Aluminum-Carbon Wheels: Cheap, Light, Strong
Just a few days ago, we brought you the breaking news of standard carbon fiber wheels being used on the GT350R. Now, we can bring you some more news for those of us with wallets that are on a diet. ThyssenKrupp, a leader in carbon fiber manufacturing, is developing an aluminum-carbon wheel in partnership with Maxion wheels, a wheel manufacturing powerhouse that makes everything from OEM wheels to wheels for forklifts.
The development would be a much more cost effective alternative to the high-price full carbon fiber wheel, but would still retain the known strength of aluminum wheels, and almost all of the weight savings from the carbon fiber units. This is the technology that would trickle down to cars with price tags a little bit lower than that of the GT350R.
Initial testing is currently on light automotive use, but there is no word yet on when this would become commercially available. With weight nearly half that of a traditional aluminum wheel though, the benefits that OEMs will see would go well beyond the sports car segment. Improvements in ride quality, noise, and even fuel economy would be a benefit of the new carbon aluminum combo. But for those wondering exactly what it’ll look like, you’ll have to find out with the rest of us.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
via [MotorAuthority]
