It is shown that the extended teleparallel gravitational theories, known as $f(T)$ theories, inherit some on shell local Lorentz invariance associated with the tetrad field defining the spacetime structure. We discuss some enlightening examples, such as Minkowski spacetime and cosmological (Friedmann-Robertson-Walker and Bianchi type I) manifolds. In the first case, we show that the absence of gravity reveals itself as an incapability in the selection of a preferred parallelization at a local level, due to the fact that the infinitesimal local Lorentz subgroup acts as a symmetry group of the frame characterizing Minkowski spacetime. Finite transformations are also discussed in these examples and, contrary to the common lore on the subject, we conclude that the set of tetrads responsible for the parallelization of these manifolds is quite vast and that the remnant group of local Lorentz transformations includes one- and two-dimensional Abelian subgroups of the Lorentz group.

Born-Infeld determinantal gravity formulated in Weitzenb\"ock spacetime is discussed in the context of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmologies. It is shown how the standard model big bang singularity is absent in certain spatially flat FRW spacetimes, where the high energy regime is characterized by a de Sitter inflationary stage of geometrical character, i.e., without the presence of the inflaton field. This taming of the initial singularity is also achieved for some spatially curved FRW manifolds where the singularity is replaced by a de Sitter stage or a big bounce of the scale factor depending on certain combinations of free parameters appearing in the action. Unlike other Born-Infeld-like theories in vogue, the one here presented is also capable of deforming vacuum general relativistic solutions.

We review the current status of the Lorentz covariance in teleparallel and modified teleparallel theories of gravity, and discuss the controversial features of the different approaches. We also revisit the issue of the remnant Lorentz gauge symmetries in $f\left(T\right)$ gravity.

The presence of compact extra dimensions in cosmological scenarios in the context of $f(T)$-like gravities is discussed. For the case of toroidal compactifications, the analysis is performed in an arbitrary number of extra dimensions. Spherical topologies for the extra dimensions are then carefully studied in six and seven spacetime dimensions, where the proper vielbein fields responsible for the parallelization process are found.

We study a particular exact solution to the Born-Infeld determinantal gravity consisting of a cosmological model which undergoes a “brusque bounce.” The latter consists of an event characterized by a non-null (but finite) value of the squared Hubble rate $H^2$ occurring at a minimum (non-null) scale factor. The energy density and pressure of the fluid covering the whole manifold are perfectly well behaved in such an event, but the curvature invariants turn out to be undefined there because of the undefined character of $\dot{H}$. It is shown that the spacetime that results is geodesically complete and singularity free, and that it corresponds to a picture of an eternal Universe in which a (somewhat unconventional) bounce replaces the standard big bang singularity. This example tends to asize that, beyond Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and in the context of extended theories of gravity formulated by purely torsional means, the criterion of a singularity based on pathologies of scalars constructed upon the Riemann curvature tensor becomes objectionable.

The regular black hole solution arising as a spherically symmetric vacuum solution of Born–Infeld gravity possesses an asymptotic interior structure which is very well described by a four-dimensional generalization of the non-rotating BTZ metric. According to this picture no singularity exists, and instead, infalling observers experience a constant curvature manifold as they travel towards future null infinity. This is characterized by the BTZ event horizon. The exterior structure of the black hole is also studied, and it is shown that it corresponds to the Schwarzschild solution provided the black hole mass is not too small. In this way, the regular black hole state can be seen as a spacetime which connects two constant curvature asymptotic spaces, namely, the flat Minkowski spacetime in the outside region, and the locally AdS constant negative curvature one characterizing the BTZ-like asymptotic interior.