Patent ID: 9421853
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: B60G,B60K,B62D

Claim Text:
1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle structure extending along a longitudinal axis between a forward end and a rearward end of the vehicle, wherein the forward end and the rearward end each extend along a cross-car axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the longitudinal axis and the cross-car axis define a horizontal plane; an engine supported by the vehicle structure and including a crankshaft defining a crank axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle structure and substantially parallel with the horizontal plane; a transmission coupled to the engine and including a transmission output shaft engaging the crankshaft, wherein the transmission output shaft defines a transmission output axis disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis and substantially parallel with the crank axis; a steering rack supported by the vehicle structure forward of the transmission output axis, and including a pinion extension extending toward the rearward end of the vehicle structure; a 5-link suspension system connecting a forward wheel assembly to the vehicle structure, wherein the 5-link suspension system includes an upper ride link, a lower ride link, an upper handling link, a lower handling link, and a steering link; wherein the transmission output axis is disposed nearer the forward end of the vehicle structure than the crank axis; and wherein the crank axis is disposed vertically above the transmission output axis such that the pinion extension passes underneath the engine.