Toyota's big leap to aluminum
10-08-14, 02:00 AM
#18
lots of Lexus cars have used aluminium on the outside (apparently a lot of Toyota's use it on the inside without us knowing), including for suspension parts.
Interestingly, VW went back to steel for latest Golf to cut the costs and used high tensile steel instead to bring down the weight... a lot of was made by German media about VW dropping weight by as much as 200kg, but then the car in reality turned out to be as light as Toyota Auris, which dropped "only" 40kg according to Toyota.
Interestingly, VW went back to steel for latest Golf to cut the costs and used high tensile steel instead to bring down the weight... a lot of was made by German media about VW dropping weight by as much as 200kg, but then the car in reality turned out to be as light as Toyota Auris, which dropped "only" 40kg according to Toyota.
10-10-14, 05:23 PM
#19
Now that be something, having Toyota-Scions being using aluminum bodies, especially the FRS or some CF parts. It be great to get it down to 2500-2600 pounds, add in some power and a dual-clutch - we would have a winner, even though it is still a pretty sweet car as is.
Last edited by JessePS; 10-10-14 at 05:31 PM.
10-12-14, 02:28 AM
#20
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lots of Lexus cars have used aluminium on the outside (apparently a lot of Toyota's use it on the inside without us knowing), including for suspension parts.
Interestingly, VW went back to steel for latest Golf to cut the costs and used high tensile steel instead to bring down the weight... a lot of was made by German media about VW dropping weight by as much as 200kg, but then the car in reality turned out to be as light as Toyota Auris, which dropped "only" 40kg according to Toyota.
Interestingly, VW went back to steel for latest Golf to cut the costs and used high tensile steel instead to bring down the weight... a lot of was made by German media about VW dropping weight by as much as 200kg, but then the car in reality turned out to be as light as Toyota Auris, which dropped "only" 40kg according to Toyota.
They need to do more bragging!
10-18-14, 01:36 PM
#21
Please enlighten me cause I thought at one point, the Camry was using aluminium.
Our Gen 5 Camry felt like it had an aluminium hood, trunk and door panels (fairly confident about the first two, less so about the door panels but they were hella light).
The Gen 6 Camry dropped the aluminium for the trunk (it felt quite a bit heavier) plus the fact that the base 2007 Camry LE weighed as much as our 2002 Camry XLE 4 cylinder gave it away.
So why is this "new" as the article seems to be implying?
I don't know what the exact difference in weight is between steel and aluminium hoods but our 2002 Camry's hood (once it's off the strut support) feels noticeably lighter than the Gen 10 Corolla's hood (which feels like lifting a boulder after being used to the Prius and Camry's lighter hoods)
Our Gen 5 Camry felt like it had an aluminium hood, trunk and door panels (fairly confident about the first two, less so about the door panels but they were hella light).
The Gen 6 Camry dropped the aluminium for the trunk (it felt quite a bit heavier) plus the fact that the base 2007 Camry LE weighed as much as our 2002 Camry XLE 4 cylinder gave it away.
So why is this "new" as the article seems to be implying?
I don't know what the exact difference in weight is between steel and aluminium hoods but our 2002 Camry's hood (once it's off the strut support) feels noticeably lighter than the Gen 10 Corolla's hood (which feels like lifting a boulder after being used to the Prius and Camry's lighter hoods)
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