We have reason to be hopeful that the carbon wheels we saw on the new GT350R will be trickling down to other production vehicles in the near future.

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I’ve been saying this for years: You can’t just have electrics and diesels for better MPGs. You need to combine those efforts with lighter weight technology to get better gas mileage.

For a while there, automakers with a higher-end clientele seemed to be the only ones listening. Thankfully, Ford finally seems to be bucking that trend.

At this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford stated that “the flexibility of the carbon fiber technology allows us to develop materials for all vehicle subsystems across the product line — resulting in a weight savings of more than 50% compared to steel.”
Hopefully that means that the carbon wheels we saw on the new GT350R will be trickling down to other production vehicles in the near future. If Ford can figure out a way to drastically reduce the cost of lightweight carbon fiber or even aluminum, Ford’s performance and gas milage will increase exponentially.

Hopefully that also means an even better Mustang in the future

 

I'll take one just like that in all wheel drive

 

I would be worried about CF wheels on more common cars. If you gouge it past the top layer of resin, it's usually structurally compromised. You could definitely do that by misjudging and scraping a curb while you're parking. Something like a GT350R? Sure that owner is going to be careful wherever they park. Soccer mom Allison in her Fusion? Not so much.

Now just imagine Allison driving in the highway at 70 when she hits a pothole and that wheel fails catostrophically

 

On the whole light weight thing... I'm sure automakers all realize that lightweight parts are essential to improving MPGs and overall performance... But they don't all just (pardon the expression) shoot their wad right away. If you release all of your technology at once you may not have any improvements for a few model years. They are just spreading it out as long as they can to massage out profits on what they have and are prepared to build at the lowest cost. Once one proverbial penguin jumps into the ice water, they will all follow, and it looks like Ford is the innovative disruptor in this case! Gotta love it, and I do believe it will trickle down...

As for carbon fiber wheels on the average joe and Jane car won't happen for a while if at all! No way. Now... I could see it showing up in high performance models as optional equipment, but I think this is more a precursor to lightweight aluminum frames in models across the board when the time is right. This just shows Ford knows that weight, or a lack thereof, is important, especially to enthusiasts and those who care about performance.

 

when will we see airless tires on production cars?

 

Here ya go.

 

Why? Just why?

 

Just when you think you've seen enough klassless pictures...