‘Formula One breeds the vehicles of tomorrow’ is up there with football’s obsession with ‘goals altering games’ as one of sport’s many tiresome clichés. however Mercedes states that thanks to stringent new effectiveness as well as expense regulations, that’s no longer the case. Here’s exactly how the new guidelines have at last moved race-to-road vehicle tech on a collision course, according to 2014’s champions-elect.
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Stronger as well as lighter materials
‘Road vehicles are about 20 years behind F1 in terms of construction’, states Jan Kruger – advanced engineering BIW, Daimler AG. ‘The aluminium age in F1 ended when carbonfibre ended up being commonplace, however only now is aluminium ending up being typical in road cars. however we’re investing in higher utilize of composites: the SL has a carbon-reinforced bootlid as well as the S63 AMG has a carbon spare wheel well’. Mercedes states a mixed drink of heat-treated high-strength metals as well as carbon-reinforced plastic will soon be the accepted norm in daily cars.
Better oils, improving stop-start systems
‘The old F1 V8 lost 18 per cent of its energy output to friction’, Dr Paul Crofts, Head of materials engineering at Mercedes AMG High performance Powertrains explains. ‘With the V6, we have this down to 15 per cent. because 2010, Mercedes has established 50 new high-performance oils’. lessons from these lubricants can enhance the performance of stop-start systems rebooting chilly engines, according to experts.