Aluminum material of choice for automotive applications

I read recently that  increasingly more car engine makers are opting for aluminum because of its light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance properties. The material is also attractive because it can help improve fuel economy while maintaining vehicle safety and performance.

For example Ford is including a 5.4-liter all-aluminum engine in the 2011 Shelby GT500. The new engine is 102 lbs lighter than its predecessor's cast-iron engine. In the past 3 years alone, the use of aluminum in vehicles as grown. The Aluminum Association, Inc.'s study, conducted last year, showed that, on a component basis aluminum use of engine blocks has had the largest increase reaching nearly 70%. The report also shows that worldwide aluminum content is projected to grow up to 30 billion lbs/yr.

What do you think of the use of more aluminum in new vehicles? Will they be as safe as cars that are made of traditional materials?

www.aluminum.org