Focusing on improving powertrains to improve future fuel consumption as opposed to reducing rolling resistance and vehicle weight, Japanese automakers are expected to expand aluminum usage over the next decade, according to a report provided to Automotive Industries magazine. By 2010, according to experts surveyed, aluminum usage in Japanese-made vehicles will average 10 percent of vehicle weight as compared to the current figure, 8 percent. According to the report, here's how the major automakers plan to use aluminium: Toyota plans to cut vehicle weight by one-quarter by 2010, primarily by adopting aluminum blocks in 50 percent of its engines, compared to 35 percent today. The company also will convert cylinder heads to aluminum, and will turn to aluminum for hoods and trunks in upscale models.
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