Mercedes-Benz to Drop SUV Weight With Aluminum
Right now, in the current generation of the C-Class, there is a mild implementation of aluminum. Mercedes-Benz paired the lighter-weight metal with high-strength steel to build a car that doesn’t lose any structural strength, but drops weight and helps improve efficiency. Now Mercedes-Benz is looking to its SUVs to use the same methods and keep up with the constant demands for better gas mileage.
U.S. International CEO Jason Hoff recently dropped such hints during a presentation at the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars. To paraphrase, “suppliers will provide some of the joining technologies used in the next generation SUVs and the vehicles could also get increased use of laser welding, riveting, and bonding,” according to Automotive News.
The main implementations of the aluminum in the C-Class, as you can see above, were on the roof, the “longitudinal and cross members,” parts of the rear floor, and castings for the shock absorber mountings.
If they’re going to use these methods for the SUVs, Mercedes-Benz is going to have to spend another massive chunk of money to re-tool its factory in Alabama. But that would seem like money well spent, no?
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via [Automotive News]