It is reported that Volkswagen AG will shave as much as 100 kilograms from the weight of its updated Golf model by using stronger steel to minimize the metal content, delivering a 23% reduction in fuel consumption.

VW said that the new materials and production processes, part of a modular manufacturing system, will be extended to more than 40 small and mid sized models or about 3.5 million cars.

Europe's biggest carmaker expects the shared architecture to cut production costs by 20%, manufacturing time by 30% and one time expenses by 20%. The savings will help finance upgrades of in-car entertainment systems and the development of new generations of VW autos.

A revised version of VW's flagship Golf is scheduled to be unveiled on September 4th 2012 as the company seeks to gain market share and overtake Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation and Detroit based General Motors Co to become world No 1 in sales by 2018.

Mr Ulrich Hackenberg, the company's brand development chief, said that "The Golf has a preeminent role at Volkswagen because of its high production volumes, the number of employees behind it, and because the car is the face of VW."

Volkswagen's strategy favors the use of strengthened steel to reduce overall weight as a cheaper alternative to materials such as aluminum or carbon fiber, as used by Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) for its new electric vehicle range.

Reduced fuel consumption will also lower VW's carbon dioxide emissions. The new Golf will emit 13.9% less CO2 per car, equal to about 119,000 tonnes in European markets.

Source - Bloomberg

(www.steelguru.com)