Lightening Cars to Improve Mileage

Performance-minded car fans have always known a lighter car is a faster car. Now automakers are using weight savings to help them add to their mileage ratings. USA Today details how car companies are looking to lose weight anywhere they can to help increase fuel economy,

Structurally, car companies are looking at using aluminum and high-strength steel to lower weight, as opposed to standard steel. Then there’s everything from lighter seat materials and carpets to mechanics like air conditioning compressors. In the new Ford Focus, designers say they shaved off enough weight — along with other changes — to improve fuel economy 5%. Overall, the story suggests 120 pounds of weight savings equals a 1% gain in fuel economy.

Auto Components Lighten Up to Improve Mileage (USA Today)

Comments

This is still a lame solution compared to giving us the current European Focus.

I doubt that half the people who complain about not having the Euro Focus would even buy it if it did come over.

sulli:

I think you are right to about the half point: that is, half of the people who complain would actually buy the car, half would not. And when you think about it, even though its just half, thats still more people buying a Focus then there are now....

The thing is that I think half of all people who care are actually in the market segment for a compact like the Focus: the other half are just car enthusiasts who control the opinions of buyers (how many times have you met someone who is a "car person" or a "computer person" that people go to with their questions about those topics).

Tom L.
I kinda agree with you about the car enthusiasts, however I have to point out the fact that "non car people" usually don't care about most of the things that make the Euro Focus so apealing to the "car people". In addition to that is the fact that most of the people who buy these small cars are actually looking at the bottom line. Trust I would have loved to have the other focus when I was driving mine, but that doesn't mean it would have sold significantly better- especially with a higher price tag.

Anyway, isn't the Mazda 3 essentially a Euro focus? Correct me if I'm wrong

That means we should lose some of our weights to save fuel?

J, yes there was a recent study that said obese Americans were wasting huge amounts of fuel just because of their excess weight.

It's a tough balancing act. The government and consumers want safer cars which means a lot more weight. Now the gov't and buyers want better fuel economy. It's really hard to do both at the same time!

Even if the Euro Focus isn't for sale in North America the 08' Focus will still sell better than the 07'.

Wouldn’t lighten up certain components of a vehicle make it smaller and thus weaker? If the AC compressor shrinks, the unit will be more prone to failures, which lead to quality issues. The same goes for thinner and lighter seat materials which could lead to less comfort. I do agree with using aluminum and other high strength steel for the structural parts of a vehicle.

Ken

If people driving lighter vehicles are being hit by the same kind of vehicle, they are more than likely be safe.

If I'm reading this correctly, they shaved 500lbs. off this car. That's pretty impressive.

1% savings for 120lbs? Awesome! So if we cut an SUV down to nothing, it'd only use half the gas!

P.S. Yes, I do understand that the linearity is a local approximation to a non-linear curve.

J,

I was referring to how a smaller and lighter component of a vehicle will hold up to everyday wear and tear. I know the AC Compressors are very expensive and thus if it gets smaller but still have to hold up to everyday use and abuse, then it'll fail at a greater rate, which can only mean good news to the dealers once the warranty expires.

god the coupe is ugly. it's like 87 escort all over again.