Porsche Body
Porsche has always striven to push the boundaries of automotive engineering. Whether it’s creating a more efficient engine or developing a more aerodynamic body, the company has consistently found new ways to make cars faster, more comfortable and safer. With the release of its latest models, the Taycan and Mission E, Porsche has taken lightweight construction to the next level. By combining the right materials in the right place, Porsche engineers are able to save weight without sacrificing structural strength or crash safety.
The first production Buy Porshe full carbon fiber body kits were made with aluminum panels, hammered by hand and shaped into their iconic shapes. When production moved from Gmund, Austria to Stuttgart, Germany, Porsche switched to steel bodywork and mechanized the manufacturing process. However, the original wooden frame is still on display at the Porsche Museum to remind us of how far this iconic car maker has come.
With the launch of its most recent models, Porsche has been reducing the use of steel to under 30 percent. As a result, the latest generation of 911 is lighter than its direct predecessor, the type 997.
What Material is Porsche Body Made Of?
To help achieve this, the designers at Porsche have used more aluminium than ever before. In the coupe and cabriolet, the outer skin is now 44 percent aluminium, while large parts of the front and rear section as well as the lids and wings are also constructed of this material. The aluminium is combined with high-strength, press hardened steels to provide a very high level of occupant protection.
A further innovation is the use of low-emissivity glass. This allows short-wave radiation to pass through but reflects long-wave infra-red radiation, which means the interior of the car won’t heat up as quickly in summer and will retain its warmth longer in winter.
Unlike carbon fibre, which is very expensive and time-consuming to manufacture, this new material is easy to work with and can be shaped into the precise shape required. It is already used for the bonnet, roof and windscreen of the new Porsche Taycan, and will be used for many other components in future vehicles.
One of the most exciting developments is a completely new approach to the A-pillar. In the past, these structures were made from steel pipes, but with the new design they are now a combination of high-strength steel and plastic reinforced by molded thermoplastic – making them much stronger at a lower weight.
The Porsche engineers have also used a combination of new materials for the side windows. The window panes themselves are made of a lightweight, durable material called amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC). Combined with a new laminate, this ensures excellent thermal insulation and also offers an extra level of security in the event of an accident.
In addition, the new windows are acoustically insulated with an intermediate layer of a porous structure that contains cellulose and a-SiC. This enables the windows to reduce noise by up to ten decibels. This is a significant improvement in the vehicle’s acoustic comfort and helps to further reduce fuel consumption.