With mounting environmental concerns and record high gas prices worldwide, automakers are scrambling to find ways to make more economical vehicles. While equipping vehicles with smaller powerplants is the most obvious solution, several Japanese automakers are focusing on reducing vehicle weight, even if that means only a couple of ounces at a time.
Honda has yet to set a target for weight savings, but the Japanese automaker is looking to shave weight wherever it can, including in small details such as vehicle welds. “This is just one way we are trying to reduce weight,” Kohei Hitomi, chief engineer of Honda’s redesigned Fit, told Automotive News. The 2009 Fit slated to hit the market later this year is actually 88 pounds heavier than the current model, but is also bigger in every dimension and has a larger powerplant – a tribute to Honda’s weight trimming program.
Nissan has set the most aggressive weight savings targets of the Japanese automakers, with a plan to reduce vehicle weight by 15 percent by 2015 when compared to 2005 levels. Nissan plans to reach that goal by using lightweight materials which could include high-tensile steel, magnesium and carbon fiber in the coming years.
Toyota has enacted a plan to reduce mid-size vehicle weight by 10 percent by sometime in the 2010s and Mazda plans to reduce weight by 220 per vehicle by 2011. Like Nissan, lightweight materials will be crucial to weight savings for Toyota and Mazda.
However, growing raw material costs could jeopardize the lost cost of the typical economy car. Although weight savings will result in at least a 3 percent bump in fuel economy, fuel savings could be offset by higher prices at the dealer. But if more and more automakers begin to use lightweight materials, economies of scale would likely drive down production costs.
07/07, 12:45 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Have they just thought about making the vehicles smaller? A 2008 Civic is the size of a 1998 Accord… for cryin out loud.
07/07, 12:54 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
In addition to (hopefully) making them smaller again Honda can just shave more weight by using even cheaper, crappier plastics inside. Already the average Honda product uses plastics roughly akin to those cookie liners inside an Oreas pack, but would is they are eying Saran Wrap now. Hell, they already use Reynolds Wrap to make the grills on crApuras.
07/07, 12:56 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Oreas = Oreos
would is = word is
crApuras = Hondas comoetition to Buick.
.
damn I’m tired today.
07/07, 1:08 PM
posted by:
livelyjay
@RaineMan -> Great point. Same with all the car manufacturers, Nissan Altima is way bigger than the old Maxima. Since us Americans are such fat asses we can’t fit into the sub compacts anymore. All the compact cars got bloated competing with one another that the compact segment turned into the mid-size segment of old. The Yaris 3 door and Aveo “might” be as small as the old compacts, but I doubt it. Early 90s Civic hatch was tiny, as was the Ford Aspire/Festiva, and the Geo metro. There isn’t much on the market right now, if anything, that’s as small as those older cars. Also, since there are still so many behemoth SUVs, CUVs, and trucks on the road, people are nervous about buying the tiny cars.
07/07, 1:16 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
They could start with reducing wheel sizes. No economy car needs anything bigger than 14″ wheels, anything larger just adds needless weight and resistance.
07/07, 1:18 PM
posted by:
bdizzlefizzle
Economies of scale won’t help with raw materials since it’s an issue of a) demand outstripping supply, plus b) high factor costs (like shipping and fuel for the fires that liquefy the metal).
07/07, 1:20 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Honda’s interior quality is still better than that of GM or Ford.
07/07, 1:21 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
=====>>The first immediate thing that came to my mind after reading this article was the identical comparison that RaineMan made….
07/07, 1:25 PM
posted by:
Shismo
They’re cutting back on welds to save weight? WTF…
07/07, 1:29 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Raineman-agreed
07/07, 1:54 PM
posted by:
xyunya
It is true that Honda, Toyota and Nissan cars “grew” in size in the past 10-12 years. Ford did not experience the same phenomenon, since Focus is the same car for that long. GM did not have a car marquee lasting that long except Impala, that did not change just like Focus.
I guess car companies where exercising market demand: providing what people wanted and people wanted bigger vehicles. To be perfectly objective, obesity went up along with belt lines and butt sizes. Civic of 15 years ago would not fit 2 average American adult bodies.
07/07, 2:01 PM
posted by:
blueshirts0819
“In addition to (hopefully) making them smaller again Honda can just shave more weight by using even cheaper, crappier plastics inside. Already the average Honda product uses plastics roughly akin to those cookie liners inside an Oreas pack, but would is they are eying Saran Wrap now. Hell, they already use Reynolds Wrap to make the grills on crApuras.”
I think you got it confused with a GM car.
07/07, 2:18 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
xyunya: you’re right, the gravitationally challenged are an issue here. Remember the K-Car, however. All pot shots at style (or lack thereof) and quality aside, you could get 6 people in one of these and it would still move. The 2.2 and 2.5 engines (I’m still trying to forget the Mitsu 2.6) were fairly large displacement, low on horsepower but had good torque numbers. You’ve said before Chrysler should bring Iacocca back for one last kick at the cat. I say bring him back for another kick at the K.
07/07, 2:23 PM
posted by:
Jon
^ There was a spoof K-Car commercial that circulated the internet a few years back that had me in stitches. Does anyone else remember? “I like the cool stuff!”
07/07, 2:59 PM
posted by:
Fromes
its so werid how even sub compacts like the Fit and Mini get bigger…my frenid has a 92 accord that he uses as a beater its actually a tad smaller then a new civic, perhaps companies should start making their vehicles smaller?
07/07, 3:19 PM
posted by:
kitko
Actually, Mazda has been doing it for years. My brother’s 1999 1.8 liter Mazda 323 (Protege) was heavier than a 2003 Mazda 6 with a 2.3 liter engine my father had.
The new Mazda2 weights less than a ton – that’s 100-200 kilos less than it’s rivals in the class – while still geting top 5 stars in Euro Crash test NCAP. It accomodates 4 adults and has best in class dynamics and handling and low CO2 emissions on top of that. That’s why Mazda2 won the International car of the year in 2007.
Mr. Chapman of Lotus was preaching that long ago but most chose not to listen.
07/07, 3:56 PM
posted by:
xyunya
johnnycanuck, I concur however those were the days of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John in Greece. I haven’t seen Olivia, but I am telling there is no way six (6) likes of John Travolta could place caboose into K car. I recall going with my dad and looking at K cars when they came out. I know that those 2.2L proved themselves indestructible, but the thing clattered either like misaligned diesel of a time or Russian tank engine (wait, it’st the same thing). It shook as well and there was no way you could shift from 3rd into 2nd without double clutching.
07/07, 4:01 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Even the 2008 Smart ForTwo is bigger than all previous versions.
07/07, 7:11 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
==>>ye, u got that right beatusmongous..
07/08, 1:28 AM
posted by:
Kanucko
Dammit, not one American said anything about small cars being dangerous…or about ‘What happens when u get hit by a semi and your not in a 6k pound HUMMER’. AutoWeek posters must not post here…
07/08, 1:34 AM
posted by:
carlos
Thats because they traded the hummer in for the semi. Arnold swartzenegger told them its better,and……. “its not a tumor”