If there was ever any need to confirm the fact that the lighter the car, the better it's performances, British manufacturer Lotus, together with the International Council on Clean Transportation published the results of a study highligting exactly that.
The study looked at two distinct vehicle architectures, presumed to enter production in 2017 and 2020, respectively and focused on the use of lightweight materials and efficient design as a means to cut mass.
The conclusions of the study is that a total vehicle mass reduction of 33 percent, including powertrain, can result in a huge 23 percent decrease in fuel consumption.
Additionally, a 21 percent less mass means a 2 percent saving for who ever builds the car. Still, compared to today's price levels, a lighter Toyota Venza, for instance, built with stronger and lighter materials, will cost 3 percent more than it does today.
“Lighter vehicles are cleaner and more efficient. That philosophy has always been core to Lotus’ approach to vehicle engineering and is now more relevant than ever," Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering said in a release.
"Lightweight Architectures and Efficient Performance are just two of our core competencies and we are delighted to have completed this study with input from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide direction for future CO2 reductions. We believe that this approach will be commonplace in the industry for the future design of vehicles.”
The study looked at two distinct vehicle architectures, presumed to enter production in 2017 and 2020, respectively and focused on the use of lightweight materials and efficient design as a means to cut mass.
The conclusions of the study is that a total vehicle mass reduction of 33 percent, including powertrain, can result in a huge 23 percent decrease in fuel consumption.
Additionally, a 21 percent less mass means a 2 percent saving for who ever builds the car. Still, compared to today's price levels, a lighter Toyota Venza, for instance, built with stronger and lighter materials, will cost 3 percent more than it does today.
“Lighter vehicles are cleaner and more efficient. That philosophy has always been core to Lotus’ approach to vehicle engineering and is now more relevant than ever," Robert Hentschel, Director of Lotus Engineering said in a release.
"Lightweight Architectures and Efficient Performance are just two of our core competencies and we are delighted to have completed this study with input from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide direction for future CO2 reductions. We believe that this approach will be commonplace in the industry for the future design of vehicles.”