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[Rods2]

Ford is going to make their best selling (in US) pickup truck from aluminium from 2015. The truck will shed 700lb and go from 22 to around 30mpg. There are already several luxury cars made from aluminium, but will this be the start of a trend for mainstream cars?

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/the-report/tomorrows-truck-loses-weight-but-at-what-environmental-cost/?tag=nl.e662&s_cid=e662&ttag=e662&ftag=TRE383a915

[hotel21]

The 2014 Range Rover and RR Sport have shed circa 500 kgs plus each by a change to ally body parts.  Both cars drive like stink without significant engine mods so fairly sure the blue oval will see the same differences as ye olde green one....

ps - the 2014 RRS with 5 litre petrol supercharged goes, well, quite well.....   

Hopefully a subject on Top Gear one day soon....   

[vauxlooney]

I think using steel for making car body shells will start going out of fashion as time goes on. Especial as you start seeing more hybrids/ electric cars that could really benefit from the weight saving.

Think tesla make their electric cars fully out of aluminium

[dbug]

My X350 Jag is all aluminium construction - apparently bare Jag shell same weight as bare Mini shell (so I've read)

[Marks DTM Calib]

Oh dear, a future of land rover body rot to look forward to......and more expensive repair bills 

[cem_devecioglu]

Oh dear, a future of land rover body rot to look forward to......and more expensive repair bills 

I can paint the whole shell inside outside with ship epoxy for 20 layers that even a bullet cant pass


but you have right , aluminium even the special alloys can corrode..

[omega3000]

Oh dear, a future of land rover body rot to look forward to......and more expensive repair bills 

I can paint the whole shell inside outside with ship epoxy for 20 layers that even a bullet cant pass


but you have right , aluminium even the special alloys can corrode..

Yes cars should be made of Epoxy 

[05omegav6]

Oh dear, a future of land rover body rot to look forward to......and more expensive repair bills 

I can paint the whole shell inside outside with ship epoxy for 20 layers that even a bullet cant pass


but you have right , aluminium even the special alloys can corrode..

Yes cars should be made of Epoxy 

Aluminium burns readily enough without covering it in plastic

[tigers_gonads]

Old news 
Audi was sticking aluminium panels on the 100 over 25 years ago 

[aaronjb]

Old news 
Audi was sticking aluminium panels on the 100 over 25 years ago 

And long before them - AC cars, Jaguar, Austin Healey etc..

[Marks DTM Calib]

Land Rover etc.

But it does corrode, any aluminium/steel interface results in nicely preserved steel !

[05omegav6]

I guess Landy chassis are insulated from the aluminium bodies then

[Marks DTM Calib]

I guess Landy chassis are insulated from the aluminium bodies then

Nope, classic place to check is the rear body corners near the lights, the side panels are aluminium and there is a steel plate that fits on the corner, give them a tap and white dust falls out.....the steel being beautifuly preserved! 

The toruble with the chassis is they fill with water which increases the weight nicely.....whih then reduces again as the inner sections of steel exit stage left!

[cem_devecioglu]

Oh dear, a future of land rover body rot to look forward to......and more expensive repair bills 

I can paint the whole shell inside outside with ship epoxy for 20 layers that even a bullet cant pass


but you have right , aluminium even the special alloys can corrode..

Yes cars shoul be made of Epoxy 

just an experience, last week a large stone hit drivers door  when driving at xxx miles per hour scaring me.. it wiped whole laquer and paint at some point but epoxy under it remained intact..

[omega3000]

Rest our case    Epoxy is king