Steel companies study design of lighter cars

An international consortium of steel companies has begun work on designing the lightest possible steel-bodied passenger car to help automakers reduce the weight of their vehicles in an affordable way.

Twenty-five steel producers from Europe, the Far East, Australia and North America will participate in the research work, which will be directed by Porsche Engineering Services, an American affiliate of Porsche AG of Germany. The project follows up similar work completed in 1993 by Porsche Engineering on behalf of the American Iron and Steel Institute and Ford Motor Co. That program showed how new steel technologies and “holistic” design techniques could reduce the body weight of a typical 4-door, mid-sized sedan by at least 20% and at a cost saving.

Performance advantages will include low material costs, ease of car manufacturing, high strength and safety, and complete recyclability. Other benefits will include improved fuel consumption and conservation of energy needed to produce cars.