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Does it seem like cars are getting larger and heavier than they were just a few years ago? They are. This is referred to by industry insiders as “dimensional creep.” Mazda is in the process of reversing this trend for its entire lineup. The Japanese automaker has plans to trim at least 220 lbs from each model.
Mazda models have been gaining roughly 80 lbs for every model update. According to Robert Davis, a senior vice president of product planning at Mazda North America, the heft hike stems largely from adding safety equipment and larger wheels.
The planned weight drop will help achieve up to a 5-percent increase in fuel economy. If we look back to the Tokyo show, Mazda unveiled a pair of SKY concept engines that will also aid in improved fuel economy, and are supposed to improve efficiency by 20 percent. Combining the two methods seems like a good strategy for tackling the 2016 CAFE standards.
The use of light materials is a must to achieve this goal, but Mazda needs to balance the use of such technology against the cost of implementing it in a production vehicle.
“Carbon-fiber roofs and hoods are great for a BMW M5, but they are not viable in our cost structure,” said Davis.
Engineers will be working overtime, as the use of new materials will require new structural designs and innovation. Davis suggests new models may even be up to 3 inches shorter in order to reduce weight.
Source: Automotive News
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