The Northern Territory news Sat 22 Dec 2012
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2012-12-22
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
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Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/243784
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/600836
www.ntnews.com.au CARSguide NT NEWS. 3 P U B : NTNE-WS-DA-TE:22-DGE:303LO-R: C-M Y-K Ford fuelled the fight to lighten the load with its Focus equipped with a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic bonnet Ford puts Focus on ways to save fuel By STUART MARTIN Mass reduction and improved aerodynamics are keys to reducing theworkload WEIGHT loss in automotive terms is key to reducing fuel use and emissions. While Holden looks at hot-metal panel pressing to reduce weight, Ford in the US has shown a prototype carbon fibre reinforced plastic bonnet that weighs half as much as a normal steel equivalent. The carbon-fibre reinforced plastic Focus bonnet, displayed at a recent industry event in Germany, is made from materials normally linked to motorsport or million-dollar supercars. Its the ability to make them at a rate feasible for current mass car production processes that is an im portant step, says Ford, part of on-going development involving Ford European Research Centre engineers. Ford European Research Centre advanced materials and processes research engineer Inga Wehmeyer says by partnering with materials experts through the Hightech.NRW research project, Ford is working to develop a solution that supports cost efficient manufacturing of carbon fibre components. Its no secret that reducing a vehicles weight can deliver major benefits for fuel consumption, but a process for fast and affordable production of carbon fibre automotive parts in large numbers has never been available, she says. Ford is already working with Dow Automotive Systems on new materials, design processes and manufacturing techniques, in part developing economic automotive-grade carbon fibre production. Lighter weight and chea per cost, says Ford, means improved electric and hybrid vehicle range at lower cost. Ford says carbon fibre as much as five times stronger than steel at onethird the weight is a key part of the companys plans to reduce the weight of its cars by up to 340kg by the end of the decade. Ford chief technical officer and vice president, Research and Innovation, Paul Mascarenas says there are two ways to reduce energy use in vehicles improving the conversion efficiency of fuels to motion and reducing the amount of work that powertrains need to do. Ford is tackling the conversion problem primarily through downsizing engines with EcoBoost and electrification while mass reduction and improved aerodynamics are keys to reducing the workload. Ford Australias Neil McDonald says while it is too early to talk about these CFRP materials on locallybuilt Fords, globally the company was looking at ways of reducing weight. Weight reduction improves fuel economy, he says. Ford, like all manufacturers, are looking at ways to reduce weight in its vehicles and thats one of the options being touted. Weight reduction is a critical element in reducing fuel economy and emissions, its something Ford globally is looking at. Pedal to floor for Ferrari imports EUROPEAN Automotive Imports (EAI) last month celebrated the seventh anniversary of being the Australian and New Zealand Ferrari importer with the delivery of its 1000th Ferrari a Ferrari 458 Spider into the local market. One thousand Ferraris is a lot of thoroughbred Italian supercars, says Kevin Wall, general manager of Ferrari in Australia and New Zealand. But (we have) to put into perspective what EAI has achieved in the past seven years. This year is also the 60th anniversary of Ferrari entering the Australian car market and the total number of Ferraris here is now a little over 2500, so in the past seven years EAI has nearly doubled the number of Ferraris on our roads. EAI took over the distribution of Ferrari in Australia and NZ seven years ago with a commitment to significantly lift the level of customer service. It has delivered new multi-million dollar Ferrari dealerships in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and a major upgrade of the Auckland dealer. At the same time, Ferrari has broadened its range and clearly made each of its models the market sector benchmark. The Ferrari 599 GTB, for example, has during this period become the best-selling V12 Ferrari sold in Australia and NZ, while the California, with 70 per cent of its owners choosing a Ferrari for the first time, has brought more new clients to the house of the prancing horse than any other model. Australia and NZ, as the 60th anniversary indicates, were among the very first markets outside Italy to recognise the extraordinary abilities offered by Ferrari and to start importing its cars, says Mr Wall. The delivery of the 1000th Ferrari in seven years shows that this desire to own a Ferrari is stronger than ever and that EAI is making it a reality for more lucky Australians and New Zealanders than ever before. ntnews.com.aul l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l CARS GUIDE