Being a Cadillac means superior refinement over lesser makes and models, with better design and engineering. And with the Cadillac ATS and new 2014 CTS — both members of the GM Alpha Platform family — those expectations are ensured by design, with clever usage of structural adhesive and aluminum.
In the case of structure adhesive, the all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS uses 387 feet of it — more than the length of a football field. In effect, the material provides a damping effect of sorts, which in turn reduces the amount of vibration through the body structure of the vehicle, thus resulting in fewer vibration and harshness for the vehicle’s driver and occupants. The adhesive (and usage of high-strength steel) also contributes to a 40 percent stiffer chassis for the new CTS compared to the outgoing model.
Meanwhile, the use of aluminum contributes to a relatively light base curb weight of 3,600 pounds — 200 pounds lighter than a BMW 528i, making the 2014 CTS the lightest car in the midsize luxury sedan segment.
Compared to the 2013 CTS, the all-new 2014 CTS saves weight in the following categories:
- 13.1 pounds by utilizing aluminum over steel bumpers
- 55 pounds by replacing the steel door panels with aluminum panels
- 14 pounds by making front strut towers of cast aluminum compared with steel used in 2013 CTS
- 7.2 pounds from the IP structure, where extruded and stamped aluminum replaced cast magnesium
- 36.5 pounds by using extruded and cast aluminum vs. a steel powertrain cradle on the current model
Go engineering!
Comments
I would watch as Adhesives are new to GM but old to the industry.
They are now taking machines that send a vibrations into the aluminum and it vibrate the metals till they generate enough heat to bond.
Audi has used this and rumors Ford will use it with a high Aluminum content with the coming F 150. Word is the coming truck will use a lot of Aluminum and will kill a lot of weight. The only questions is how will Ford control the cost of materials and how easy will it be to repair.
The use of adhesives doesn’t install a lot of confidence in the product in my mind. Of course I say that after watching the roof fly off my Corvette as I drove down the highway. The replacements went through the same trial and error, but they seem to have solved the problem finally. I still hold my breath when the speedo approaches and exceeds 100. My son assures me the planes he flies rarely have de-lam problems, but pre-flight checks do include areas on the airframe that have had problems in the past.
I’ve heard of the Vette roof panels going airborne, but how about the glue on the FF and 458 catching fire and creating an Italian inferno
What do they mean by aluminium bumpers? Every front end I have taken apparent on any 2000+ vehicle has had aluminium bumpers with high density compression/abosorbtion foam.. In fact here is a 1st gen CTS show the aluminum, picture taken from my friend Jon’s CTS website:
http://www.jon04ctsv.com/site_images/bumper_removal.jpg
All I know is that my ATS is QUIET and firm, smooth…..not a sound from body or trim 🙂
Anyword on the ctsv yet?
“7.2 pounds from the IP structure, where extruded and stamped aluminum replaced cast magnesium”
Chemically, magnesium is lighter than aluminum, so I would guess that casting uses more material than extrusion and stamping does.
And if so, why not just just magnesium, unless magnesium doesn’t like being extruded and stamped.
could go all the way and replace this aluminum with Composite materials like Carbon Fiber
The issue with magnesium is it is brittle or can be more brittle. It makes for great support parts like GM has used for a while in a dash but forged or extruded aluminum Is much stronger but can be heavier.
As fir more Carbon Fiber it is coming but aluminum is so much cheaper now. They are working on a molded Carbon Fiber at GM that would reduce the labor to make a carbon part to a reasonable amount. The cost to make carbon fiber parts is due to the long labor intensive fabrication and curing in a heated oven. It takes a long time to do that and time is money, Shorten and simplify the process and it become much cheaper.
As for adhesives. They have been used for a long time and have not been a issue. The Corvette thing was a small isolated issue. You have more broken welds and fasteners than you have adhesives.
The repair industry is gearing up the for the new issues they face. Cost of repairs will climb. Again!
I don’t see a place to sign up to win a ATS Cadillac