Alcoa Automotive News Corner
Alcoa Supplies Aluminum Spaceframe Technology for New Ferrari California
Alcoa has been selected by Ferrari S.p.A. to supply the all-aluminum spaceframe for the upcoming Ferrari California. The California, recently unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show, is the latest performance vehicle from Ferrari.
The strength and lightweight advantages of Alcoa's aluminum technologies allow Ferrari to maximize performance, strength and structural rigidity of the California to meet customer expectations. Alcoa's aluminum spaceframe is a key component to delivering another new Ferrari with legendary world-class performance.
"Alcoa's expertise in the aluminum industry and a close working relationship with Ferrari has enabled aluminum solutions to match the legendary performance of each Ferrari. We are dedicated to providing aluminum spaceframe technologies that allow Ferrari to meet all performance, safety and passenger comfort measurements for the new California," explains Kevin B. Kramer, President, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products.
"Working closely with Ferrari from the start of the project allowed Alcoa to maximize strength on an open-top two seat sports car while reducing mass and weight to increase performance and deliver a superb driving experience," said Kramer.
Alcoa's optimized aluminum solutions for the new Ferrari California help increase performance while lowering vehicle weight to deliver increased fuel economy and lower CO
2 emissions. Particular attention was paid to fuel consumption levels, which in the case of the ECE combined cycle is 13.2 l/100 km, with CO
2 emission levels of around 310 g/km.
Alcoa's spaceframe manufacturing facility is located in Modena, Italy, very close to the Ferrari plant.
Alcoa continues to provide the benefits of light weight aluminum components to the automotive industry. With the recent run-up in fuel prices and concerns over environmental issues, SEMA was flush with all sorts of new "green" products. Alcoa Auto Wheels took the opportunity to unveil several innovations playing off a 60 year history of providing efficiency in wheel design, engineering and production.
The Alcoa Auto Wheels hospitality suite included a wheel and graphic display focusing on an Emerging Technologies station highlighting new and progressive advancements. The Emerging Technologies station included some of the latest innovations as Alcoa continues to refine and bring to market leading technologies, including new alloy options, drilled spoke manufacturing processes and perforated rim techniques all in the effort to lower wheel weight for increased efficiencies and improved driving dynamics. Combined, Alcoa feels that each of these emerging innovations can further lower total wheel weight by up to 20 percent. Look for more in-depth announcements and details on these emerging innovations coming soon as the team brings each of these new production methods to our customers.
CarCrazy TV is currently editing Steve's interview for future programming placement on SPEED TV. In the meantime, here's a link to Victor's appearance on Car and Driver Radio:
