http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsAr...Series/242045/

All future Jaguar and Land Rover models will use lightweight aluminium bodies, according to Tata’s chairman.

Jaguar has recently launched its new flagship XJ saloon and it makes use of aluminium in its body to help reduce its weight. Its aluminium chassis weighs around 40 per cent less than a traditional steel one.

Ratan Tata, the chairman of JLR’s parent company Tata, said in Tata’s annual report: “JLR is planning to have all its future cars constructed with lightweight aluminium bodies resulting in considerable savings in weight, and reduction in CO2 emissions.”

The previous generation XJ made use of an aluminium-intensive chassis, which helped keep its weight down below that of its rivals.

Fuel efficiency and emissions benefit from aluminium construction, as does the car’s performance handling.

 

great idea. Wonder if this will affect prices of lower class models.

Glad they are looking at more ways to make their cars more efficient. Weight is the biggest problem in terms of fuel mileage, and performance so they are definately killing two birds with one stone.

jaguar is making a good comeback

 

I remember hearing about an aluminum Range Rover before Tata was in the picture. A lightweight Range sounds all sorts of interesting.

 

imagine a 2900 lbs 450hp sedan.

ooooooo yeah.

is aluminum a more difficult metal to find? why is it so expensive?

 

i thought aluminum was a soft metal...certainly doesnt sound suited for a car

 

steel's gotten so expensive and aluminum vendors are hurting, so maybe it's not much of a premium now.

 

aluminum is actually the most abundant metal on the planet but it's hard to extract from the ore (bauxite).

 

Funny how things go full circle - after the War, the first Land Rovers were all aluminium bodied due to steel shortages and the copious amount of scrap aluminium lying round from old aircraft. Weight reduction in vehicles will have as great an effect on fuel economy as any hybrid system developed.