Lotus lays the smackdown on Toyota on vehicle lightness

[DPancoast]

Pretty long read, but still VERY interesting (to me at least)

Article

Lotus Engineering has conducted a study to develop a commercially viable mass reduction strategy for mainstream passenger vehicles. This study, released by the International Council on Clean Transportation, focused on the use of lightweight materials and efficient design and demonstrated substantial mass savings. When compared with a benchmark Toyota Venza crossover utility vehicle, a 38% reduction in vehicle mass, excluding powertrain, can be achieved for only a 3% increase in component costs using engineering techniques and technologies viable for mainstream production programmes by 2020.

[jjm4life]

does this surprise anyone? lotus does lightweight better than anyone, and that toyota they used as an example is the biggest pig on the road.

[crazymark316]

I must say, toyota has larger things to worry about right now...

[Calvinball]

I confess, I haven't read the article (yet). Do they discuss whether it impacts safety at all to lighten up the car as they did?

[twastheglow]

Originally Posted by crazymark316

I must say, toyota has larger things to worry about right now...

hahahahaha Awesome!

[jjm4life]

Originally Posted by Calvinball

I confess, I haven't read the article (yet). Do they discuss whether it impacts safety at all to lighten up the car as they did?

quoted from the article:

"vehicle architecture utilizes a mix of stronger and lighter weight materials, a high degree of component integration and advanced joining and assembly methodologies

All key interior and exterior dimensions and volumes were retained for both models and the vehicles were packaged to accommodate key safety and structural dimensional and quality targets"

fwiw, my car is more or less glued together.

[jesus_ralliart]

yea pretty old news... lotus has been uber light for a long time.