New F150 coming to Detroit auto show

dshelley wrote:
Quite likely the aluminum will do fine with the required crash test results in that the body itself provides little more than a designed crumple zone. We're going to see several new applications of technology over the next few years with our beloved pickups and SUV's in the attempt to continually improve fuel mileage. This will certainly provide many interesting comments from the yesterday worshipers and armchair engineers.

Totally agree. I think saving weight is going to become an obsession with the MFRs as economy standards continue to toughen, and as I type engineers are looking at every single component of a vehicle, from the frame to the windshield wiper locating arms, trying to figure out where weight can be shaved without adding cost.

If high-tech, high-strength, low-weight materials become more cost effective that'll only ratchet the whole process up a notch.