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The ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts (AVC) chassis and suspension concepts surpass the ULSAB-AVC mass targets using steel. Steel technologies such as tailored blanks for wishbones, tailor tube hydroforming for trailing arms and high-strength steel stampings where there would normally be a heavier casting (steering knuckle). Furthermore the application of highstrength steel throughout all contributed to mass efficiency with excellent performance. State-of-the-art automotive technologies, such as an electrical parking brake and electro-hydraulic brake system also have contributed to the mass reduction achieved. This paper summarizes the chassis and suspension designs, including some of its specific steel applications. To understand the steel nomenclature used to describe

The ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts Program is focused on the development of steel applications for vehicles to be produced beginning in the year 2004. A “holistic” total vehicle development approach will be applied, including styling, package, closures, suspension, etc. The understanding of the interactions of all vehicle subsystems, their optimization in respect to size, mass, and performance, will lead the program to an optimized steel intensive vehicle concept. Benchmarking will provide the data for building the basis of the target setting, after which the program target will be established and guidelines for the design will be created. The ULSAB-AVC Program concentrates on the design of two size lightweight vehicles: One size fitting in the most popular European C-class (so-called Golf class); and the second size similar to the North American PNGV class (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles*).