Nissan has announced an new initiative to reduce its vehicles’ weight by an average of 15% — when compared to its 2005 lineup — over the next seven years. The reason for the weight reduction is to improve fuel economy in the face of stricter regulations worldwide.
The Japanese automaker hopes to the shed weight by working with suppliers to provide lighter weight materials and encouraging them to meet new efficiency targets.
Vehicle weight has ballooned over the past few decades, mainly due to required safety equipment.
The target of 15% would mean most vehicles would lose about 500 pounds. Not only would that weight reduction result in increased fuel economy, but would also boost performance — a win-win situation. In quarter-mile drag racing, every 100 pounds lost results in about .1 second gain, meaning the 350Z would be a mid-13 second car.
