Latest news with #carbonfibre
Auto Express
a day ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
BMW is killing carbon fibre to build its lightweight M cars from plants
BMW has developed an all-new material as a more sustainable replacement for carbon fibre, which is now ready for development and set to be used on production cars – including the new electric BMW M3 – within the next few years. Engineered in collaboration with Swiss firm Bcomp, natural-fibre composites offer similar properties to their carbon-fibre counterparts, but emit far less CO2 throughout production. Plus they can be recycled, unlike most forms of carbon-based composites. When developing such materials, the key issue was to ensure they are strong enough to be homologated for use on a car's roof; BMW says that when applied to its next-generation performance car – which we assume means the forthcoming BMW M3 EV – the usage of natural fibre coincides within a reduction of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions by 40 per cent, compared with using carbon fibre. The company says it can also help cut the usage of plastic in the interior by up to 70 per cent, too. Advertisement - Article continues below In appearance, natural fibre looks very similar to its carbon counterpart, with a distinctive weave pattern designed to replicate leaf veins, as well as a dark-grey colour. In fact, it's so similar that you may not have noticed it already being used on BMW's racing cars, including the M4 GT4 and DTM. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below As their name suggests, natural-fibre composites are made from materials such as plants or animal products. In this case, BMW and Bcomp's material is constructed using flax (a flowering plant) fibres that are grown naturally and harvested in Europe. The CEO of BMW M, Franciscus van Meel, said he was 'delighted' by the recent breakthrough, describing the new material as a 'vital element of innovative lightweight solutions in motorsport, allowing for a reduction in CO2e emissions in the manufacturing process'. 'We are now looking forward to the use of these materials in future BMW M product ranges,' he concluded. This breakthrough comes at a vital time, after the European Union recently drafted legislation to classify carbon fibre as a 'hazardous substance' as part of its ongoing End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive. This is because when carbon fibre is disposed of, the tiny particles generated can be an irritant – and even harmful – when inhaled or exposed to human skin. Such particles are also conductive, so have the potential to short-circuit machinery. However, thankfully for the automotive industry, the legislation remains at a draft stage, following the likes of Audi and Mercedes-AMG strongly submitting evidence against it. BMW also appealed to the EU, but the brand's recent investment in alternative materials does suggest it may just be a matter of time before carbon fibre disappears altogether. Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals… Find a car with the experts New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer New Volvo EM90 2025 review: the ultimate SUV killer Volvo has made an ultra-luxurious van. Intrigued? You should be, but sadly it's for China only Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival Smart Roadster could return as an electric Mazda MX-5 rival The Smart Roadster could be set for a comeback and our exclusive image previews how it could look New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too New Audi Q3 reinvents the indicator stalk, but there's a whole lot more too Audi's not taking any risks with its all-new Q3; watch it sell like crazy
Top Gear
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
This is Mansory's take on the G90 BMW M5
This is Mansory's take on the G90 BMW M5 You be the judge. And while you're doing that, consider the 4.4-litre biturbo V8's now good for 838bhp... Skip 6 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 6 Might we interest you in some automotive smelling salts to clear that Monday fug? Mansory has the goods with its new G90-generation M5 kit, and we'll get on to those looks in a second. First, a power check. The P850 takes the hybridised 4.4-litre biturbo V8 even further: performance is up from 727bhp and 737lb ft to 838bhp and 848lb ft. It should mean this G90 beats the previous F90's 3.4s 0-62mph sprint - a feat the standard car... cannot. Advertisement - Page continues below Aside from the extra power, Mansory has sculpted in a series of lightweight carbon fibre body components, which, ironically, probably bloat the M5's 2.4-tonne weight even further. They've been coated in that strange pastel-like paint seen on several other Mansory products, like the MXC Pergusa, with orange highlights spawning across the body and brake calipers for more shock and horror. The M5 also gains forged 22in 10-spoke alloys - probably the subtlest thing about the package - and a new bonnet that features a sort of scorpion tail exoskeleton frame, with a central pillar that meets the glow-up grille. Beneath it, the engine gets a similarly themed cover. At the posterior, Mansory has added a small rear wing and a revised triple sports exhaust system, which it says looks 'stunning'. Like we said, we'll leave you to make that call. Advertisement - Page continues below Pricing for the P850 package has yet to be disclosed, but do consider you'll need £111,605 for the base car. Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Top Gear
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The Baltasar Revolt R is an 800kg Spanish track car with a giant wing
Electric Carbon and Kevlar concept is a lightweight EV that could charge to 80 per cent in five minutes Skip 5 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Back in April 2021, a new Spanish company told TG about its bespoke, lightweight 500bhp roadster. That was the Baltasar Revolt, and deliveries were originally scheduled to take place in 2022. That didn't quite happen, although we're now told the Revolt is entering the final stage of its homologation ahead of a proper launch in 2026. So, to drum up some renewed interest ahead of that launch, there is now a new track-only variant of the Revolt called… the Revolt R. Yeah, not the most creative name. Advertisement - Page continues below The aero looks much more creative, with Baltasar sticking on a giant active rear wing, a 'bespoke front end', new side skirts and a whopping great diffuser. There's also an FIA-compliant steel frame chassis underneath covered in full carbon fibre body panels. There's also a single carbon race seat, magnesium wheels fitted with slick tyres and a pushrod suspension setup with bits made from carbon, Kevlar and aerospace-grade aluminium. Heck, the whole thing only weighs 800kg. You might like Baltasar hasn't actually shared any details on the powertrain, but we know the standard road car was supposed to get a twin-motor rear-wheel drive setup with 500bhp and 738lb ft of torque. Should be pretty nippy, then. Oh, and the charging should be equally rapid, with the company claiming a top up to 80 per cent in just five minutes. Of course, it's likely to be a fairly small battery to allow for that, but if the circuit you're at has enough rapid chargers you'll be ready to go again before you've even had a chance to study your last lap data. Advertisement - Page continues below The price? Ah, well Baltasar tells us that there's 'no confirmed launch date or official price' as yet, but when it does go into production it should cost around €450,000. Yikes. Makes the £235k BAC Mono R look like a bit of a bargain, doesn't it? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
