5. The 1970's
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 Matra Simca Bagheera (1973) - Plastic body panels bonded to a steel tubular chassis incorporating a roll-over structure
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During the Seventies the market demand showed a need for higher product differentiation, so the Auto Indutries were forced to develop several different platforms.
In 1973 the energy crisis changed the perspective of car makers.
The Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard was enacted in 1975: it required auto makers to meet certain mileage standards across their entire fleet of vehicles.
In order to meet these standards, between 1976 and 1982 the average content of steel per vehicle was lowered from 1035 Kg to 795 Kg. This was made possible by reducing the vehicle size and switching from the body-on-frame to the unibody layout.
In addition to this, Auto Industries started new researches investigating the use of light materials.
In 1979 Ford created a prototype based on the LTD sedan, entirely made of carbon fiber composites: this enabled to obtain a primary and secondary weight reduction respectively equal to 315 Kg and 215 Kg.
Fiat VSS (1978) - Veicolo Sperimentale a Sottosistemi (Subsystems Experimental Vehicle)
The Fiat VSS prototype (see Figures) was based on the Fiat Ritmo, and was the result of the collaboration between Fiat, the I.D.E.A. Institute and Renzo Piano's team.
The structure was a steel spaceframe and the body (with plastic panels) had no load-bearing capacity, but for the first time this choice was made in order to reduce the vehicle weight and to obtain a high flexibility in terms of external shape, production and assembly.
After twenty years these issues became of primary importance for the whole Automobile Industry.
 Fiat VSS Subsystems
In the original concept the 9 external panels had to be produced separately (as complete "subsystems") and then assembled in a final production line.
Today this philosophy of production is being investigated by many Car Manufacturers.
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Fiat VSS (1978) |
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Space Frame structure |
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