Weight reduction leads to less fuel consumption and reduced emissions. Recently a project called "MilleChili" has been presented by Ferrari with the help of the University of Modena. The symbolic target of this project is the overall weight of the car (mille chili = 1,000 kg), which represents a stimulus to direct technical decisions, which go against the possibilities of lightness.
The project takes a step forward in its development, thanks to collaboration with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, especially with its Engineering department. The Mille Chili Laboratory has been inaugurated at the department. It is a lecture room equipped with hardware, software and chassis from Ferrari to study research projects developed by the faculty's undergraduates, aiming at weight reduction. Eight undergraduates will work at the "MilleChili" laboratory. They can rely on the support of their teaching staff and some Ferrari engineers.
The inauguration was held in the presence of the students, the teaching staff and the President of the faculty Professor Giuseppe Cantore, while for Ferrari, CEO Amedeo Felisa and Mario Mairano, Head of Human Resources and General Secretariat, were present.
Engineer Felisa said: "It is a great pleasure to inaugurate this laboratory, which will work on a very important issue for the future. The experience confirms that constant collaboration between private industry and University is a fundamental part, and contributes to growth for both parties: the University has to work with not exclusively theoretic issues, while the industry can confront itself with new ideas."
