Alcoa Wheels, recently announced that it has been awarded the wheel program for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco in the USA.
The Chevrolet team pursued a wheel providing light weight performance that would further extend fuel economy for the Cruze Eco. The development team of the wheel focused on design, engineering and production techniques to lower the overall weight of the wheel.
Forged aluminum wheels by provide increased strength and durability gains and are typically greater than 20 percent lighter than a comparable cast aluminium wheel. The seventeen-inch wheels fitted to the Cruze Eco weigh just 8.07 kg.
Chevrolet recently announced a USA segment-leading estimated 5.88 l/100km on the highway for this latest vehicle when equipped with a manual six-speed transmission.
Light weight forged aluminium wheels not only have a mass reduction effect that reduces emissions and fuel consumption but also further improves driving performance and efficiency by reducing unsprung weight. Less rotational inertia is required to accelerate and decelerate the wheels.
Additionally, less mass in the wheel allows for mass reduction in adjacent, unsprung components such as brakes, steering and suspension. Forged aluminium wheels offering light weight benefits are the catalyst for a paradigm shift in mass reduction and continued improvement in fuel economy and emissions.
Also in Europe, the race for weight reduction by car makers has prompted an increased demand for forged wheels. With their significant weight reduction than their cast aluminium counterparts and with tightening EU emissions targets the OEMs are increasing their demand. As a result, demand is projected to further rise significantly with many car platforms expected to adopt this technology in the coming years.
For more information: www.strongwheels.com
