Subaru to Discontinue Use of Aluminum Body Panels
"OKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, manufacturer of the Subaru automobile brand, will discontinue the use of aluminum exterior panels for new or redesigned cars released after the year to March 2007, due to rising aluminum costs, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing sources.
It said with aluminum prices doubling in the last four years, the company will substitute zinc-coated steel sheet.
Aluminum outer panels save weight and improve performance and fuel efficiency, and have been used on the Legacy midsize car, the Forester small SUV, and the Impreza sport sedan."
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