Iron-aluminium alloys containing up to 9 wt- for the development of high performance lightweight steels for automotive applications and for building constructions. Some of these alloys have a b.c.c. structure and have interesting physical and mechanical properties. Macro-alloying with manganese favours the formation of the austenite phase. Micro-alloying and thermomechanical processing including texture development will improve the plastic anisotropy properties and the strain hardening exponent.