Material opportunities

Compacted graphite iron, aluminum, and composites have significant roles in engine downsizing, but steel's capability and potential endures.

The move toward downsizing is making a material difference to automobile engine design and manufacture. As engines become smaller, they run hotter, have higher in-cylinder pressures, and subsequently produce ever-greater pressures on the block.

Greater pressures are also placed on designers and engineers, who must extract power and torque figures that meet end-user expectations, and also control emissions to meet legislative requirements. To achieve these targets, weight needs to be kept low, component life must not be compromised, and the constant challenge of achieving good NVH characteristics must be met-together with reduced cost of manufacture.