Industry news
Cadillac, Detroit, will use an advanced mixed-material approach for the lightweight body structure of the CT6 sedan. The structure is aluminum intensive, but the new Cadillac also includes 13 different materials customized for each area of the car to improve driving dynamics, fuel economy and cabin quietness.
Thirteen high-pressure diecast components make up the lower structure of the CT6 body, along with aluminum sheets and extrusions.
The CT6 debuted in March at the New York International Auto Show and will enter production late this year at General Motors'Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
"This is the rocket science of automobile construction and manufacturing today," said Johan de Nysschen, president, Cadillac. "With the CT6, we used high-strength aluminum, high-strength steels and lightweight chassis components."
Weight reduction helps improve fuel efficiency, contributes to desirable vehicle dynamics and aids in creating a more resilient passenger cell. Sixty-four percent of the CT6 body structure is aluminum, including all exterior body panels, and the mixed material approach saved 198 lbs. (90 kg) compared to a predominately steel construction.
(Source from: Modern Casting May 2015)