With a steady rise in fuel prices and increasing restrictions on emissions, automakers face difficult challenges as they are forced to find ways of making their cars lighter and more fuel-efficient. One way to achieve this goal is to incorporate strong, lightweight, and durable composite materials to replace heavier, more energy-hungry materials.

Referred to as 'lightweighting' the automobile, this trend starts at the drawing board, when designers and engineers create the first CAD model. The choice of materials for everything from the frame to the seat covers has to be made carefully to optimize space and weight. As parts of the car are designed, strict attention to simulation results lets engineers see what areas of the car require stronger, more flexible, or lighter materials.

A new article from Hewlett-Packard and Intel highlights the key drivers in the trend toward automotive lightweighting, including the importance of design and testing, and collaborating with the enterprise and the supply chain.

Click here to find out how high-performance workstations can help produce faster, more accurate designs and simulations, making an important difference in how automakers and engineers work.