Not possible says grm convectional wisdom.
I detest just posting up links from jalopautottacblog but, The new impreza post caught my eye.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/2012-subaru-impreza-new-york-2011/
and
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/2012-subaru-impreza/
Highlights are:
Lighter weight (2012 is 110lbs lighter than 2011 model)
better mileage
faster 0-60
Lowlights are:
M3h styling
Lower hp numbers
Not perfect, but good step in the right direction... Good job Subaru.
I heard the new Miata is going to be lighter also. And Ford just announced that they are going to cut an average of 700 lbs out of their trucks.
The Chevy Cruze Eco actually has some of its body panels made thinner than on normal Cruze models, so it weights 3009lb instead of the normal 3102lb. And like bravenrace mentioned, Mazda is looking to shave 100-200lb off of the new Miata in comparison to the NC, and they also want to lighten their cars across the board.
It may be for a different reason (fuel economy vs. performance), but it looks like auto makers are starting to realize what we knew all along: Lighter is better!
2011 Hyundai Elantra is 2661lbs vs 2010 Elantra at 2723lbs, most of this in the new engine which has more hp and better economy.
More all aluminum engines and new manufacturing process for aluminum chassis structures as well.
I seem to recall the body panels of the 80's Japanese cars being so thin you could bend em with a good sneeze... good for weight... not good for door dings and people leaning on your car :-/
but lighter weight + modern engine = good
The 27city/36higway mpg on the new Impreza is really impressive for a full time AWD drive car.
Combine it with the fact that the current one is one of the safest cars out there and Subaru expects that the new one will get a top safety pick also and this car makes a really strong case for a DD.
You know, to counteract the fact that two of the cars in the family have no functioning airbags and break down on a monthly basis...
colour me stunned.. just imagine if they started to remove all the useless E36 M3 to really bring the weight down.
mad_machine wrote: colour me stunned.. just imagine if they started to remove all the useless E36 M3 to really bring the weight down.
i bet they are making them lighter because lighter = less material used to build the cars = less material costs per car, which means they can still build to the same price point without losing any profit margin.
I will bet they are trying to negative the Prius effect, less mpg difference less reason to buy the trendy "Hybrid"
In reply to novaderrik:
Not really. This is all about meeting new fuel efficiency standards. There's only so much you can to to make an engine or drivetrain more efficient before you reach the point of diminishing returns.
Back OT, Ford is actually looking into using carbon fiber in its future car platforms, if it can get the manufacturing problems and costs down. Fancy that- in two car generations-time we could be driving Mustangs and Foci with CF monocoques, just like the Lamborghini Aventador.
It happens sometimes.
supposedly the actual frame of an nc is lighter than an nb... its the bigger brakes tires and such that make it heavier....
novaderrik wrote: i bet they are making them lighter because lighter = less material used to build the cars = less material costs per car, which means they can still build to the same price point without losing any profit margin.
actually, most of the materials they are substituting for old materials are more $$ lb for lb. They also require more engineering and test time to make sure they are as good or better than the old way.
mmosbey wrote: It happens sometimes.
Yep, welcome to the '70's.
novaderrik wrote: i bet they are making them lighter because lighter = less material used to build the cars = less material costs per car, which means they can still build to the same price point without losing any profit margin.
Usually it ends up costing more to make a car lighter.
aussiesmg wrote:mad_machine wrote: colour me stunned.. just imagine if they started to remove all the useless E36 M3 to really bring the weight down.
Damn, why don't I ever find cars like that for sale! That's awesome.
KATYB wrote: supposedly the actual frame of an nc is lighter than an nb... its the bigger brakes tires and such that make it heavier....
Exactly where you don't want to add weight.
Joey
Rob_Mopar wrote:mmosbey wrote: It happens sometimes.Yep, welcome to the '70's.
Don't forget this classic:
Too bad it looks just like a Corolla. 
I find it interesting that my 2011 Fiesta weighs almost the same as my ZX2 did even with all the air bags and other required stuff.
well a zx2 had airbags and pretty much all the same stuff.....
Rob_Mopar wrote:
The 2 least liked Mustangs. 71-73 for being HUGE boats, the MII... It just wans't popular.
But those are some of my favorite Mustangs.
Back On Topic, yeay lightness!!!!
The 370z was lighter than the 350z by a few hundred pounds if I remember right, it's a trend I like to see! 
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