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This paper proposes a novel concept for lightweight vehicle design, offering a step change in weight reduction for automotive glazing. Reducing window weight can be achieved by decreasing the thickness of the glass plies used to form vehicle windows. However, reducing the thickness of conventional automotive windows also decreases its effective strength; therefore, concerns about glass breakage become a limiting factor for weight reduction. Chemically strengthened ultrathin Corning® Gorilla® Glass offers the potential to go beyond existing thickness limitations. Its higher strength compared to standard soda lime window glass allows the design of thin, low weight window constructions. In addition, its unique manufacturing process delivers pristine glass surfaces and precise thickness control for high quality window optics. While this concept can be applied to all vehicle openings, this study focuses on automotive windshield design.

It has been shown that an automotive, stratified charge, direct injected (DI) 2-stroke engine is capable of meeting the proposed Stage 3 European emissions standards and the Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle standards of California at low mileage. In order to meet these stringent standards and develop a high in-field mileage capability for this lean burn engine, new engine control strategies and catalyst formulations have been developed. Engine out emissions and catalyst temperatures over both the proposed Stage 3 New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) and Federal Test Procedure (FTP) are described. Also with catalyst light-off time being an important factor in determining the overall cycle emissions, engine calibration based Fast Light Off and light load exhaust temperature strategies have been developed, in conjunction with optimised catalyst system configurations.