A sea change is being observed in the automobile industry with respect to the segment of light cars. Mercedes-Benz looks like maintaining its reign at the top for a long time. Another sporty lightweight offering from the company, the new Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is likely to reach Indian shores pretty soon. In specific terms, the company has set a deadline of this year end for making the car available in India. If you want to get the feeling off what this new roadster would look like, all you have to do is frame a picture of a car with an aluminium body frame. The pricing of the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster is a matter that is subject to a lot of speculation at this moment.
The best feature that an aluminium body frame provides is that it makes the car very light in weight and the auto manufacturer has the intention of taking full advantage of this metal property by having the car built from scratch, using the same. The overall weight of the vehicle is expected to get a reduction of 110kg, given its new makeover in aluminium. An even lighter store than Aluminium happens to be Magnesium, and this has been included in designing the rear panel of the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster. Apart from its feature of being light in weight, Magnesium also comes handy in reducing the effects of corrosion, particularly in those parts of the vehicle that are highly subject to corrosive forces. Also, its inclusion cumulatively reduces the weight of the vehicle by 140kg as compared to the erstwhile model. However, steel has been retained in those joints that require high durability. The A-pillars have been given steel support, as they require the same.
Some manufacturers might give Carbon-fiber a consideration for the development of light weight cars, as it is lesser in weight than aluminium. However, if the factor of stability is analyzed, Aluminium has been seen to perform much better. The car industry is seeing a radical change happening with increasing manufacturers showing keenness in developing light weight cars. The greater efficiency towards fuel consumption by these cars seems to be pushing the car manufacturers towards that direction. They also exhibit a commitment towards the environment, with lower levels of emission. Even domestic manufacturers in India, like Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki have developed interest in designing the same.
