Here's a look at a study that was conducted by a committee of the American Iron and Steel Institute to determine whether steel could be used to create big, safe and light-weight sport utility vehicles and light trucks. Materials researchers within PNGV announced that they were concentrating on several materials to cut the weight of vehicles, including aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. That was the result of the first of three phases, with Phase III, which is scheduled for 1998, involving the production, with an auto maker, of a production prototype ultralight steel car.
Trucks Are Hot.
One thing that has really garnered a whole lot of attention on car lots is the pickup truck. In 1996, the top selling vehicle was the Ford F-series pickup. The third best-selling vehicle in '96 was the Ford Explorer. As Douglas Tyger, manager, Applications Engineering, AK Steel Corp . Porsche Engineering was commissioned to conduct the study.