Weight can have a negative affect on all aspects of a vehicle’s life. It can put a damper on its performance, efficiency and overall cost which is why Honda Motor Company is planning on cutting a few pounds from its manufacturing and its vehicles. According to an Automotive News article, the brand is ready to adopt new methods to lighten its cars and trucks by cutting unnecessary building processes. One in particular involves welding outer panels to frames rather than bolting them down and adding reinforcements. Honda first plans of implementing its new methods on smaller vehicles while its larger cars and trucks will receive the treatment soon after.
The ultimate goal is to cut back on costly materials. Honda’s latest minicar, the N Box, is the first to adopt the welding method which will help it be 10 percent lighter than its competition. Lighter means more responsive acceleration and better fuel economy, a must in the small car segments. The company will soon revamp a large portion of its manufacturing plants both in Japan and overseas in order to cut down on weight. The switch may have an entry cost, but in the end, it will produce better Hondas.
Source: Automotive News.com
