The strength and lightweight advantages of Alcoa’s aluminium spaceframe chassis has allowed Ferrari to maximise the performance, strength and structural rigidity of the new California sports car to meet customer expectations.

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products is supplying the all-aluminium 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 aluminium technologies allow Ferrari to maximise performance, strength and structural rigidity of the California to meet customer expectations. Alcoa’s aluminium spaceframe is a key component to delivering another new Ferrari with legendary world-class performance.

“Alcoa’s expertise in the aluminium industry and a close working relationship with Ferrari, has enabled aluminium solutions to match the legendary performance of each Ferrari. We are dedicated to providing aluminium 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 aluminium 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.

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, serves the commercial vehicle, automotive, and defence markets with products used in a range of applications including cast and forged aluminium wheels, aluminium space frames, specialized vacuum die cast products, niche products such as Dura-Bright and Dura-Flange wheels and M-Series medium truck wheels, as well as a variety of other aluminium components for these markets. AWTP is composed of three divisions: Transportation Products, Commercial Vehicle Wheels, and Automotive Wheels. It employs 2,800 people at 30 locations worldwide.

Alcoa

Alcoa is the world leader in the production and management of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina combined through its active and growing participation in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminium products and components including flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, Alcoa also markets Alcoa wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, structures and building systems. The Company has 97,000 employees in 34 countries and has been named one of the top most sustainable corporations in the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.