Ford Motor’s 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickups with aluminum bodies have higher engine output ratings and more towing and hauling capability than ever, while “smart” technologies make backing and monitoring trailers easier.
The process of lightweighting a fleet of vehicles involves more than simply moving down a vehicle class or removing weight from an overloaded vehicle.
The windshield is a critical safety component of a vehicle, protecting passengers in the event of a rollover and aiding in proper airbag deployment. However, the windshield is no longer just an independent part comprised of a vinyl interlayer sandwiched between two pieces of glass. What is changing is that windshields are becoming more technologically integrated with the rest of the vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz 2017 E-Class will enter its next generation with increased size, a new turbocharged four-cylinder, and an array of new driver assistance systems.
Mercedes-Benz will bring its GLC luxury SUV to dealers in November as a 2016 model-year replacement to the GLK-Class with a greater range of features and significantly lighter-weight construction for improved fuel economy.
Among the top trends influencing commercial fleets are an increased focus on designing upfit equipment to enhance safety and driver productivity, greater use of lightweight materials, and standardization of upfit specifications.
Porsche has broken new ground as the first vehicle manufacturer to use a magnesium outer body panel with the roof of its 911 GT3 RS that debuted at the Geneva International Motor Show in March.
When used in the manufacture of truck bodies and van equipment, lightweight materials, such as thinner gauge high-strength steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and plastic composites, enable fleets to reduce vehicle weight to improve fuel economy, increase legal payload, and even drop down to a smaller (often more fuel-efficient) vehicle.
Audi's Q7 flagship luxury SUV will lose 700 pounds for the 2015 model year in a redesign that should make the full-size, seven-passenger SUV the lightest in its segment, according to Audi.
Innovative, new technologies and advances in engineering are creating lighter, stronger, and more fuel-efficient truck bodies than ever before.