A wheel assembly has a rim and a tire, and the wheel assembly is positioned within the inner fender. A suspension knuckle is disposed within the inner fender to permit motion of the wheel assembly relative to the vehicle body. A brake shield is mounted on the suspension knuckle and an inner fender undercover panel is secured on one of the brake shield and the suspension knuckle and disposed inboard of the wheel assembly. The inner fender undercover panel is configured to move up and down with vertical movement of the suspension knuckle and to move with turning movement of the wheel assembly.

A wheel casing including a body portion configured to be positioned along an inboard sidewall of a tire having an axis of rotation and at least a front strake positionable over tread of the tire. The front strake having a first edge adjacent the body portion and extending outwardly to a second edge of the front strake that terminates at or inboard of an outboard side of the tire, the front strake defining a lower edge and an upper edge, the lower edge and the upper edge both configured to be positioned forward of the axis of rotation, and tread of the tire positioned rearward of the upper edge is uncovered by the wheel casing.

An aerodynamic mud flap includes a body having a first lateral side, an opposite second lateral side, an upper end, an opposite lower end, a front face, and an opposite rear face. The body extends in a horizontal, vertical, and transverse directions. The body has a generally planar upper portion extending vertically from the upper end to a horizontal transition line, and an arcuate lower portion extending vertically from the transition line to the lower end. The lower portion is curved along the vertical direction such that the lower end of the body is offset from the upper end in the transverse direction and is disposed rearward of the upper end. A plurality of octagonal openings in the body extend from the front face to the rear face to allow for air flow through the mud flap from the front side to the rear side.

A vehicle may include: an external fender covering a front fender panel; a bumper; and a retainer fixing the external fender and the bumper to the front fender panel, in which the external fender includes an external fender end, the bumper includes a bumper end, and the external fender end and the bumper end are disposed in vicinity to and face each other, the retainer is disposed near a boundary between the external fender end and the bumper end, the retainer is covered by the external fender and the bumper, the external fender end includes an external fender flange protruding inward of the vehicle, the bumper end includes a bumper flange protruding inward of the vehicle, the retainer includes a groove extending along the boundary between the external fender end and the bumper end, and the external fender flange and the bumper flange are inserted in the groove.