• Figure 1. A Honda Pilot following the small overlap front crash test on the driver side. The position of the dummy shows that the driver compartment remained intact. (Source: IIHS.)

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    Aluminum Extrusions Prove Superior in Bumper Systems

    By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. The automotive business is rife with change as OEMs introduce new powertrains for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). Car companies are also spending billions in big bets on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), ride sharing, artificial intelligence (AI), and service businesses in an attempt to shift dollars from the […]

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    Turbo Aluminum Engine in ’21 Acura TLX

    Acura, part of Honda, has ramped up their use of aluminum in the 2021 TLX. The new vehicles are comprised of 56% advanced lightweight materials, including aluminum and magnesium. The engine itself, as well as the hood, front bumper beam, fenders and front damper mounts are all composed of aluminum. With the changes to the […]

  • Jaguar I-Pace outside charging - electric vehicles drive aluminum demand

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    Aluminum Continues Unprecedented Growth in Automotive Applications

    By Andrea Svendsen, Managing Editor. Demand for aluminum in the automotive industry is continuing its growth trajectory, according to a new report from DuckerFrontier, 2020 North American Light Vehicle Aluminum Content and Outlook. The report notes that aluminum content is expected to grow to 514 lbs per vehicle by 2026, up by 12% from 2020 […]

  • Honda Motocross

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    Honda Releases New Motocross Bike with Titanium Engine and Aluminum Frame

    Honda Motor unveiled its all-new 2018 CRF250R, the company’s leading mass-produced motocross bike. The highly anticipated motocross model features a host of updates, including more aluminum in its frame and titanium in the fuel tank and engine. As a result of the engine and chassis updates, the 2018 CRF250R enjoys a 3% improvement in start […]

  • Alcoa RSR

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    Alcoa Develops Innovative Joining Technology for Lightweight Vehicles

    Responding to the growing industry trend towards multi-material part design, Alcoa has developed an advanced new joining technology. Resistance spot riveting (RSR™) was developed join dissimilar materials (aluminum, high strength steels, magnesium, and composites) using the same equipment implemented for conventional spot welds, providing automakers the flexibility to switch between RSR and conventional welds, depending on […]