Automotive News - January 21, 2008 - (Page 28Q)

JANUARY 21, 2008 • 28Q Plastic spoiler saves weight James B. Treece jtreece@crain.com Saving with plastic The polycarbonate glazing used to make the rear window and spoiler on the Lincoln MKT concept offers several advantages. Here are 3. 1. One-piece assembly, compared with 20 pieces or more typically 2. Design freedom beyond what glass offers 3. Weight savings of 28 lbs. Source: Exatec DETROIT — There’s less than meets the eye in the spoiler on the Lincoln MKT concept car shown last week at the Detroit auto show. The rear window and spoiler are all one piece of polycarbonate glazing, essentially molded plastic. Normally, a spoiler mounted on a window requires assembling perhaps 20 separate pieces. The MKT’s “styling couldn’t be done in glass,” says John Madej, CEO of Exatec LLC, the company that supplied the polycarbonate glazing. Polycarbonate glazing is not just about increasing styling possibilities or simplifying manufacturing. Although more expensive than glass, polycarbonate is up to 50 percent lighter than tempered glass and up to 60 percent lighter than laminated glass. “This is how to increase functionality and save weight at the same time,” Madej says. By using resin parts made from 2,000 recycled PET water bottles in place of metal structural body parts, Lincoln saved 104 pounds in the MKT. PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a plastic resin and form of polyester. Sabic Innovative Plastics markets several resins in its iQ line, notably Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ, which are made from used PET containers but which have performance characteristics that are almost identical to similar plastics made from petrochemical feedstock. During the Detroit auto show’s media days, Lincoln Mercury handed out water bottles with labels that read, “This plastic bottle could soon become the car of tomorrow.” c The rear window and spoiler on the Lincoln MKT are one piece of polycarbonate glazing. Lincoln saved 28 pounds by using the glazing in place of glass. Better fuel economy All other things being equal, reducing weight boosts fuel economy. Amid growing concerns about fuel economy in the United States and carbon dioxide emissions in Europe, “We see this as the right technology at the right time,” says Gregory Adams, vice president for automotive at Sabic Innovative Plastics. Sabic Innovative Plastics, of Pittsfield, Mass., formerly was known as GE Plastics. Saudi Basic Industries Corp., or Sabic, bought GE Plastics in 2007. Exatec is a unit of Sabic Innovative Plastics. Lincoln saved 28 pounds by using polycarbonate glazing in place of glass on the MKT’s wraparound rear window and moonroof. Across the aisle from the MKT is the Land Rover LRX concept. It uses polycarbonate on the rear window and panoramic roof. The substitution for glass saved 40 pounds. The LRX demonstrates another functional advantage of polycarbonate: The car’s antenna is printed directly onto the plastic under the blackedout portion along the edge of the roof. To gain a broader acceptance for polycarbonate glazing, “We’re working two sides,” Madej says. First, Exatec is working with the carmakers’ design studios, their materials teams and their platform teams to show how to use this new alternative to glass and to help them validate it as a reliable material. In addition, Exatec is working with the traditional suppliers of molded plastic parts so that those companies are ready to make the parts if the carmakers order them. That also involves lining up qualified suppliers of the necessary equipment. SEND YOUR COMPETITORS INTO A TAILSPIN Introducing Automotive Consumer Dynamics from Acxiom Corporation Automotive Consumer Dynamics is a recurring customercentric study that’s relevant, smart and actionable. It’s everything you ever wanted to know about your target consumers. Request your complimentary subscription by visiting www.acxiom.com/automotive. Not a parts supplier Exatec itself has no plans to become a supplier of parts to automakers, Madej says. Its work on the Lincoln MKT was as a prototype supplier, similar to its previous work with Hyundai Motor Co. on the QarmaQ (pronounced car-mac) concept vehicle. Sabic Innovative Plastics has other ideas to help reduce a vehicle’s weight and improve a carmaker’s green credentials. © 2008 Acxiom Corporation RYAN BEENE http://www.acxiom.com/automotive http://www.acxiom.com/automotive

