SVT GT350 to get carbon fiber wheels?

[Topnotch]

http://www.engineeringtv.com/video/Carbon-Fiber-and-Magnesium-Whee

"Lightweight materials are being used by Ford in their vehicles to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Matthew Zaluzec highlights two examples here: one wheel made from magnesium and another made from carbon fiber."

[ame]


When asked by Lee Teschler (editor in chief of Machine Design) which class of vehicle the carbon fiber and magnesium wheels could be used first, Ford's Senior Technical Leader, Matthew Zaluzec stated:

"You look for a low volume vehicle first. Our Mustang program, it could be a Special Vehicle Team, it could be a Raptor, a Mustang Cobra type vehicle, those are really good test beds, for several reasons, the consumer that buys those cars are really looking for the advanced technology, whether it's a bell or a whistle, or some lightweighting technology. Plus they also give us a lot of really good feedback. If they're a problem, they are going to be the first one to tell us... So we would look to test it on a specialty vehicle first and if we're successful then we would look to make the natural migration, maybe you go to a low-volume 100,000 unit production per year, then maybe you scale it to 250,000 a year..."

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[Twin Turbo]

Interesting

 

[Crazyhorse]

Hopefully the new hi-po car has a set of either.

 

[stanglife]

http://www.engineeringtv.com/video/Carbon-Fiber-and-Magnesium-Whee

This is good. I've been onboard with the hopes that any future SVT option would need to not only have more horsepower but shed a few pounds.

Bring on the 3400lb GT350!

Did that frame at :23 look like a hood frame or maybe a carbon rear window frame section??

 

[w3rkn]

I know Ford is working on it...

 

[68fbjjz109]

IIRC they used those Carbon Fiber wheels on the Fusion lightweight concept.

 

[flaps]

IIRC they used those Carbon Fiber wheels on the Fusion lightweight concept.

They also said they weren't ready for production though.

 

[jcalvert86]

They also said they weren't ready for production though.

What about 6mo to a year from now?

I'm sure they'll be offered on the upcoming Hi-Po models.

 

[tbonez3858]

Jay Leno had a section of one of his car show about mass production carbon fiber wheels. The president of the company said he was working with one of the major manufacturers in America to put the wheels on a car that hadnt been released yet. The wheels were like 15k, however. Im sure Ford would get them for 7k if it bought them in sufficient bulk.

If the car gets these wheels I hope its the GT350R or it will price the car out of my range.

 

[Rated R]

And if you don't get new approved by Ford tires, mounted at your dealer then the wheel warranty on your GT350 is void.

 

[IGJoe2192]

And if you don't get new approved by Ford tires, mounted at your dealer then the wheel warranty on your GT350 is void.

Why would this be a bad thing if you bought a small volume car and they had technicians certified to do the work if it in fact uses a different technique so you don't damage the wheel. Odds are your local tire shop wont send there guys in for training IF it does require a certification or training to mount a tire to a CF wheel.

 

[ncford]

The carbon fiber wheels looks to be made by carbon revolution in Southern California.

 

[FreddyG]

They are CarbonRev wheels, and they cost $15k a set!

Great wheels, but cost prohibitive, unless they make them an option for those that are Blessed without a budget!

Imagine the feeling that you'd have if you hit a pothole and cracked one of those! :eyebulge:

 

[nametoshowothers]

They are CarbonRev wheels, and they cost $15k a set!

Great wheels, but cost prohibitive, unless they make them an option for those that are Blessed without a budget!

Imagine the feeling that you'd have if you hit a pothole and cracked one of those! :eyebulge:

There is no way they will be that price if sold on oem car. The company is setting themselves up for large scale production. If it is true that CF wheels are coming they will need to be sold to ford in the $500 to $1000 per wheel range. Otherwise the technology can not be sold on enough cars to move towards mass production

 

[908ssp]

There is no way they will be that price if sold on oem car. The company is setting themselves up for large scale production. If it is true that CF wheels are coming they will need to be sold to ford in the $500 to $1000 per wheel range. Otherwise the technology can not be sold on enough cars to move towards mass production

Exactly right. Amazing how many people don't understand the economy of scale. The more you can make and sell the cheaper the price can be and still make a profit. I would estimate no more than a $4000 premium for carbon wheels probably less. The same goes for the carbon ceramic brakes. The Brembo technology that is on the Corvette is already outdated with new stronger cheaper technology ready for sale on a much larger volume. There again $4000 a set would be top dollar. You are still looking at a decked GT350 costing in the $70 plus range.

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