Page 3 - MFi Vol.152 ATZ Extra Issue 2019

Aluminum alloy sheet
The specific gravity of aluminum is only 2.7,
approximately one-third of that of steel. It’s
widely used for industrial products because
of its great strength per unit of weight, along
Back door & trunk lid
with its superior formability, corrosion
As with the bonnet, front fenders and resistance and recyclability. In the
door panels, the use of aluminum automobile field, it has been increasingly
alloys for these parts is increasing. adopted since 2000 as a material for body
panels. Even the current models using
multi-material bodies employ mostly
aluminum alloy sheet for their body panels.

Aluminum extruded shapes
Intricately shaped cross-sections can be
Doors
formed using the extrusion process. This
makes aluminum extruded shapes optimal
These are constructed from internal
and external sections. The internal for the production of parts with a constant
sections are often made from 5000 cross-section and long length, such as
series aluminum alloys, while the bumper beams. It’s now common to find
external sections are often made from space-frame structures made of aluminum
6000 series aluminum alloy sheet. extruded shapes in large SUVs and electric
vehicles. Moreover, extruded shapes with
simple cross-sections can be processed 2-
or 3-dimensionally for sub-frames and
braces.

Aluminum cast products Motor Fan illustrated

Typical examples of automobile parts that
are now made from aluminum cast products
are cylinder blocks, transmission cases and
wheels. They are also ideal for members
connecting the body and chassis, such as in
the area connecting the suspension tower
with the cross members and front side
members. ALUMINUM AUTOMOBILE TECHNOLOGY

Region Fuel Economy Regulation
Long-term target for required fuel efficiency: CO 2 emissions of
Europe 03
95g/km by 2021

Newly introduced fuel-efficiency standards to be reached by 2025:
North
fuel-efficiency of 54.5 mpg (23.2km/ℓ) for passenger cars and small
America
trucks; CO 2 emissions up to 143g/mi (89g/km) for passenger cars
Target fuel efficiency: 20.3km/ℓ (JC08 Mode) for gasoline-powered
Japan
passenger cars by 2020

All-aluminum alloy monocoque All-aluminum alloy space frame All-aluminum alloy monocoque
Range Rover Sport Audi Q7 RENAULT ALPINE A110
Based on knowhow accumulated through Q7, features an all-aluminum alloy body The weight of the new Alpine A110 is as
the development of the Jaguar XJ, this is structure. High-strength aluminum alloy low as 1,103 kilograms thanks to the
the first SUV to feature an all-aluminum extruded shapes are used for the front all-aluminum alloy platform and upper
body design. side members and front bumper. body structure.