Aludrive - September 2009

High Strength Aluminium alloys HSAlu with yield strength from 300 MPa and Ultra High Strength Aluminium alloys UHSAlu with yield strength from 400 MPa and above are well known from the aerospace sector. Today, HSAlu and UHSAlu alloys suitable for extrusion are making inroads into automotive crash management systems (CMS).

VW Golf is one of the best-selling cars ever. By realizing weight savings from the “SuperLIGHT-Car” project, its body structure alone could be slimmed down by more than 100 kilograms. In the final SLC body concept, aluminium is a major winner.

Lightweight automotive engineering has taken tremendous steps forward in recent years. Car body design with aluminium sheets has proved to be a most efficient lightweighting technology from a technical, economical and ecological point of view. For example, the new Mercedes E class incorporates new aluminium structural sheet components supplied by Novelis.

Alcoa Auto Wheels has been selected by Automobili Lamborghini to supply lightweight wheels for the Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce (SV). The forged aluminum wheels reduce un-sprung weight and contribute to the SV’s 100kg (220 lb.) mass reduction over the standard Murciélago.

Do not miss the European Congress dedicated to Aluminium Automotive Applications organized by the GDA - Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e.V. - on 23-24 November 2009 in Düsseldorf.