Automotive supplier, Visteon Corporation, has revealed its vision of mobility in the year 2020 with the release of a new concept vehicle called the ‘e-Bee’. The vehicle is designed to explore new lightweight architectural as well as alternative ways of using a vehicle, including car-sharing, private ownership and short-term rental.

A group of researchers in Wayne State University’s College of Engineering have been working to create advanced materials with high-yield strength, fracture toughness and ductility. Their efforts have led to the development of a new material consisting of bainitic steels and austempered ductile iron that has all these characteristics, while being lightweight and resisting fatigue.

Faurecia has been conducting research into bioplastics derived from 100% natural materials since 2006 (BioMat project) and has now signed an exclusive industrial partnership agreement with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation to co-develop bioplastics designed for mass-production of the lightweight materials for use in automotive interiors. Faurecia plans to develop a full range of bioplastics, which are set to see a boom in the 2015 to 2020 period.

solidThinking has announced the release of Inspire 9.0, the latest version of its unique simulation-driven product development software. Inspire 9.0 provides design engineers and architects with an intuitive environment that enables the exploration of structurally efficient, weight optimized concepts in the earliest phases of the design process.

An article on The Detroit News gives an interesting overview on how Ford and GM are preparing to meet strict fuel-efficiency standards by shedding weight. Through the use of materials such as magnesium and aluminum to new manufacturing techniques such as hydroforming, the article provides a good insight into the different strategies of the two companies.

Update: The webinar series from Altair has now finished but the recordings have been made available for those that missed the live event. Readers wanting to take learn more about composite design for the automotive industry are invited to take a look at the sessions via the Altair HyperWorks website.

Lehigh University in Pennslvania in the US has developed a unique carbon fiber wing made in a single molding process, complete with wing planks, spar caps, six internal webs to carry shear loads and a trailing edge ready to accommodate wing flaps and ailerons. The 6.5 m (21.3 ft) wing is made for an unmanned aircraft designed to fly at high altitude and be powered by jetstreams. The long-term goal of the project, led by Lehigh engineer Joachim Grenestedt and computer scientist John Spletzer, is perpetual flight.