so really they're only looking at things like the hood and tailgate, not much to be saved there. Really I think its damage control. The RAM is too new to be redesigned immediately. Stop gap statements until a real answer can be delivered.Chrysler’s Ram brand won’t be using aluminum bodies for its fullsize pickups anytime soon, in contrast with Ford’s announcement that the next-generation F-150 will utilize the lightweight material, a top executive says.
Based on our analysis, we feel steel is stronger, safer and more durable than aluminum,” Reid Bigland, president and CEO of Chrysler Group’s Ram truck brand, tells WardsAuto in an interview at the North American International Auto Show here. “The difficult thing with lightweighting is what the tradeoff is.”
its not like its made out of tinfoil. You want to know how aluminium holds up in crash testing, go look at the Audi A7, its chassis is all aluminium as well as a bunch of body pieces i believe.I wonder if the new F-150 will suffer in crash test rating because of the use of aluminum.
Even if the aluminum is a good move for Ford, obviously Ram is going to take the chance to talk about the other side of the issue.
I'll wait for some crash testing before I judge one way or the other.
I agree with that. ideally you want stronger metals to make up the structure and key things based around the vehicles structure.This topic is kind of 2 way
They are right that regular steel is strong than aluminum
It's also easier to fix.
You can use aluminum in things like panels,hoods, brackets, gates,etc. That usually shaves off some weight. I'm not sure if regular aluminum is strong enough for things like subframes and control arms - especially in a truck.
Of course there is forged aluminum.. But we all know how expensive that can be.
yes i believe it is all forged aluminium, and you;re right it is a costly investment. I believe that is one of the biggest factors in ford wanting to expand their aluminium cpabilities. It looks like the next edge/MKX will be constructed from aluminium like the F150, so as they scale up the amount of vehicles making use of the material it will bring the cost down...This topic is kind of 2 way
They are right that regular steel is strong than aluminum
It's also easier to fix.
You can use aluminum in things like panels,hoods, brackets, gates,etc. That usually shaves off some weight. I'm not sure if regular aluminum is strong enough for things like subframes and control arms - especially in a truck.
Of course there is forged aluminum.. But we all know how expensive that can be.
This Is True. Friend With Crashed Audi A8 Had Trouble Finding Good Body Shop Because Of The Aluminum BodyRead an article that they have to train the body shop guys to be able to work w/ aluminum.
Ford is saying the new 150 is CAFE positive.Bob Lee, who is in charge of powertrains for the Chrysler Group, called the new Ford truck “an interesting step in this evolution” toward the 2025 CAFE rules. With the high take rate on the V6 Ecoboost engine and the new lighter F-150, Ford’s pickup trucks may be “CAFE neutral” or even “CAFE positive”, meaning they won’t need some sort of high mileage vehicle in the lineup to offset pickup trucks’ usual relatively poor gas mileage when calculating corporate average fuel economy. Lee acknowledged that right now Ford’s use of the lightweight alloy is a major advance, ”I think when we look back, in retrospect, this will be a very noticeable step,”
Its a real game changer, it will be interesting to see how the other 2 cope. Silvy/Sierra is going to get OLd and FAST. we should be seeing a new RAM shortly while the GM boys still have an entire product life cycel to live through before being able to address the weight issue...t the GMC Canyon reveal, GM global product chief Mark Reuss was asked if he was afraid of the new development in the most important vehicle segment to the domestic automakers. “Am I scared? That’s a different word,” he said while acknowledging “concern”. He pointed out that the recently introduced Silverado/Sierra trucks weigh 200 lbs less than the ones they replaced, without needing to use aluminum
