IP Library Granted Patent US 12,583,533
Granted Patent B2
US 12,583,533 · App. 18/360,500 · Granted Mar 24, 2026

Road vehicle provided with a central aerodynamic channel and proper powertrain system

Inventor: Alessandro Segalini (Modena, IT)
Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
B62D35/02B60K7/0007B60K17/043B60K2007/0076B60Y2200/91
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,583,533
App. No.
18/360,500
Granted
Mar 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Road vehicle comprising: four wheels, at least a pair of them being drive wheels; a passenger compartment configured to accommodate at least a driver; a vehicle body comprising a front portion and a rear portion relative to the passenger compartment along a travel direction; a powertrain system; a central aerodynamic channel at least partially arranged under the passenger compartment along a central longitudinal axis of the road vehicle; wherein the central aerodynamic channel seamlessly extends from a first aperture arranged in the area of the front portion to a second aperture arranged in the area of the rear portion of the vehicle body; wherein the powertrain system is at least partially arranged laterally to the central aerodynamic channel.

Claims (20)

1 . A road vehicle ( 1 ) comprising:

four wheels ( 2 ), of which at least one pair of wheels ( 2 ) is driven;

a passenger compartment ( 3 ) configured to accommodate at least a driver;

a vehicular body ( 4 ) comprising a front portion ( 6 ) and a rear portion ( 7 ) relative to the passenger compartment ( 3 ) along a travel direction (D);

a powertrain system ( 10 ); and

a central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ) arranged at least partially below the passenger compartment ( 3 ) along a central longitudinal axis (A) of the road vehicle ( 1 );

wherein the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ) extends seamlessly from a first aperture ( 18 ) arranged at the front portion ( 6 ) to a second aperture ( 19 ) arranged at the rear portion ( 7 ) of the vehicular body ( 4 );

wherein the powertrain system ( 10 ) is arranged at least partially laterally to the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 );

wherein the powertrain system ( 10 ) comprises at least two electric actuators systems ( 13 ) comprising, each, at least one electric motor ( 14 ) and respective motion transmission elements ( 15 ) configured to transmit the motion of each electric motor ( 14 ) to at least one drive wheel ( 2 ) via a respective drive axle shaft ( 16 );

wherein the electric motors ( 14 ) are arranged at a distance that is equal to or smaller than 500 mm from the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ).

2 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each of the electric motors ( 14 ) extend parallel and lateral to the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ).

3 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein each electric motor ( 14 ) is arranged to have a respective first rotation axis (B) parallel to the central longitudinal axis (A) and thus to the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ).

4 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein each electric actuator system comprises a respective one of the motion transmission elements configured to transfer the motion of each electric motor ( 14 ) from the first rotation axis (B) parallel to the central longitudinal axis (A) to a second axis (C) of rotation parallel to a transverse axis (T) of the road vehicle ( 1 ).

5 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein each motion transmission element ( 15 ) comprises conical elements ( 21 ) for an angular transmission of motion.

6 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the motion transmission elements ( 15 ) comprise a reduction element ( 23 ) configured to reduce the rotational speed exiting the electric motor while maintaining motion along the first rotation axis (B).

7 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each electric motor ( 14 ) is arranged laterally to the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ) at a vehicular bottom ( 20 ).

8 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the powertrain system ( 10 ) is arranged at least partially at the same height above the ground as the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ).

9 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the powertrain system ( 10 ) comprises four different electric actuator systems ( 13 ), each comprising at least one electric motor ( 14 ) and respective motion transmission elements ( 15 ), wherein the electric motors ( 14 ) are arranged two to the right and two to the left of the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ).

10 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the electric motors ( 14 ) are arranged closer to the central longitudinal axis (A) of the body ( 4 ) than the motion transmission elements ( 15 ).

11 . The road vehicle ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the central aerodynamic channel ( 17 ) is at least partially inferiorly bounded by at least one downforce element ( 24 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2026
From: SEGALINI, ALESSANDRO
To: FERRARI S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 073641/0107 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT 102022000016143 · Jul 29, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240034422A1 · Feb 1, 2024
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