GM CEO orders 15% diet for new models by 2016
This can't be but good news for the weight of the 6th gen Camaro. :thumbsup:
Via Autonews Quote:
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Maybe we can get an affordable stripped down/light-weight drag-car from the factory now, after all...lol
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I wonder if that 15% is a fleet number....
The Zeta to Alpha platform weight difference isn't even 15% for the V6 models (it's more like 10%)...wow, that's ambitious! I didn't see it explicitly mentioned in the article - GM just co-developed (I think it was a co-development) a new way to produce carbon fiber body panels for about half the cost as in the past...the only downside to this is that you can't see the fibers, because it's made much the same as fiberglass is blown onto a mold. A clear-coat would just reveal an ugly of stringy-things. But it's strong, and light!! :D |
It sounds good, but I'd be shocked if they could meet that goal.
Do I think they should start producing midsize cars and sedans in the 3,200 to 3,500 lb range like other makers??? Heck Yes!! (the new Nissan Altima weighs a feathery 3,1xx lbs) But going from one generation to the next...say for instance the Camaro. Do I think they can take the current 3,800 lb Camaro and take its weight to 3,250 lbs (15%) without changing the size of the car? Doubtful. Unless they have another, ultra-light weight chasis they haven't yet unveiled that is lighter than Alpha, I don't see it happening. Just take a look at the ATS weights...and that thing is pretty light when you really compare. V6 Camaro is a good 300+ lbs more: 2.5L RWD / Auto – (3315/ 1503) 2.0 Turbo RWD / Auto – (3373/ 1530) 2.0 Turbo RWD / Man – (3403/ 1543) 2.0 Turbo AWD / Auto – (3543 / 1607) 3.6L RWD / Auto – (3461/ 1570) 3.6L AWD / Auto – (3629/ 1646) Now, I'm sure the caddy is filled with more tech, and possibly other stuff like more sound dampening material and what not, so I'm bettering a respective T4 or V6 camaro on Alpha can weigh a tad less than this, but another couple hundred lbs?? Show us what you've got GM. |
This makes me happy. Weight is going to be a big player in the future of the auto industry.
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This frightens me to the point the hairs stood up on my neck. I see a lot of blather about needing to comply with CAFE and the other car companies are also feeling pressure to do the same.
Remember when the car company CEOs would go to washington and FIGHT against these onerous regulations? Those were the days. |
Maybe the 15% in weight reduction is for the total fleet not individual models? Kind of like the CAFE standards are.
Could probably shave a few Suburban pounds fairly easily. :) |
That's a very ambitious goal in a short timeframe. Considering that a few MY 2016 cars are already in development.
There would need to be some kind of fundamental shift in materials or content on newer cars. Because even with all the advances of the C7 it's not likely to be any lighter than the C6. Higher grade content made from higher quality materials add weight. And that trend isn't changing. |
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"Say, that's a nice lookin' corporation ya gots there.... it would be a shame if sumptin' waz ta happen to it!" Magnesium costs about 50% more than Aluminum. I just don't want to have to hear a lot of complaints when people get sticker shock. It also kinda can catch fire and burn up an entire car. They make fireworks out of that nifty metal. |
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I'd be curious to know what Akerson based his target on. He's not an engineer, is he? I wonder if knowledgeable advisers suggested this was doable and practical, or if like CAFE, it was a case of "if we arbitrarily mandate it, it will just magically happen" thinking. These guys aren't just making up rules anymore, now they've infiltrated into the companies themselves. |
If you don't like CAFE, deal with the government. Complaining that GM is compliant is not helpful. If GM stood against fuel economy standards, there would be a publicity fight with all the people who support them, and that's bad for business.
This community has advocated weight reduction for a long time. To be scared of getting exactly what we want is ridiculous. |
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I agree wholeheartedly... |
Only on Camaro5 would reducing vehicle weight (which is something enthusiasts and the media have been clamoring at GM to do and is addressing an acknowledged problem with GM platforms) be interpreted as a bad thing.
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