Today's pipe dream.

[Dirtleg]

So I was just sitting here thinking about how much I wished the S550 was aluminum bodied. I know how cost is an issue, etc, etc.....

Then I thought "why couldn't it be an option". The more I thought about it the more I realized I'd have sprung for it if it were a 5k option. Maybe even a 7k option.

Thoughts?

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[ScottsGT]

Why? The fenders and hood already are, and the rest is so thin it probably wouldn't save much weight. I've been around a lot of car bodies as a former paint and body guy, and I have never seen metal flex as easy as this one does while washing the car.
My vote is for carbon fiber!

Oh wait. you're talking about the entire body, not just the exterior sheet metal? Hmmm...

I still vote for carbon fiber

 

[gunsnbutta]

I can't stand the hood flex on this car. I have to force myself not to look at it while driving. An aftermarket non-aluminum hood is definitely in my future. I'm good with the fenders.


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[Dirtleg]

Yeah I was referring to the whole car not just the skins.
Why? Because I like the idea. And I wouldn't be against an aluminum/carbon setup.
The point was I would be willing to pay extra, if it were an option, for a lighter car.

 

[10splaya22]

Yeah I was referring to the whole car not just the skins.
Why? Because I like the idea. And I wouldn't be against an aluminum/carbon setup.
The point was I would be willing to pay extra, if it were an option, for a lighter car.

Problem is it would cost much much more than 5 or 7k. The tooling and production requirements are very expensive and not cost effective if it was an option. You also have the required crash testing and EPA testing as well. Then you have the minuscule amount of people that would actually pay that premium. If you want an aluminum chassis your best bet would be a C7 vette.

 

[K3NMasterS]

For being aluminum, this hood is very heavy. MY G37x aluminum hood feels like carbon fiber compared to these. I'd be interested in a carbon hood if one becomes available.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Why? The fenders and hood already are, and the rest is so thin it probably wouldn't save much weight. I've been around a lot of car bodies as a former paint and body guy, and I have never seen metal flex as easy as this one does while washing the car.
My vote is for carbon fiber!

Oh wait. you're talking about the entire body, not just the exterior sheet metal? Hmmm...

I still vote for carbon fiber

Prevents rust. Thirty years down the line you don't want to have to replace the whole body because everything's rusted out.

 

[VTECSAUCE]

I absolutely agree. Cars need to shed weight. I know its expensive to manufacture, that just means someone has to come up with a cheaper alternative. Cars continue to get fat due to safety and emissions and the only remedy seems to be to bulk everything else up with it. I loved Honda's of the 90's because they were lightweight making them nimble and relatively quick, now a days they're just another passenger car. It's plaguing the industry.

 

[foghat]

For being aluminum, this hood is very heavy. MY G37x aluminum hood feels like carbon fiber compared to these. I'd be interested in a carbon hood if one becomes available.

How are you comparing the weight? The infiniti has hood struts? No?

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