The Lamborghini Aventador J
roadster, which debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show, not only uses carbon-fiber composites throughout the car, but also features a new seat upholstery material called CarbonSkin.
The new material is reportedly woven of carbon fibers in a 2x2 twill pattern, and then infused in a new type of resin, in an entirely new impregnation system that has not been used before in the automotive industry. This infusion process stabilizes and strengthens the fiber structure, as is usual in resin infusion systems, yet the fabric remains soft and flexible after curing. The result is a matte fabric that is said to be half the weight of leather, and that can be easily shaped to conform to a broad variety of contours.
The new Lamborghini Aventador J roadster not only uses carbon-fiber composites throughout the car, but also features a new interior upholstery material called CarbonSkin. (Source: Lamborghini)
Like its predecessor, the Aventador LP 700-4, the Aventador J showcases multiple uses of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics. Lamborghini is noted for developing many "firsts" in these materials over the last 30 years. In 2010, the car company opened the Advanced Composites Research Center to further development of these materials. In the J, they are distributed throughout the car's exterior and interior, including the chassis.
The CarbonSkin carbon-fiber composite fabric is soft and pliable enough to cover the vehicle's car seats, where it's used as both upholstery and trim fabric. It also covers other surfaces in the cockpit, such as the center console, the instrument-panel topper pad, and inner door panels.
After each forged composite seat shell is molded, the CarbonSkin material is co-bonded and sewn to the seat's front. The new fabric is produced for the automaker by a manufacturing partner company, although it was developed and patented by Lamborghini.
The Aventador J's seats themselves are made of forged carbon-fiber composites. Each seat is a two-piece bonded shell structure. The forged composite material was jointly developed by Lamborghini's R&D groups in partnership with Callaway Golf Co. That material was first shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, on the suspension arms and monocoque of Lamborghini's Sesto Elemento demonstrator vehicle.
The forged composite is said to be the strongest and lightest material that either of the partner companies has ever used. It comprises more than 500,000 intertwined, randomly oriented, turbostratic fibers per square inch. Precision parts that can withstand extremely high forces can be produced with it.
Beth, the description of the material is a lightweight leather replacement with a feel and drape similar to leather. Personally, I'm not fond of synthetic clothing material, but many people are. And fashion is, well, fashion.
The original Mr. Lamborghini who started the car company made his fortune manufacturing tractors. From the wikipedia article, it doesn't sound like his family was wealthy, but he wasn't working his way up from the slums; they grew grapes, a suitably aristocratic occupation.
Charles, I think the type of customer determines the use of material. Most exotic car owners pursue making a statement via cutting edge engineering - cost is secondary.
It must be nice to own something that is super fine.
Remember that although Lambo is a relatvely 'small' company, they are owned by Volkswagen, probably the world's biggest automaker. If this carbon upholstery concept is as durable and light weight as it would seem, I could see where eventually it could be feasable for mainstream use, where the economy of scale might make it cost effective. Reducing overall automobile weight is the single cheapest way to improve fuel economy.
re: " It is interesting that a car company, with volumes this low, should have a composites research center."
I don't find that exceptional at all. When you are selling a product that is at least one to two orders of magnitude greater than the typical product in that category, it is very understandable that there would be some "pennies" left over for some investigatory work.
Don't lose sight of the fact that a typical "oil change" for a FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, etc. is over $1000. That's a lot of oil changes down at your local SPEEDY-LUBE!!!!!
re: "It seems that many non-US sports car companies are run by, or were at least begun by, members of the upper classes, at least in England and Italy, as expensive hobbies."
I MAY BE way off base, but do I detect a note of either sarcasm, elitist envy, or jealosy in that statement? IF any of the above are true, I would ask you the trite question, ' when was the last time you got a job from a poor person?'
Every day of my working career I thanked GOD that the owner of the company that I worked for HAD his yachts, his fancy autos, his vacation houses, etc. IF it were for their fortitude, persistence, & plain old "guts", I would not have had the successful career that I had.
Ann, I'm curious why they chose to use carbon fiber on upholstery, center console, instrument panel, and inner door panel. I understand the weight advantages of carbon fibers on the chassis and exterior, but it seems like there would be a big cost penalty. What's the advantage?
What would the appeal be of such a carbon fiber material for clothing? Would it be form or feel? Not sure I'm getting my arms around those design sensibilities.
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