mats and Natural Fiber Solutions / BMW i3 with instrument panel surround and
door ... Peugeot Onyx's interior cabin in wood-like material of stacked,
compressed ... Graphic grid and motion textures enhance car interiors, grills,
lights, wheels ...
Safety, preservation of resources and environmental compatibility are key areas of interest for today’s automotive material developments. The main focus is to build cars that are cleaner and more efficient, yet safe and durable. New alternative material options are lighter and greener. In this new annual report, Stylesight identifies the leading commercial materials for automotive exteriors and interiors, and spotlights the industry’s evolving color and customization trends.
Stylesight Image Libary
Audi
Mercedes Benz
Range Rover
Evantra
Due to its light weight compared to steel, aluminum gains marketplace momentum. Lighter weight aluminum helps cut emissions and improves fuel economy / High strength and crash-absorbent safety performances / 2014 Range Rover is the first all-aluminum SUV / New Audi A6 body contains 20% aluminum and is 66 pounds lighter / One-Body Evantra cars with entirely hand-crafted aluminum bodies / Similar to Apple’s MacBook Pro, the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner with “superforming” technology features distinctly crisp lines from heat-molded (to 500°C) aluminum
Volkswagen
Bentley
Toyota
Directional car brands incorporate carbon fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. Carbon plus aluminum for a smooth, lightweight and durable car construction / Carbon for Toyota 1/X Concept Hybrid Car (weighing 67% less than its progenitor, the Prius) / 2014 Corvette Stingray with carbon fiber hood / Carbon fiber monocoque for the VW XL1 / Toray Industries plans on expanding its carbon fiber production via a $175 million investment for a research center and plant / New Bentley Continental GT3 with carbon-fiber rear wing and front splitter
Mazda seat in BIOFRONT™ bioplastic fabric
Ford Sustainable
Bio-plastic injection molds
BMW i3
Ford Sustainable
Helping meet fuel economy and emission challenges, plastics, especially bio-plastics, are booming within the automotive market. Plant-derived (i.e., soy or sugarcane) plastics and fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) boost vehicle strength, shockimpact resistance and heat resistance / Soy-based foam replaces conventional polyurethane seat foam / BMW i3 Life Module passenger cabin in first-ever mass-produced, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP); as strong as steel yet 50% lighter; 30% lighter than aluminum / Faurecia is the first automotive equipment supplier to mass-produce pure bio-based plastic components
While alternative composites are exciting the automotive industry, how they reach mass production remains a key question. Potential flax and hemp reinforcements for composite materials / Parts already produced or under development are door panels, rear seat shells, sound insulation for bulkheads, rear-window shelves, dashboards, floors, under-thehood parts, tank caps, air ducts for center and side ventilators, and rear-view mirror support frames
BMWi3 - Kenaf instrument panel
Kenaf applications
Ford
Kenaf Fiber
A growing desire for natural fibers is pushing kenaf into automotive interior applications. Kenaf bast fiber with 99% degree of purity / From woody debris and pectins / Auto mats with thermoset natural fibers / Kenaf core characteristics / Natural fibers and kenaf for thermal and acoustic insulation at K.E.F.I. / Kenactiv mats and Natural Fiber Solutions / BMW i3 with instrument panel surround and door trim in kenaf fiber / Ford Escape based on kenaf fiber
Stylesight Mood Library
Peugeot
Buick
Porsche
Hyundai
New wood varieties uptrend for sophisticated, sleek car interiors. Matte and textured vein woods / Ecological woods / BMW i3 dashboard in responsibly-forested eucalyptus / Peugeot Onyx’s interior cabin in wood-like material of stacked, compressed newspaper; cut, milled, sanded and treated like real wood / Luxury segment chooses premium woods / Porsche Panamera Stingray GTW interior in Karelian birch / 48,000 year-old kauri wood for BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe
Alcantara
Audi
Spyker
Hyundai by Hermes
Ok Materials Ltd
While weighty, leathers remain key for premium car interiors. Smooth, grained leathers prevail / Diamond-quilted pattern revival / Foglizzo and crocodile leathers for limitededition car interiors (Porsche Panamera, Hyundai Equus by Hermès, BMW Pininfarina) / Acura NSX Concept uses glue and strategically placed seams to avoid wrinkle or air pockets in its leather concave base and backrest bolsters / Hand-wrapped leather for the Corvette 2014 cabin / Bentley Mulsanne uses bull leather (avoiding stretch marks) from its own tanneries / Uptrending skin alternatives like manmade Alcantara and water-based PU
Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna
Giugiaro - Lanificio F.lli Cerruti
Tejin - Biofront
Citroen
Ruf
Woven car interior materials evolve beyond traditional associations, taking on poshly tailor-made or eco-responsible attitudes. Sound-proofing felt for Citroen Technospace and Peugeot Onyx interiors, flooring, headlining and bucket seats / Recycled denim for carpet backing and sound-absorption at Ford / Teijin FR bio-textiles for vehicle interiors / Textile companies partner with automotive brands: Lanificio Cerutti and Woolmark wool interior for Italdesign Giugiaro / Lanificio Zegna fabrics for the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte; optional trims and tailor-made solutions
Stylesight Mood Library
Alfa Romeo
Rolls Royce
Bentley
jeep X Mopar
Gloss effects are mainstream, while low-gloss paints create matte surfaces in broader color variations. Matte black finishes are mainstream for car customization / Due to the success of matte surfaces, paint suppliers deliver wider ranges of matte color options / Camouflage pattern with an opaque finish
Youngdo Velvet Co
Stylesight Image Libary
Mercedes Benz
Range Rover
Louis Leeman
Ferrari
Velvet-covered surfaces are the up-and-coming car-customization trend. Soft, matte, velvety surfaces via film-wrapping / Velvet Cars uses a 720-micron, high-tech microfiber textile wrap / Specific colors available / Video: Mercedes CLS 350 AMG wrapped with Velvet Elite by Velvet Cars
Citroen
Pininfarina
MG Motor
Wook Sung Ind. Co.
Lincoln
Hyundai
Graphic grid and motion textures enhance car interiors, grills, lights, wheels and car bodies. Fractal patterns / Graphic grill textures / Karim Rashid x Hyundai i4o wagon with diamond-pattern quilted seats and 3-D, micro-geometric pattern embedded in color-changing, airbrushed car surface / Novelty, stain-resistant, nylon/polyester, textured net for wheel covers by Wook Sung (Korea)
