A casting system includes a casting for an automobile vehicle having an interior section. Multiple central portions are individually positioned in one of multiple areas of the interior section completely encapsulated by a metal of the casting. An insert member is positioned in individual ones of the multiple central portions, the insert member having a higher melting point than a melting point of a metal of the casting the insert member displaces.

A material and method for manufacturing components. The method includes squeeze casting the material into a component of a desired shape and flow-forming the component that has been squeeze cast to refine the shape of the component. The method also includes heat treating the component to enhance the microstructure of the component and machining the component to further refine the shape.

A material and method for manufacturing components. The method includes squeeze casting the material into a component of a desired shape and flow-forming the component that has been squeeze cast to refine the shape of the component. The method also includes heat treating the component to enhance the microstructure of the component and machining the component to further refine the shape.

A wheel for a motor vehicle comprises a rim having an outer radius and a wheel spider including a radially inner hub and a plurality of spokes extending from said hub towards said rim. At least one through-hole extends, with respect to the wheel axis, in a circumferential direction through at least one of said spokes. A radially outer edge of said through-hole or of an outermost of said through-holes is located at maximum at 75%, preferably at maximum at , of said outer radius of the rim measured at a wheel spider side of the rim.

A wheel for a motor vehicle comprises a rim having an outer radius and a wheel spider including a radially inner hub and a plurality of spokes extending from said hub towards said rim. At least one through-hole extends, with respect to the wheel axis, in a circumferential direction through at least one of said spokes. A radially outer edge of said through-hole or of an outermost of said through-holes is located at maximum at 75%, preferably at maximum at , of said outer radius of the rim measured at a wheel spider side of the rim.

A wheel assembly including a wheel and a wheel clad. The wheel includes a wheel outer rim portion, a wheel inner hub portion adapted to receive an axle therethrough, and a plurality of wheel spokes extending radially between the wheel outer rim portion and the wheel inner hub portion. The wheel has an outer surface having a plurality of wheel turbine openings therein. The wheel turbine openings have a first area. The wheel clad includes a clad outer rim portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel outer rim portion, a clad inner hub portion axially aligned with at least a portion of the wheel inner hub portion, and a plurality of clad spokes extending radially between the clad outer rim portion and clad inner hub portion. The clad has a plurality of clad turbine openings each having a second area. The second area is substantially less than the first area. The clad/wheel assembly has a drag coefficient of substantially less than that of the wheel by itself.

A method for producing an automobile rim made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a wheel of an automobile, the automobile rim having a rim bed bounded on opposite sides by an outer flange and an inner flange, a hub with a center recess and a bolt circle, as well as a rim center connecting the rim bed and the hub to one another, the rim center being designed with a plurality of spokes spaced apart in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the automobile rim. The automobile rim is produced in one piece and continuously in a casting mold by die casting of a casting material, wherein the automobile rim has, at least in some areas, a low wall thickness not exceeding 15 mm.

A method for producing an automobile rim made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a wheel of an automobile, the automobile rim having a rim bed bounded on opposite sides by an outer flange and an inner flange, a hub with a center recess and a bolt circle, as well as a rim center connecting the rim bed and the hub to one another, the rim center being designed with a plurality of spokes spaced apart in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the automobile rim. The automobile rim is produced in one piece and continuously in a casting mold by die casting of a casting material, wherein the automobile rim has, at least in some areas, a low wall thickness not exceeding 15 mm.

A cast aluminum wheel includes a rim element having an annular configuration defining an axis and a central element extending radially outwardly between the axis and the rim element. The rim element includes a wall extending circumferentially around the axis between a proximal bead and a distal bead. The central element includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly toward the proximal bead and meets proximate the axis with adjacent of the plurality of spokes defining a cooperative feature therebetween for providing stiffness to the wheel. The spokes progressively increase in volume in a direction toward the axis from the rim element thereby providing increased mass of the spokes proximate the axis relative to the rim element.

A cast aluminum wheel includes a rim element having an annular configuration defining an axis and a central element extending radially outwardly between the axis and the rim element. The rim element includes a wall extending circumferentially around the axis between a proximal bead and a distal bead. The central element includes a plurality of spokes extending radially outwardly toward the proximal bead and meets proximate the axis with adjacent of the plurality of spokes defining a cooperative feature therebetween for providing stiffness to the wheel. The spokes progressively increase in volume in a direction toward the axis from the rim element thereby providing increased mass of the spokes proximate the axis relative to the rim element.