* Body: Primarily steel (various grades), but increasingly aluminum, carbon fiber, and plastic composites are used for parts or entire bodies, depending on the vehicle and manufacturer. This aims to improve fuel efficiency and safety.
* Engine: Aluminum alloys are common for engine blocks and heads, providing a good strength-to-weight ratio. Steel and cast iron are also used, particularly in older designs or for high-strength components. Internal parts are often made from specialized steels and alloys able to withstand extreme heat and pressure.
* Transmission: Steel, aluminum, and various plastics are used in the transmission depending on the specific components.
* Suspension: Steel, aluminum, rubber (bushings, mounts), and various plastics (for components like covers).
* Chassis/Frame: Historically, body-on-frame construction used steel frames. Modern cars predominantly use unibody construction where the body itself acts as the structural frame, primarily made of steel.
* Interior: Plastics (various types, often recycled), fabrics (for upholstery), glass (windshield, windows), rubber (seals, gaskets), metals (for trim and structural elements). Leather is sometimes used for higher-end vehicles.
* Electrical System: Wires (copper), various metals (for connectors and components), plastics (for casings and insulators).
* Tires: Rubber, steel (belts), textile fibers.
* Fluids: Engine oil (petroleum-based), coolant (water and antifreeze), brake fluid (typically glycol-based), transmission fluid (various compositions).
In short, a car is a sophisticated assembly of many different materials carefully selected for their properties and function in specific parts of the vehicle.
