Light commercial vehicles are extension of three wheelers due to their need for simplicity and load carrying capacity. Smaller vehicle being simpler, have engine mounted at the rear. This give an added advantage in term of simple and light weight design and thus cost effective and have low engine noise and vibration in cabin.
In many of the light commercial vehicles, which have been downsized from the bigger vehicles like trucks, have the aggregates designs similar to those of trucks like the drive line extending from the mid engine to rear axle having integral differential. The axle carries the leaf springs for giving robust look as well the load carrying capacity.
In the new rear suspension design of the light commercial vehicle, advantage of the mid position engine concept and rear engine concept have been captured.
This paper is discusses the design philosophy and the packaging of the same along with criteria for design.