Patent ID: 6702057
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: B60G,B60K,B60R,B60W,B60Y

Abstract:
A vehicle having a front engine and a rear drive, comprising:a vehicle having a length with a front and a rear; a longitudinally mounted engine in the front of said vehicle, said engine having a rear power output; a single segment drive shaft arranged between said engine and a single rear drive; a power transfer device mounted behind said rear power output of said longitudinally mounted engine, said power transfer device including: a casing, an input means receiving power from said rear power output of said engine, an output means for supplying power to said single rear drive via said single segment drive shaft, and means inside said casing for transferring engine power from said input means to said output means; a low profile suspension resiliently supporting rear wheels such that said rear wheels move vertically, said rear wheels operably interconnected to said single rear drive, said single rear drive driving said rear wheels; and a load floor arranged behind said engine and power transfer device, extending to said rear of said vehicle and running over said single segment drive shaft, said load floor defining a generally horizontal plane, said power transfer device and said low profile suspension configured so that said single segment drive shaft is substantially horizontal beneath said load floor between said power transfer device and said single rear drive.