EP-4741264-A1 - VEHICLE

EP4741264A1EP 4741264 A1EP4741264 A1EP 4741264A1EP-4741264-A1

Abstract

A vehicle comprising a vehicle body, the vehicle body comprising: an exterior surface; and a slot formed in the exterior surface, the slot extending from a forward position forward of an occupant compartment of the vehicle to a rearward position rearward of the occupant compartment of the vehicle, the slot being an opening to a channel in the vehicle body, the channel comprising: one or more air vents; one or more moveable air baffles; and/or a handle for opening an occupant door of the vehicle.

Inventors

LO RE, ANTONINO
SUEHLMANN, TOBIAS

Assignees

McLaren Automotive Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251107

Claims (15)

A vehicle comprising a vehicle body, the vehicle body comprising: an exterior surface; and a slot formed in the exterior surface, the slot extending from a forward position forward of an occupant compartment of the vehicle to a rearward position rearward of the occupant compartment of the vehicle, the slot being an opening to a channel in the vehicle body, the channel comprising: one or more air vents; one or more moveable air baffles; and/or a handle for opening an occupant door of the vehicle.
The vehicle of claim 1, the exterior surface being at least partially defined by a plurality of body panels, the slot being formed in one or more body panels of the plurality of body panels; and/or the exterior surface being at least partially defined by a plurality of body panels, the slot being formed between multiple body panels of the plurality of body panels; and/or the exterior surface being at least partially defined by a plurality of body panels, a first section of the slot being formed in one or more body panels of the plurality of body panels and a second section of the slot being formed between multiple body panels of the plurality of body panels.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, the vehicle comprising a front wheel arch, the one or more air vents comprising a front wheel arch air vent for venting air from the front wheel arch, and optionally a front wheel being positioned in the front wheel arch, the front wheel arch air vent extending a length of the channel that is greater than or equal to the radius of the front wheel.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, the vehicle comprising a heat exchanger, the one or more air vents comprising a heat exchanger air vent for venting air from the heat exchanger, and optionally the heat exchanger being at least partially rearward of the occupant compartment of the vehicle.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, the one or more moveable air baffles comprising a front moveable air baffle forward of the occupant door of the vehicle.
The vehicle of claim 5, the front moveable air baffle being moveable relative to the channel.
The vehicle of claim 5 or 6, the front moveable air baffle being moveable to a position in which it protrudes from the channel.
The vehicle of any of claims 5 to 7, the front moveable air baffle being moveable between a first position in which it is does not protrude from the channel and a second position in which it protrudes from the channel.
The vehicle of any of claims 5 to 8, the vehicle being configured to control movement of the front moveable air baffle in dependence on a sideslip angle of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle and/or a steering angle of the vehicle.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, the one or more moveable air baffles comprising a rear moveable air baffle rearward of the occupant door of the vehicle.
The vehicle of claim 10, the rear moveable air baffle being moveable relative to the channel.
The vehicle of claim 10 or 11, the rear moveable air baffle being moveable to a position in which it protrudes from the channel.
The vehicle of any of claims 10 to 12, the rear moveable air baffle being moveable between a first position in which it is does not protrude from the channel and a second position in which it protrudes from the channel.
The vehicle of any of claims 10 to 13, the vehicle being configured to control movement of the rear moveable air baffle in dependence on a sideslip angle of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle and/or a steering angle of the vehicle.
The vehicle of any preceding claim, the vehicle comprising a wing mirror or wing camera supported by a stem that protrudes from the channel.

Description

BACKGROUND This invention relates to a vehicle. When a vehicle is in motion it interacts with air in its surroundings. For example, when a vehicle is in forward motion, a rearward flow of air interacts with that vehicle. In another example, when a vehicle is cornering, a lateral flow of air (e.g. a "cross-wind") interacts with that vehicle. The manner in which a vehicle in motion interacts with air in its surroundings can significantly affect the performance and handling characteristics of that vehicle. For example, aerodynamic drag can be caused by air impinging on the surfaces of a vehicle in motion. In another example, lift and/or further aerodynamic drag can be caused by air accumulating in the wheel arches of a vehicle in motion. Aerodynamic drag can negatively affect the maximum speed of a vehicle. Lift can destabilise a vehicle, both when that vehicle is traveling in a straight line and during cornering. It is desirable to minimise the aerodynamic drag and/or lift experienced by a vehicle in motion, preferably both when that vehicle is traveling in a straight line and during cornering. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle comprising a vehicle body, the vehicle body comprising: an exterior surface; and a slot formed in the exterior surface, the slot extending from a forward position forward of an occupant compartment of the vehicle to a rearward position rearward of the occupant compartment of the vehicle, the slot being an opening to a channel in the vehicle body, the channel comprising: one or more air vents; one or more moveable air baffles; and/or a handle for opening an occupant door of the vehicle. The exterior surface may be at least partially defined by a plurality of body panels, the slot may be formed in one or more body panels of the plurality of body panels. The exterior surface may be at least partially defined by a plurality of body panels, the slot may be formed between multiple body panels of the plurality of body panels. The exterior surface may be at least partially defined by a plurality of body panels, a first section of the slot may be formed in one or more body panels of the plurality of body panels and a second section of the slot may be formed between multiple body panels of the plurality of body panels. The vehicle may comprise a front wheel arch, the one or more air vents may comprise a front wheel arch air vent for venting air from the front wheel arch. A front wheel may be positioned in the front wheel arch, the front wheel arch air vent may extend a length of the channel that is greater than or equal to the radius of the front wheel. The front wheel arch air vent may have an aspect ratio of at least 10:1. The vehicle may comprise a heat exchanger, the one or more air vents may comprise a heat exchanger air vent for venting air from the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be at least partially rearward of the occupant compartment of the vehicle. The one or more moveable air baffles may comprise a front moveable air baffle forward of the occupant door of the vehicle. The front moveable air baffle may be moveable relative to the channel. The front moveable air baffle may be moveable to a position in which it protrudes from the channel. The front moveable air baffle may be moveable between a first position in which it is does not protrude from the channel and a second position in which it protrudes from the channel. The vehicle may be configured to control movement of the front moveable air baffle in dependence on a sideslip angle of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle and/or a steering angle of the vehicle. The one or more moveable air baffles may comprise a rear moveable air baffle rearward of the occupant door of the vehicle. The rear moveable air baffle may be moveable relative to the channel. The rear moveable air baffle may be moveable to a position in which it protrudes from the channel. The rear moveable air baffle may be moveable between a first position in which it is does not protrude from the channel and a second position in which it protrudes from the channel. The vehicle may be configured to control movement of the rear moveable air baffle in dependence on a sideslip angle of the vehicle, a yaw rate of the vehicle and/or a steering angle of the vehicle. The channel may have a median plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The vehicle may comprise a wing mirror or wing camera supported by a stem that protrudes from the channel. The slot may be continuous between the forward position and the rearward position. The slot may be intermittent between the forward position and the rearward position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle.Figure 2 shows a plan view of a vehicle.Figure 3 shows a sid