MI Dealers May See Models “Lose Weight” as Deadline for Fuel Efficiency Gets Closer

PRLog (Press Release) - Mar. 8, 2013 - DETROIT – MI dealers (http://miautotimes.com/) know about the upcoming fuel economy standards that are going to be put in place in 2025. It seems that there are different changes that are being made in the design of models as automakers are working toward this goal. It seems that not only are engines changing, but so are the metals being used. By using metals that are lighter, cars are automatically more efficient for their drivers.

It seems that the automakers are realizing that consumers won’t all be buying hybrid, electric or other efficient models, so they need to make sure their conventional models are efficient for consumers as well. For this reason, automakers have turned to ‘lightweighting’.

“Every automaker we talk to is talking about how they can do more ‘lightweighting,’ ” says Patrick Davis, vehicle technologies program manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. “Using lightweight materials is a major way the automakers are planning to meet fuel economy standards through 2025.”

One group of the MI dealers has already seen this happen with a popular model: the new Cadillac ATS. This new model weighs 3,315 pounds, which makes it one of the lightest models in its class.

What does the Cadillac have?

·         An all-aluminum hood

·         Magnesium engine mounts

·         Other lightweight materials.

MI dealers may know just how important it is for automakers to reduce the weight on their many conventional cars. The final numbers come down to every 10 percent reduction in weight provides a 6 to 7 percent improvement in fuel economy. The more automakers use this technique the lighter cars will be. Davis says the DOE’s hope is that all cars will be 35 percent lighter by 2025.

Changing the weight will create a longer list of efficient models, and it seems MI dealers will continue to sell them as they come off the assembly line.

For more information, visit http://www.miautotimes.com.

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