[New Release] The illustrated feature is 'Why do cars get heavier?'. 'MOTOR FAN illustrated Vol.235' goes on sale April 15!
San-ei Corporation will release 'Motor Fan Illustrated vol.235' on April 15, 2026. This issue takes a deep dive into why modern cars are getting heavier and explores the latest lightweighting technologies from suppliers, as well as Mazda's CO2 capture tech in motorsports.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 06:59 (90h 27m after Collected)
Motor Fan Separate Volume Motor Fan Illustrated vol.235
~Why do cars get heavier?~
Release date: April 15, 2026
Price: 2,100 yen (Base price: 1,909 yen)
JAN Code: 9784779654268
https://shop.san-ei-corp.co.jp/shop/g/g505426/
San-ei Corporation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenji Suzuki) will release 'Motor Fan Illustrated vol.235', a magazine that explains automotive technology in detail with photographs and diagrams, on April 15, 2026.
Motor Fan Illustrated is a monthly magazine that analyzes the automotive industry from a technical perspective, under the concept 'Cars are more interesting when you understand the technology.' The latest issue, vol.235, features 'Why do cars get heavier?' as its opening feature. Modern passenger cars are getting heavier with every model change, and we have re-examined the reasons why. It is generally said to be for body reinforcement associated with stricter crash safety standards, but we explain facts beyond just that. Furthermore, we interviewed leading steel and aluminum suppliers about the latest examples and had them explain numerous technologies to suppress weight increase. We also published a short-term serial introducing Mazda's unique technology challenging the Super Taikyu ST-Q class, and a report on the Smart Energy Week [Spring] where many suppliers of hydrogen fuel cells and batteries exhibited. Please also pay attention to other popular regular features.
(San-ei Official Web: https://shop.san-ei-corp.co.jp/shop/g/g505426/)
The vehicle weight of current automobiles has reached a level that exceeds past common sense. This trend is even more pronounced in BEVs equipped with heavy batteries, but even in ICE-equipped vehicles, the reasons include the strictness of crash safety standards, enhancement of comfort equipment, and the installation of many previously non-existent parts related to ADAS and connected tech. Reducing weight by material replacement is effective but poses the issue of high cost. We will explore how cars have become heavier and the new technologies to 'make lighter cars.'
There are various reasons why cars have become heavier, such as the expansion of body size, power train output increase, enhancement of crash safety measures, and an increase in convenient and comfortable equipment, but which element has influenced 'weight' the most? We searched for the causes of vehicle weight increase by carefully comparing the weight distribution of successive vehicles, turning back the hands of time and changing viewing angles. We carefully explain that crash safety measures are not the only reason.
Adopting aluminum in various parts of the body exhibits great efficacy in reducing weight. European OEMs, in particular, have actively used aluminum in high-priced models, while Japanese OEMs tend to stick to steel. We asked Kobe Steel, a rare supplier in the world that handles both steel and aluminum, to explain the key points when using these two materials in automobiles and the current situation regarding recent requests from OEMs.
In the Super Taikyu Series contested by commercial vehicle-based race cars, the ST-Q class was established in 2021 as 'development vehicles determined by the organizer that do not fall under other classes,' and multiple automakers are forging future technologies on the competition stage. A project introducing the technologies Mazda continues to develop in the ST-Q class through a short-term series starts in this issue, this time introducing the attempt to capture CO2 in exhaust gas while driving.
Smart Energy Week is a business show where companies related to hydrogen/fuel cells, solar power generation, renewable energy, secondary batteries supporting charging/discharging, smart grids, etc., which are attracting attention as technologies necessary for carbon neutrality, exhibit. From the 25th Smart Energy Week [Spring] held in March this year, we interviewed booths exhibiting technology related to automobiles and mobility, and posted a report introducing the notable technologies of each company.
★CONTENTS
005 mf eye 'Engine development is booming' Schaeffler's Powertrain division head visits Japan
007 mf eye Virtual e-sports players drive real cars Mazda holds a real circuit experience event
009 mf eyewaym
~Why do cars get heavier?~
Release date: April 15, 2026
Price: 2,100 yen (Base price: 1,909 yen)
JAN Code: 9784779654268
https://shop.san-ei-corp.co.jp/shop/g/g505426/
San-ei Corporation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenji Suzuki) will release 'Motor Fan Illustrated vol.235', a magazine that explains automotive technology in detail with photographs and diagrams, on April 15, 2026.
Motor Fan Illustrated is a monthly magazine that analyzes the automotive industry from a technical perspective, under the concept 'Cars are more interesting when you understand the technology.' The latest issue, vol.235, features 'Why do cars get heavier?' as its opening feature. Modern passenger cars are getting heavier with every model change, and we have re-examined the reasons why. It is generally said to be for body reinforcement associated with stricter crash safety standards, but we explain facts beyond just that. Furthermore, we interviewed leading steel and aluminum suppliers about the latest examples and had them explain numerous technologies to suppress weight increase. We also published a short-term serial introducing Mazda's unique technology challenging the Super Taikyu ST-Q class, and a report on the Smart Energy Week [Spring] where many suppliers of hydrogen fuel cells and batteries exhibited. Please also pay attention to other popular regular features.
(San-ei Official Web: https://shop.san-ei-corp.co.jp/shop/g/g505426/)
The vehicle weight of current automobiles has reached a level that exceeds past common sense. This trend is even more pronounced in BEVs equipped with heavy batteries, but even in ICE-equipped vehicles, the reasons include the strictness of crash safety standards, enhancement of comfort equipment, and the installation of many previously non-existent parts related to ADAS and connected tech. Reducing weight by material replacement is effective but poses the issue of high cost. We will explore how cars have become heavier and the new technologies to 'make lighter cars.'
There are various reasons why cars have become heavier, such as the expansion of body size, power train output increase, enhancement of crash safety measures, and an increase in convenient and comfortable equipment, but which element has influenced 'weight' the most? We searched for the causes of vehicle weight increase by carefully comparing the weight distribution of successive vehicles, turning back the hands of time and changing viewing angles. We carefully explain that crash safety measures are not the only reason.
Adopting aluminum in various parts of the body exhibits great efficacy in reducing weight. European OEMs, in particular, have actively used aluminum in high-priced models, while Japanese OEMs tend to stick to steel. We asked Kobe Steel, a rare supplier in the world that handles both steel and aluminum, to explain the key points when using these two materials in automobiles and the current situation regarding recent requests from OEMs.
In the Super Taikyu Series contested by commercial vehicle-based race cars, the ST-Q class was established in 2021 as 'development vehicles determined by the organizer that do not fall under other classes,' and multiple automakers are forging future technologies on the competition stage. A project introducing the technologies Mazda continues to develop in the ST-Q class through a short-term series starts in this issue, this time introducing the attempt to capture CO2 in exhaust gas while driving.
Smart Energy Week is a business show where companies related to hydrogen/fuel cells, solar power generation, renewable energy, secondary batteries supporting charging/discharging, smart grids, etc., which are attracting attention as technologies necessary for carbon neutrality, exhibit. From the 25th Smart Energy Week [Spring] held in March this year, we interviewed booths exhibiting technology related to automobiles and mobility, and posted a report introducing the notable technologies of each company.
★CONTENTS
005 mf eye 'Engine development is booming' Schaeffler's Powertrain division head visits Japan
007 mf eye Virtual e-sports players drive real cars Mazda holds a real circuit experience event
009 mf eyewaym