Natural-fibre composites to be used in BMW cars
The parts hope to reduce CO2 emissions while being visually appealing.
A flax-based material will replace traditional carbon-fibre parts in BMW cars off the race track. It is meant to integrate into multiple and existing manufacturing processes at scale.
The interior and exterior parts use a prepreg process, where fibres pre-impregnated with resin are shaped and cured in an autoclave to ensure high quality and stiffness. Roofs will be fully automated by resin transfer moulding.
The material is the latest step in the ‘From race-to-road’ collaboration between Swiss company Bcomp and the BMW Group. The intent is to gain findings from vehicles on the racetrack and pre-development, and bring them to conventional vehicles.
The partnership began in 2019 when a cooling shaft for the BMW iFE.20 Forumla E race car was built. The 2022 BMW M4 GT4 featured more natural fibre parts than any other GT race car, they claim.
