Jaguar, BMW, GM and Aluminum Execs Address Advances in Automotive Aluminum Design
New Aluminum Jaguar XJ 'Body-in-White' Shown at Industry Event
LIVONIA, Mich., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in North America, Jaguar today exhibited the aluminum "body-in-white" for its new flagship XJ sedan at the 23rd Annual Automotive Aluminum Design and Fabrication Seminar. In addition to Jaguar, the seminar -- sponsored by The Aluminum Association -- featured speakers from General Motors, BMW, Alcan, Alcoa and elsewhere to discuss recent gains in aluminum design and how this benefits the auto industry and consumers. Themed "Aluminum: Building a Better Car," the event also included in-depth technical presentations for nearly 500 assembled automotive engineers and designers.
"We chose a lightweight vehicle architecture for the new XJ not because it was something new, but because it enabled us to deliver real and significant benefits to our customers," said Mark White, Manager, Body-in-White Design, Body and Trim Engineering of Jaguar Cars Limited.
"Jaguar has proven that advanced automotive aluminum designs translate to performance benefits for the consumer," remarked Dr. Richard Klimisch, vice president of The Aluminum Association. "Thanks to aluminum, the new XJ sedan is longer, taller and wider, but 440 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. The chassis is 40 percent lighter as compared to steel, yet it is 60 percent stiffer. The combination of low weight and increased stiffness makes the XJ surprisingly agile for a car of its size -- and the larger size is an added safety benefit for drivers."
Also speaking at the event, Gunther Weigl, Project Manager, Predevelopment of Aluminum Structures, BMW, addressed the performance benefits of reducing vehicle weight with aluminum.
"Weight savings potential in steel body structures and hang-ons are not sufficient," Weigl said. "BMW is investigating lightweight materials for body structures to help keep its lead in driving performance."
Dr. Alan Taub, Executive Director, Science, GM Research and Development, detailed the automaker's increased use of aluminum in present and future models.
"We're starting to see more promise for low volume applications of aluminum [for body structures]," said Taub.
According to Klimisch, such trends towards greater aluminum use can be attributed to three specific advantages: environmental, safety and driving performance.
In terms of environmental performance:
-- It's no coincidence that the most fuel-efficient vehicle on U.S. roads today -- the 70 mpg Honda Insight -- is all aluminum.
-- A six to eight percent fuel savings can be realized for every ten percent weight reduction by substituting aluminum for heavier steel. Lighter vehicles also emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
-- Nearly 90 percent of automotive aluminum is currently recovered and recycled.
In terms of safety performance:
-- It's no coincidence that the Audi A8 -- which earned a top five-star federal crash test rating and was ranked as the world's safest sedan by the Wall Street Journal -- is all aluminum.
-- Pound for pound, aluminum can be up to two-and-a-half times as strong as traditional steel and absorbs up to twice as much crash energy.
-- Aluminum structures can be designed to fold predictably during a car crash, so the vehicle's structure -- not the passengers -- absorbs more of the crash energy.
In terms of driving performance:
-- It's no coincidence that top performance cars like the Ferrari Modena 360, Acura NSX, Aston Martin Vanquish and, coming soon, the new Ford GT all use aluminum to enhance vehicle performance.
-- All other factors being equal, cars made lighter with aluminum can accelerate faster and brake quicker than heavier counterparts.
"Today, top auto and aluminum executives, as well as hundreds of leading automotive engineers and designers, came together to discuss one thing: how aluminum can build a better car. By providing the platform to exchange views and share the latest technical information, the aluminum industry continues to serve as a vital resource for automakers as they design next-generation cars and trucks that are safe, affordable, environmentally friendly and fun to drive," concluded Klimisch.
The Aluminum Association, based in Washington, D.C. with offices in Detroit, Mich., represents primary producers of aluminum, recyclers and producers of semi-fabricated products. Member companies operate almost 200 plants in the United States and many conduct business worldwide. To learn more about automotive aluminum applications and attributes, please visit www.autoaluminum.org .
