The 2005 Mitsubishi Evo VIII MR comes stock with a lightweight aluminum roof to help lower the center of gravity. Has anybody heard of this being customised to an S? Do you think it would be a sufficient weight loss?

Lagston

 

I have always wanted a "Track Edition" Mini with a lightweight roof, boot and possibly hood. It would be a neat way to lower weight by about 60-70 pounds.

 

Just a note. I have a Land Rover Discovery, which has an Aluminum body, but has a steel roof. The reason given for this is that the roof is actually one of the most important structural members of the car, and aluminum in that big a flat surface crumples so easily that it is not a structural member. An aluminum roof would need structural shaped underpinnings that would reduce headroom. Hoods are a different story, since they are not structurally important. My hood is aluminum. Maybe the next generation Mini should have an aluminum body/steel roof structure?

 

How about a CF sunroof cover?

 

I think a CF roof or sunroof replacement would be awesome. It would be pretty easy to do since you are copying simple shaped parts.

Patrick

 

I think there's a BMW M3 CSL -- which has a carbon fiber roof so BMW does make 'em....it would be pretty cool and I would imagine, structurally very solid as I'm sure an M3 would stress the h* out of it.

 

Lagston,
For lowest center of gravity and light weight any MINI can:
Avoid the sunroof option
Upgrade to Lowering springs
Remove all passenger head rests
Remove the rear seat backs and boot shelf
Skip the roof mounted DVD screen or headrest DVD screens.
Use smaller wheels. (lower tire diameter)

Aluminum would be lighter but not as strong and I would worry that you'd be giving up chassis stiffness (a MINI strength) for a few pounds of weight savings. Reinforced aluminum would be about double the bulk to regain strength.