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Steel vs.
Aluminum:
High Performance Vehicles -
Case Study
At $23,000 less, the Porsche Carrera
represents one of the best high performance sports cars in the world,
from a company that produces leading race bread designs - using all
advanced high strength steel for its entire body construction.
The NSX (conventional
aluminum intensive design), with similar dynamic performance, but with
lower gas mileage, shows little benefit with its intensive use of aluminum
for its body architecture.
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|
2002 Porsche Carrera |
2002 Acura NSX |
 |
 |
| All Unit Body High
Strength Steel Design |
Unit Body Aluminum
Intensive |
|
General Data
|
| List Price |
$67,900 |
$91,000 |
| Curb Weight |
3215 LBS |
3100 LBS |
| EPA City/Highway |
18/26 |
17/24 |
| Dynamic Performance |
| 0-60 mph |
4.9 sec |
5.0 sec |
| 0-1320 ft. (1/4
mile) |
13.4 @ 105.1 mph |
13.4 @ 105.9 mph |
Lateral Acceleration
(200 ft. Skid pad) |
0.91 g |
0.91 g |
| Speed Through 700.
Slalom |
117 ft @ 60 mph |
117 ft @ 60 mph |
| Minimum Stopping
Distance |
204 ft @ 80 mph |
215 ft @
80 mph |
Source: Car and
Driver Magazine, March 2002
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