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - January 21, 2008

Campi will move fast to buy global Ford rolls out new F series — but will it stay No. 1? GM will push metro megastores BMW: We may need a 'green' brand Competition claims traditions German summit Toyota: We have enough plants for now Chinese pitch innovation, not just price Mercedes in, Cadillac out as sponsor of Masters golf tournament Auto show walkaround: Chasing the YIPS around Detroit New Acura TSX will get a diesel Toyota: We'll crack 35-mpg CAFE before 2020 Audi predicts 1 million global sales in 2008 Toyota crosses over into tricky segment LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Digital edition is a 'quantum leap' KEITH CRAIN: Here they come, ready or not EDITORIAL: Incentives war isn't the answer to sales downturn LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Toyota over Chevy? Don’t be too sure DIGITAL EDITION: You did your homework Chrysler concepts show brand tweaks Chrysler: 'Hemi is not powertrain of the future' Some of what we heard at the Detroit auto show Corvette has a future — but maybe a lighter, greener one Nissan exec: Cube is coming to America Subaru relies on new Forester Farley: Ford must groom the market Ford still funds Jag, Land Rover product development Ford will probably develop its new rwd cars in the U.S. Volvo considers North American production Good design: Solving problems, making a statement Horbury wants a more aerodynamic F-150 Hyundai upgrades next Sonata's interior M-B could build C class in U.S. VW hints at vehicles for new N.A. plant Customer demand for CTS sedans strains production capabilities at Cadillac GM to test ZR1 carbon fiber weight savings Honda Pilot has more room, power Indiana plant will boost Honda's flexibility Zetsche sees 20% diesel mix for Mercedes-Benz GM hopes to have E-Flex test vehicles ready by June GM to increase Enclave output Cadillac aims high with Provoq Pontiac to launch G8 marketing in March Big-truck sales fall 43.5% in Dec. Personnel Buckle up for a rocky '08, economists warn Canada sales up 2.4% in '07 Gioia: Ford hybrids will be profitable by year end American Honda opens workplace diversity office Dealers From CDs to Sync: Auto industry races to adapt in-car IT trends Microsoft exec sees a car as 'another room in the house' China's Geely plans plant in Mexico Chrysler exec: China exporters need time Murtaugh: Nissan deal won't affect Chrysler-Chery venture Strike by writers makes TV iffy for auto marketers Super Bowl auto advertisers get pre-game jitters Final Say GM bumps buyout total to 46,000 GM considers U.S.-made Astra Good Karma: Mean, green, fighting machine Purves confirms it: The end is near Rehab for designers: A change can do you good Tata's achievement: Redefining 'cheap' Fans remember auto commercials with sports themes Which brand is stronger — Scion or Prius? Engine advances bring cleaner emissions a step closer Suppliers to the 2008 Ford Focus Varable compression ratio makes a comeback Change the engine's stroke Integrate components to boost efficiency Reduce the size of the engine Eliminate the cams and count the savings ZF expects surge in new orders American Axle's rising son may be another Dauch Honda taps Web for workers Trelleborg unit adds tech center Kia restricts hiring at Ga. plant to Web applicants Magna pursues Ogihara Supplier personnel Age of intelligent transportation is getting closer Plastic spoiler saves weight Automotive News' cartoonist looks at 2007 8 will enter European Automotive Hall of Fame Pininfarina lifted family business to new heights Merciless cost cutter Calvet rescued PSA Opel boys turned bicycle venture into automaker Giacosa fathered the Fiat 500 JCI to supply batteries to Chinese automakers Automakers will spend more on digital ads Ford snares star role in return of 'Knight Rider' GM Certified markets online to Hispanics Writers' strike could benefit auto marketers

Automotive News - January 21, 2008

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