Ford Motor Company and Magna International have joined forces to create the first carbon fibre subframe which aims to make vehicles stronger and lighter. This innovation is said to decrease overall mass by 34% and uses 87% fewer parts than a steel frame.
The new subframe takes the shape of a conventional steel frame but it replaces 45 parts with two molded and four metallic pieces, molded together by adhesive bonding and structural rivets.
Grahame Burrow, President of Magna Exteriors, says that working alongside Ford has been more beneficial for the new subframe’s development and that it’s “an opportunity to bring our full Magna capabilities to bear.”
As of now, the design has passed all performance requirements through computer-aided engineering analyses. The designed prototypes are currently being put through corrosion, stone chipping and bolt load retention testing at Ford’s facility.
Magna says that this is just a single step towards developing advanced OEM parts for all of its customers.