Patent 8403096 was granted and assigned to Mazda Motor Corporation on March, 2013 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A rear floor panel extends rearwardly from a kick-up portion formed at a rear portion of a floor panel. A lateral connecting member which constitutes part of a rear suspension connects to supporting portions to support both rear wheels. An engine is arranged below the rear floor panel and in front of the lateral connecting member. A generator is arranged below the rear floor panel and in back of the engine. Accordingly, the traveling stability of the vehicle can be improved and the yaw inertia moment of the vehicle can be decreased.