A tonneau cover access panel assembly connectable to a vehicle that eliminates the need for side rails to both locate and tension a tonneau cover. The assembly also reduces weight and complexity. The assembly incorporates a readily accessible rear latching system that reduces or eliminates interference with the tonneau cover during operation. The assembly also incorporates a tonneau cover tensioning system. The tension seals out environmental elements and holds the tonneau cover and locating bows in place. The assembly holds the tonneau in the closed tension state keeping the tonneau cover secured and tight until the cover is opened by an operator. The assembly is movable between a closed position and a fully open/stowable position and any intermediate positions. The assembly is also movable between at least a first open position and the deployed position for more limiting access to the cargo bed of the vehicle when desired.

A method of producing a deflector device for a fuel tank system comprising producing a deflector device prototype from prefabricated components of a construction kit, performing fuel-refilling tests using the deflector device prototype, optionally modifying the deflector device prototype, creating a construction model for the deflector device prototype, producing a deflector device according to the construction model, optionally performing fuel-refilling tests with the deflector device produced according to the construction model and optionally producing the deflector device according to the construction model. The disclosure further provides a construction kit with prefabricated components for producing the prototype of the deflector device for the fuel tank system.

A headlight-affixing structure for affixing a headlight positioned above a front bumper to a vehicle by using a headlight bracket. When viewed from the front, the headlight bracket is substantially formed into an L-shape and comprises a horizontal section extending in the vehicle-width direction along the lower edge of the headlight, and an upright section extending upward from an end of the horizontal section on the inside thereof in the vehicle-width direction. The upright section of the headlight bracket is provided with an upper affixing part for affixing the upper section of the headlight by using a downward-facing fastening member. The middle-outside section of the horizontal section is provided with a lower affixing part for affixing the lower section of the headlight by using an upward-facing fastening member.

A structure for fastening an engine mount is provided and includes an engine bracket that is mounted on an engine body coupled to a first end of a support bracket and a second end of the support bracket is connected to the engine mount. The support bracket has a bolt aperture that receives a center bolt protruding from an upper surface of the engine mount. The support bracket is placed on a mounting seat on the upper surface of the engine mount. The mounting seat is recessed downward from the upper surface of the engine mount. The height difference between an engine side portion and an engine mount side portion is reduced to a depth of the recession of the mounting seat. The rigidity and NVH performance are improved and a weight of the support bracket is reduced by omitting the damper.

An ornamental grille for a motor vehicle front part is disclosed. The ornamental grille has a plurality of ornamental elements which respectively include an ornamental element end wall and an ornamental element side wall protruding from this and has a plurality of connecting elements via which adjacent ornamental elements are connected to one another respectively. The ornamental elements are arranged in rows and the ornamental elements of one row are laterally offset from the ornamental elements of the adjacently arranged row of ornamental elements.

Powered retractable vehicle step assist systems and methods are provided. The steps systems are configured for installation (e.g., after market installation) and use with a vehicle. The system can include a stepping member movable between a retracted position and a deployed position with respect to the vehicle. The system can further include a vehicle interface. A controller of the step system can be configured to process information received from the vehicle interface and, based at least partly on the processing of the information, cause movement of the stepping member between the retracted position and the deployed position.

A powertrain for a hybrid vehicle may include a planetary gear set including five rotation elements, an input shaft connected to an engine and configured to be selectively connectable to a first rotation element and to a fourth rotation element of the planetary gear set, a motor generator connected to a second rotation element of the planetary gear set, an output shaft connected to a third rotation element of the planetary gear set, and a brake configured to selectively fix the fifth rotation element of the planetary gear set to a transmission housing.

A vehicle body assembly is described herein, including a first structural component and a second structural component. The first structural component may be a roof component or a side panel, and include a first part including a first metal and a second part including a second metal different than the first metal. The second part is formed on a peripheral edge portion of the first part and defines a mounting flange for the first structural component. The second part is joined to the first part via an ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) interface. The second structural component is including the second metal and is joined to the second part at the mounting flange via a resistance spot weld (RSW) joint.

The present invention is directed to providing a strut suspension system configured to improve a steering property by reducing steering frictional resistance when a steering wheel is rotationally manipulated and having a relatively simple mechanical structure to reduce the number of components and manufacturing costs and to secure a large space for installing main components such as an engine and the like.

Disclosed is a strut suspension system configured to absorb impact and vibrations transferred to a vehicle body from a road surface through a wheel. The strut suspension system includes a strut provided between the vehicle body and the wheel and to which a knuckle arm connecting a steering system of a vehicle to the wheel is connected to be relatively rotatable when the steering system performs steering and a stabilizer link having one end connected to a stabilizer bar configured to increase roll rigidity of the vehicle body and the other end coupled to prevent the strut from rotating.

A tonneau cover access panel assembly connectable to a vehicle that eliminates the need for side rails to both locate and tension a tonneau cover. The assembly also reduces weight and complexity. The assembly incorporates a readily accessible rear latching system that reduces or eliminates interference with the tonneau cover during operation. The assembly also incorporates a tonneau cover tensioning system. The tension seals out environmental elements and holds the tonneau cover and locating bows in place. The assembly holds the tonneau in the closed tension state keeping the tonneau cover secured and tight until the cover is opened by an operator. The assembly is movable between a closed position and a fully open/stowable position and any intermediate positions. The assembly is also movable between at least a first open position and the deployed position for more limiting access to the cargo bed of the vehicle when desired.