The spinning process for both Steel and Aluminum are not different. The costs of materials would be slightly more expensive for Aluminum, but the costs tend to fluctuate where the two materials don't tip the scale of cost either way. There are other ways to save weight and cost besides an aluminum frame. The use of plastics and ABS for sheathing the entire vehicle is not uncommon in many other common sports cars. Cheaper auto-lathe methods and advancements for carbon fiber fabrication and printed parts are also becoming more common.

The technologies coming down the road are extremely exciting. So writing off Ford for not improving upon what is about to hit the streets in the following years would be rather naive.

Just saying

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Aluminum is more expensive due to the mining process.
It's harder to refine than regular steel despite the fact that it's one of the most plentiful mineral available on the planet.

Who talked about aluminum frame? Not on the F150 I hope.

 

It has been awhile so obviously the cost is higher but not long ago the material cost in the typical car was less than $200 when purchased in the kind of quantities that the auto industry does.

 

yup. it's why industry has always been so keen on recycling aluminum. It's a lot cheaper and easier to reuse scrap aluminum metal than it is to refine it from ore.

the F-150 still has a steel ladder frame. Being a unit-body, the Mustang doesn't have a "frame" per se, the body itself is the structure.

 

But front fenders, doors and hood/trunk lids are not part of that structure. They could be made of any material while leaving the "structure" made of steel.

 

Then a Subframe of Steel and top frame of Aluminum... Sheathed in a mix of Aluminum and/or Carbon and/or Plastics and/or Ceramics.

The concept of running on a frame instead of a uni-body chassis is not very different from this...


And if you consider that the push is to go green and eco-friendly...then it makes more sense to use parts fabricated from recycled aluminum...which would in fact be cheaper than Steel.

For that matter you can throw in components from recycled plastics. And even ceramic parts. Or tubular parts manufactured from Aluminum or Steel instead of solid members...like the Sway bars for example.

Innovation is just spanking Ford all over this. They just need to pick up the torch and incorporate much of what we've gained from the hypercar segment.

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And Ford already is pulling new tricks to lighten the car....I'm sure we'll benefit from more tweaks from the engineers coming down the road....

http://jalopnik.com/the-2015-mustang...urce=pulsenews

Just saying...

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Sadly, I suspect this car will be heavier as it has independent rear suspension, which is supposed to be heavier than the old solid rear axle.

 

Remove...spare tire = 40lbs. Remove tire Jack = 10lbs. Remove rear bench = 30lbs.

Then you'll weigh the same as a 2014.

Swap Drive Shaft, Wheels, Sway bars and you'll be lighter than a 2014.

Lose 50lbs on our own bodies....won't hurt ... might even live longer to enjoy the new s550's.

;-)

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I guess weight may not be a bad thing as it may help to make the driving experience solid, just bad for MPG, but Mustang buyers aren't buying it concerned with MPG.