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As vehicle manufacturers and suppliers search for innovative methods of saving weight
from the automobile, the choice of material is becoming more and more important.
The benefits of lighter cars include less energy used, fewer emissions emitted,
lower material costs, and in some cases they can be cheaper to repair/replace.
While steel continues to be used predominantly on new vehicles, manufacturers of
the raw material are looking at lightweight versions. Meanwhile other metals are
being adopted in its place, such as aluminium and magnesium. Aluminium has been
used extensively, and with great success, in vehicle applications such as the Audi
A8 and selected Jaguar models.
Other alternative materials being used to keep mass down include carbon fibre, plastic,
lightweight glass and other composite materials. These materials are typically used
in high-performance vehicles, such as the Caparo T1, Bugatti Veyron, and McLaren
MP4-12C.
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