GM Has Started Gluing Cars Together

Ford fans no doubt are going to make a ton of jokes about this, but GM is using glue to shed vehicle weight. Really, adhesives as a form or lightweighting, or even just constructing cars is nothing new. BMW has been a big innovator in this area, with the i3 demonstrating cutting-edge techniques back when it debuted.

What GM is doing lines up nicely with a method pioneered by Boeing for airplanes. An epoxy resin combines with carbon fiber-infused plastic, creating an especially sturdy connection. The process involves high heat, so everything joins together properly. While GM’s method isn’t just like the super superglue Boeing created, it’s definitely similar.

You can see this new principle in action with the new GMC Acadia. The SUV tips the scale at 700 pounds lighter than the previous generation. That translates into better handling, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. The method boosted fuel economy by about 5 mpg, which is nothing to dismiss.

Even better, owners aren’t getting something flimsy that won’t hold up in a crash. BMW successfully showed with the i3 how nontraditional construction can actually boost safety.