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."

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds...fx3280775.html

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Funny looking German Subaru

I'm not master with metals .. But presumably a Zinc coated sheet of Steel would weigh more? Perhaps we'll be going up from 2.5L

well they are saying that the MY08 STI will have more kw and I reckon they will need them if they get rid of alum panels!

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Funny looking German Subaru

The US. MY07 WRX's already have steel lower control arms replacing the aluminium ones previous. Expect the same in Oz.

Not good for kg/KW

J

WRX's are getting worse and worse.

Bit sad really.

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K.E.R.S!!!1

At least you will be working out "the guns" when you pop the bonnet. My silvia bonnet weighed a tonne compared to my rex one.

Before you know it a WRX will weigh as much as a commodore if this kind of shit keeps up.

Frankly I would rather Subaru keep the aluminum panels and put the price up a little bit to compensate for the increased manufacturing cost.

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RS Liberty - Because WRX's are only good for parts...

this move will certainly put alot of ppl off, the shell would not only be heavier but are moer prone to rust after scratch or accident repairs :S

Yeah as the weight gets so close to V8 and turbo 6 commodores why would u bother.

You will have shithouse power to weight vs a done up 6L 8.

Already the newer models are getting close to 1500kg... which is huge considering my 2 door with 6 speed, full tank and me inside the car (90kg) weighed 1430kg all up on a weighbridge. With a person and full tank the new models will be almost 1650kg which is hella heavy.

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[url]http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/6284/evobeatsstiug6.gif[/url]

Does this mean if you smash the thing you have to replace with steel panels?

If they keep stock of the aluminium ones they will be horendously expensive.

Brendon

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