VW Springs Ahead With Titanium

DENVER--Titanium springs are getting a bounce as the 2001 model year Volkswagen Lupo FSI will be the first production vehicle to use this type of suspension spring, which was developed by Titanium Metals Corp. (The company is more commonly known as TIMET.) The titanium springs are produced by the same suppliers as steel springs using the same production equipment.

Volkswagen currently expects to manufacture up to 3,500 of the 2001 FSI Lupos. (The Lupo FSI is being marketed as the lowest fuel consumption gasoline car in the world, achieving 48 miles per gallon.)

The Volkswagen Lupo springs, produced from TIMET’s patented TIMETAL LCB alloy, contributed to the 180 lb. overall weight reduction achieved by the FSI model versus the standard model Lupo. Similar in strength to steel at half the weight, titanium is also about twice as flexible as steel--resulting in spring designs that are 60 to 70 percent lighter and offer up to a 40 percent height reduction compared to corresponding steel springs, according to the company.

TIMET has been working for a number of years on a strategy to gain widespread acceptance of titanium in the automobile industry. “Due to the material’s excellent physical and mechanical properties, it is already well established in the racing car and limited production exotic sport car segments, where material cost is less of a factor,” the company said. “In order to meet material performance objectives at the prices required to gain acceptance in large-volume production vehicles, TIMET has developed new high volume production methods, as well as three relatively low cost titanium alloys suitable for many automotive applications.”

The first major achievement in this strategy was realized earlier this year when Chevrolet announced that the high performance 2001 Corvette Z06 would carry a titanium exhaust system, the first significant titanium component ever selected for a production automobile, according to the company. The Corvette exhaust is produced from TIMETAL Exhaust Grade titanium, which has properties tailored specifically for exhaust systems.

The titanium exhaust system is the largest single contributor to weight reduction on the Z06, saving 18 pounds over the previous year’s hard top model, as well as offering significant improvement in corrosion protection. About 6,500 of the 2001 model year Corvette Z06s are currently expected to be manufactured.

“Titanium exhaust systems and suspension springs now offer two of the greatest mass reductions available to vehicle engineers,” the company said. “Consequently, these recent breakthroughs have now attracted the attention of sport utility vehicle, luxury car, minivan, and truck manufacturers seeking to improve performance and to lighten their vehicles in order to reduce emissions in compliance with mandated clean air standards.”

For more information, contact www.timet.com.