Vehicle with articulating grille
A vehicle includes a body structure defining a front trunk having a front opening. A grille coves the front opening in a closed position and is pivotable about a vertical hinge, or a horizontal hinge along a top edge, secured to the body structure to provide access to the front opening. The grille may include a bin mounted on an inner surface of the grille and pivotable with the grille, a heating/cooling duct or a video display.
1. A vehicle comprising:
body structure defining a front trunk having a front opening;
a grille covering the front opening in a closed position and pivotable about a vertical hinge secured to the body structure to provide access to the front opening;
a bin mounted on an inner surface of the grille and pivotable with the grille; and
a duct mounted in the front trunk behind a grille opening in the grille, a fan directing air through the duct, and a heating-cooling assembly for heating and cooling air flowing through the duct into the front trunk.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 further including a temperature sensor in the front trunk and a controller configured to control the heating-cooling assembly to provide a desired temperature within the front trunk.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 further including a movable cover to selectively block airflow through the grille opening.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vertical hinge is a gooseneck hinge.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vertical hinge is a four-bar linkage.
6. A vehicle comprising:
body structure defining a front trunk having a front opening; and
a grille covering the front opening in a closed position and pivotable upward about a horizontal hinge, secured between a top edge of the grille and the body structure to provide access to the front opening; wherein the grille includes a video display mounted on an inner surface that is visible in front of the vehicle when the grille is in an open position.
7. The vehicle of claim 6 further including a controller configured to prevent the vehicle from moving when the grille is in the open position.
8. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the horizontal hinge is a gooseneck hinge.
9. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the horizontal hinge is a four-bar linkage.
10. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the grille includes an upper portion that pivots about the horizontal hinge and a lower portion that is pivotable downward about a lower horizontal hinge, secured between a bottom edge of the lower portion and the body structure.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the upper portion is slidably retractable into the front trunk under a hood.
12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the lower portion is slidably retractable into the front trunk.
13. A vehicle comprising:
body structure defining a front trunk having a front opening; and
a grille covering the front opening in a closed position and pivotable upward about a horizontal hinge, secured between a top edge of the grille and the body structure to provide access to the front opening; wherein the grille includes an upper portion that pivots about the horizontal hinge and a lower portion that is pivotable downward about a lower horizontal hinge, secured between a bottom edge of the lower portion and the body structure.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the upper portion is slidably retractable into the front trunk under a hood.
15. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the lower portion is slidably retractable into the front trunk.