Automakers Do More With Less: Lightweight Materials Continue Making Inroads
Magnesium, plastic and other lightweight materials allow engineers to boost fuel efficiency. With 75 percent of fuel consumption relating directly to vehicle weight, potential weight reductions that result in improved price-performance ratio continue to spur demand for new materials.
"Lightweight materials such as plastic are ideal to improve fuel efficiency and design flexibility without compromising on performance or safety," explains Sathyaraj Radhakrishnan, a research analyst at Frost & Sullivan Inc. (San Antonio). "Reduced tailpipe emissions and improved corrosion resistances are some of the other added benefits of lightweight materials.