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Similar sized car - 1/2 the weight... (archive) | ![]() |
Posted by Greg Hudson (Melbourne Australia) on September 28, 1998 at 18:29:58:
In Reply to: Re: Old conservative designers posted by Praveen on September 28, 1998 at 17:49:18:
G'Day Praveen.
If you want to get really serious about weight reduction, just look at a Lotus Elise... It and the Z3 are about the same size, but check out these slight weight differences:
Z3=1175Kg = 2585Lb
Elise = 690Kg = 1518Lb
How do they do it you might ask?
Start with a complete alloy chassis weighing just 120Kg (uses no bolts or rivets - the car is GLUED together!) then add a few aluminium panels to keep the water off the driver, a small (1.8) engine, no carpets, radio, Air Con, power windows, Airbags, ABS (or computer), no leather (the list goes on and on)
It's quite easy to get the weight down - all you need to do is start from scratch & buld a totally different car!!! OR... Contact those looneys in Europe that have remanufactured the hood, and just about every other body panel in carbon fiber - but beware of the cost !!!
For the full lightweight Z3 story, see the link below.
Greg.