Japan's automakers focus on weight loss, one ounce at a time
Automakers across the globe are in a frenzy to produce highly efficient, fuel saving vehicles that remain relatively inexpensive, yet still offering the modern conveniences and safety features consumers have grown to expect. While development on advanced drivetrains is going strong at almost every automaker, Japan's big four (Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda) realize that performance and efficiency gains aren't the exclusive purview of what's under the hood. The hood itself is part of equation.
Automotive News sat down with various heads of research and development at Japan's largest automakers and found that lighter cars are a top priority to increase fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions. The use of lightweight materials, the reduction of overall size and the development of new engineering and design methods are all contributing to Japan's dramatic weight loss solution.
Nissan has already announced plans to reduce vehicle weight by 15 percent by 2015. Mazda is aiming to cut 220 pounds from its vehicles beginning in 2011. Toyota is hoping to shed ten percent of its mid-size vehicle's weight by the mid-2010s and although Honda hasn't released a specific target for weight savings, the automaker considers it a top priority.
Toyota wants to reduce the Corolla's curb weight by 30 percent when the next generation sedan arrives in 2015 and its been reported that the new engine in the 2010 Prius, due out next year, will be 17 percent lighter and will use a battery pack that's half the weight of the current model.
All of Japan's automakers concede that reducing vehicle weight is a serious challenge. While steel prices have risen, they still don't warrant the extensive use of exotic materials like aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber. But the re-engineering of parts -- everything from body panels to A/C units -- is helping to achieve the goal, along with new manufacturing methods that are saving materials, cutting costs and increasing efficiency.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Torrent 7:43PM (7/07/2008)
That'd be funny if there were all-carbon fiber cars..........
holy crap it could happen........
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Paullll 1:30AM (7/09/2008)
try repairing accident damage in a CF car...
Joce03 8:32PM (7/07/2008)
Would make for expensive repairs, but it would be great!
mr.ed 9:12PM (7/07/2008)
There isn't enough extra carbon fiber supply at present. This stuff doesn't fall from the sky. The closest you'll get to it now is a decal, like on the Challenger hood.
tankd0g 9:23PM (7/07/2008)
It'll be falling from the sky soon enough, once Boeing ships their first plane :)
notYou 9:54PM (7/07/2008)
The reason why there isn't enough supply is because there isn't enough demand to justify the investment in production. Once a big time manufacturer says they're going to make x% of their vehicles in carbon-fiber (we're talking a ginormous bid), watch the factories get built and the costs come down.
Soul Shinobi 7:47AM (7/08/2008)
They're working on it. :)
"Japanese firms working to make carbon fiber mainstream"
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/12/japanese-firms-working-to-make-carbon-fiber-mainstream/
4agze 7:44PM (7/07/2008)
wait till the US do a weight saving, they will just pay the driver to loose weight lol
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2004m3driver 7:49PM (7/07/2008)
I wonder if really serious tuners ever though about going on a diet to make their car faster. I've seen guys spend thousands to shave off about 70 pounds. So it probably shouldn't hurt to go from 200 to 170.
Brent 8:01PM (7/07/2008)
I have seen cyclists spend thousands of dollars to shed 3-4 pounds from their bicycles. I prefer to take a dump before I go on a bike ride. :)
AngeloD 7:43AM (7/08/2008)
GM has had low weight components such as plastic intake manifolds, plastic springs, plastic oil pans, etc. for decades.
SAAB is a leader in low weight interior component design.
It's the Japanese that are playing catchup in a lot of ways here.
Jason 9:16AM (7/08/2008)
FALSE - GM uses "composite" (plastic) intake manifolds instead of aluminum ones because they're cheaper to make. I know that for a fact - my cousin works at one of the places that makes them and was involved in the bidding process.
Vintage 9:23AM (7/08/2008)
Also, Chrysler's neon was the first production vehicle to use a plastic intake. So no, GM is not ahead, as per usual.
1337 11:19AM (7/08/2008)
Uh, jason, I think they were just making fun of GM for using cheap, poorly built components. Have you been in a 9-3 lately...total piece of trash on the inside.
AngeloD 3:40PM (7/08/2008)
FALSE - GM uses "composite" (plastic) intake manifolds instead of aluminum ones because they're cheaper to make. I know that for a fact - my cousin works at one of the places that makes them and was involved in the bidding process
FALSE right back at you. GM developed the plastic mainfold along with things like plastic springs as part of a weight reduction program. Aluminum was cheap at the time, as was steel. GM developed plastic springs and wheels for the Corvette for example, to reduce unsprung weight and improve handling.
Kills you to give any credit to GM doesn't it.
AngeloD 3:44PM (7/08/2008)
""Also, Chrysler's neon was the first production vehicle to use a plastic intake. So no, GM is not ahead, as per usual.""
You don't know what you're blathering on about.
GM introduced the plastic manifolds on their Gen. III 60 deg. V-6 motors in 1994. Thats about three years before the Neon went into production.
Johnny 7:47PM (7/07/2008)
This is great news. I really think we have hit the peak for weight and it should go down from here on. Gas prices are making cars more efficient and steel prices are making cars lighter. Its good all around.
On another note, why has Autoblog not reported on the release of the 2010 Prius? Its all over the net. Car and driver just did an article on it. And I have sent 2 e-mails to autoblog as well but nothing has come of it.
On a related note, the 2010 Prius has been very aggressive on weight. It will not be much heavier than the current car but with a lot more features.
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/38272/117/
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/green_machines/2010_toyota_prius_car_news
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Damon Lavrinc 8:17PM (7/07/2008)
Johnny -- The links you sent are not news. The information is the same we've seen over the last 10 months (covered both here in and on ABG) and the supposed "unveiling" of the Prius is simply another artist's rendering.
Joce03 8:34PM (7/07/2008)
Imagine how much lighter it would be without all those features.
jv2k 9:19PM (7/07/2008)
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/07/solar-panels-to-power-accessories-on-next-toyota-prius/
Although it isn't an article of the release itself it does have an image of it.