Advanced metals gaining momentum

Materials once considered exotic are being specified for higher-volume automotive applications in a bid to trim mass for improved fuel economy and performance.

Because consumers have accepted the idea that expensive fuel may be here to stay, they have reacted by seeking more fuel-efficient vehicles. But that does not mean that they are prepared to surrender the advances in safety and convenience they have enjoyed over the last two decades. While some U.S. consumers are willing to return to cars from trucks, cars are bigger and heavier than they were when they last outsold light trucks.

In the interest of reducing mass while preserving size and safety, carmakers are turning increasingly to lightweight steels as well as alloys of aluminum, magnesium, and even once-exotic titanium to trim weight from cars. Last August we wrote about advancements in lightweight high-strength steels in the “Finishing strong” feature, so this year we're focusing on some of the other metal options.