SOURCE The Aluminum Association
CO: Aluminum Association
ST: Michigan
SU: TDS
http://www.prnewswire.com
10/23/2002 14:14 EDT
------------------
James
2000 Red/Tan
South Florida
http://members.aol.com/flnsx
New Aluminum Jaguar XJ 'Body-in-White' Shown at Industry Event
LIVONIA, Mich., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in North America, Jaguar today exhibited the aluminum "body-in-white" for its new flagship XJ sedan at the 23rd Annual Automotive Aluminum Design and Fabrication Seminar. In addition to Jaguar, the seminar -- sponsored by The Aluminum Association -- featured speakers from General Motors, BMW, Alcan, Alcoa and elsewhere to discuss recent gains in aluminum design and how this benefits the auto industry and consumers. Themed "Aluminum: Building a Better Car," the event also included in-depth technical presentations for nearly 500 assembled automotive engineers and designers.
"We chose a lightweight vehicle architecture for the new XJ not because it was something new, but because it enabled us to deliver real and significant benefits to our customers," said Mark White, Manager, Body-in-White Design, Body and Trim Engineering of Jaguar Cars Limited.
"Jaguar has proven that advanced automotive aluminum designs translate to performance benefits for the consumer," remarked Dr. Richard Klimisch, vice president of The Aluminum Association. "Thanks to aluminum, the new XJ sedan is longer, taller and wider, but 440 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. The chassis is 40 percent lighter as compared to steel, yet it is 60 percent stiffer. The combination of low weight and increased stiffness makes the XJ surprisingly agile for a car of its size -- and the larger size is an added safety benefit for drivers."
Also speaking at the event, Gunther Weigl, Project Manager, Predevelopment of Aluminum Structures, BMW, addressed the performance benefits of reducing vehicle weight with aluminum.
"Weight savings potential in steel body structures and hang-ons are not sufficient," Weigl said. "BMW is investigating lightweight materials for body structures to help keep its lead in driving performance."
Dr. Alan Taub, Executive Director, Science, GM Research and Development, detailed the automaker's increased use of aluminum in present and future models.
"We're starting to see more promise for low volume applications of aluminum [for body structures]," said Taub.
According to Klimisch, such trends towards greater aluminum use can be attributed to three specific advantages: environmental, safety and driving performance.
In terms of environmental performance:
-- It's no coincidence that the most fuel-efficient vehicle on U.S. roads today -- the 70 mpg Honda Insight -- is all aluminum.
-- A six to eight percent fuel savings can be realized for every ten percent weight reduction by substituting aluminum for heavier steel. Lighter vehicles also emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
-- Nearly 90 percent of automotive aluminum is currently recovered and recycled.
In terms of safety performance:
-- It's no coincidence that the Audi A8 -- which earned a top five-star federal crash test rating and was ranked as the world's safest sedan by the Wall Street Journal -- is all aluminum.
-- Pound for pound, aluminum can be up to two-and-a-half times as strong as traditional steel and absorbs up to twice as much crash energy.
-- Aluminum structures can be designed to fold predictably during a car crash, so the vehicle's structure -- not the passengers -- absorbs more of the crash energy.
In terms of driving performance:
-- It's no coincidence that top performance cars like the Ferrari Modena 360, Acura NSX, Aston Martin Vanquish and, coming soon, the new Ford GT all use aluminum to enhance vehicle performance.
-- All other factors being equal, cars made lighter with aluminum can accelerate faster and brake quicker than heavier counterparts.
"Today, top auto and aluminum executives, as well as hundreds of leading automotive engineers and designers, came together to discuss one thing: how aluminum can build a better car. By providing the platform to exchange views and share the latest technical information, the aluminum industry continues to serve as a vital resource for automakers as they design next-generation cars and trucks that are safe, affordable, environmentally friendly and fun to drive," concluded Klimisch.
The Aluminum Association, based in Washington, D.C. with offices in Detroit, Mich., represents primary producers of aluminum, recyclers and producers of semi-fabricated products. Member companies operate almost 200 plants in the United States and many conduct business worldwide. To learn more about automotive aluminum applications and attributes, please visit www.autoaluminum.org .
SOURCE The Aluminum Association
CO: Aluminum Association
ST: Michigan
SU: TDS
http://www.prnewswire.com
10/23/2002 14:14 EDT
------------------
James
2000 Red/Tan
South Florida
http://members.aol.com/flnsx
