Oct 24 2008
Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products announced today that it has been selected by Ferrari S.p.A. to supply the all-aluminum spaceframe for the upcoming Ferrari California. The California, recently unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show, is the latest performance vehicle from Ferrari.
The strength and lightweight advantages of Alcoa’s aluminum technologies allow Ferrari to maximize performance, strength and structural rigidity of the California to meet customer expectations. Alcoa’s aluminum spaceframe is a key component to delivering another new Ferrari with legendary world-class performance.
“Alcoa’s expertise in the aluminum industry and a close working relationship with Ferrari, has enabled aluminum solutions to match the legendary performance of each Ferrari. We are dedicated to providing aluminum spaceframe technologies that allow Ferrari to meet all performance, safety and passenger comfort measurements for the new California,” explains Kevin B. Kramer, President, Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products.
“Working closely with Ferrari from the start of the project allowed Alcoa to maximize strength on an open-top two seat sports car while reducing mass and weight to increase performance and deliver a superb driving experience,” said Kramer.
Alcoa’s optimized aluminum solutions for the new Ferrari California help increase performance while lowering vehicle weight to deliver increased fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. Particular attention was paid to fuel consumption levels which in the case of the ECE combined cycle is 13.2 l/100 km with CO2 emission levels of around 310 g/km.
Alcoa’s spaceframe manufacturing facility is located in Modena, Italy, very close to the Ferrari plant.