Jaguar's XJ - lie in ads

[Dave.Eaton]

no, audi developed (and patented) a riveting process which didn't puncture
the lower layer of aluminium - a self-piercing rivet used particularly for
where the bodyshell joins to the asf - replacing the requirement to spot
weld.  the main (asf) joins are produced using various forms of bonding and
welding.  the riveting technique is reckoned 30% stronger than spot welding,
and had the additional advantage that it didn't encourage contact corrosion,
due to the absence of a puncture.

audi has gone with a space frame for the "d" segment cars, while jaguar has
chosen a monocoque approach.  it is worth noting that the new xj jaguar
(with aluminium monocque) is only the same torsional rigidity (22,000
nm/degree) as the outgoing d2 (a8), and the new d3 a8 is substantially
stiffer than the d2.

it is also worth noting that audi built audi 100-based aluminium monocoques
prior to the d2, and after extensive investigation (the gestation of the d2
took 10 years - the final production d2 was the 5th generation car), went
with the space frame.  when you see a picture of one bare, you realise why
the d2 has a 5-star crash rating.

dave
'01 s8

-----Original Message-----
From: Ti Kan <ti at amb.org>
Subject: Re: Jaguar's XJ - lie in ads
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 02:32:25 -0700 (PDT)

Incidentally, I recall reading somewhere that early in the Audi Space
Frame development program, Audi and Alcoa had experimented with using
rivets as fasteners for the pieces in the ASF, but for some technical
reason discarded that method.  The new Jaguar XJ's chassis, on the other
hand, is predominently tacked together with rivets.