Archived Automotive Sector News - Pre-2007

Fast, Sleek and Clean - Lamborghini Murciélago Coupé - December 2006

Automobili Lamborghini launched the passionately developed evolution of the Lamborghini Murciélago Coupé, the Murciélago LP640, at the 76th International Car Show in Geneva in March 2006.

The Murciélago LP640 is now the most extreme and fastest sports car in its class, featuring considerable innovations in body design and powertrain. The revised 6.5 litre V12 engine is at the heart of the new car, but developments extend to innovations in exterior design, bodywork, suspension, gearbox, exhaust system, brakes, electronics and a revised interior.

ACG's carbon fibre composite BPS240 Body Panel material was approved by VW Group in 2005 and is instrumental in the manufacture of the complex new exterior of the LP640.

BPS240 is a ZPREG® rapid deposition system with a stable, high temperature and integrated surface film capable of producing "Class A" surfaces, while also maintaining them in service. Lamborghini has taken full advantage of BPS240's enhanced moulding capabilities, excellent stable surface quality, processing benefits and a significant cost saving over traditional prepreg technologies.

BPS240 panels can be moulded from high quality, low cost composite tooling, reducing manufacturing times by as much as 50% compared with traditional advanced composite materials.

Further cycle time and cost reductions are available if the material is processed using compression moulding techniques.
The engineers and designers at the Lamborghini Style Centre have remained true to the traditional Lamborghini principles and the Murciélago LP640 now appears even more aggressive, with the new BPS240 front and rear bumper systems, rockers and air intakes contributing significantly to its appearance.

The Murciélago LP640 is the fastest car Lamborghini has ever made. The 6.5 litre V12 640 hp engine propels it to 62mph in 3.4 seconds and now has a top speed in excess of 200mph. Naturally, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 complies with every European and North American law governing exhaust emissions.

ACG is the leader in continuous fibre material technologies into the mainstream Automotive Industry. ACG offers a full turn-key application development package from concept design, including predictive structural and crash analysis, through prototype manufacture, process optimisation and production support at the production mould stage.

ACG is working with OEMs and their suppliers to develop composite automotive applications, including full vehicle structures, closures, fully paintable exterior body panels and exterior trim, seat structures and interior trim that save weight, reduce the total programme cost, help to meet emission and safety requirements and enable unprecedented functionality.

ACG has manufacturing facilities in Europe and the United States, where it supplies materials to the global automotive market.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

SMART Choice! - November 2006

LBC - Composites (Murg , Switzerland) produce carbon fibre body components for Smart Cars. The parts made from ACG's LTM®24ST prepreg, not only radically alter the appearance of otherwise dull thermoplastic components, but also provide a significant weight saving, lowering their total mass by 5kgs (equivalent to a 66% reduction).

Each part is autoclave moulded from highly polished wet laminated composite tools and do not require any further finishing before being attached to the car. The results are quite startling and customers find it hard to believe that no clear paint or lacquer has been used to generate the glossy appearance.

Image (Smart Roadster) courtesy of Daimler-Chrysler.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

New Production Automotive Resin System - MTM®58FRB - March 2006

High performance car chassis manufacture has moved up a gear, and to meet this demand ACG announces MTM®58FRB, a new structural prepreg developed specifically for the automotive sector.

MTM®58FRB is an economic, tough and fire retardant resin system with significantly improved property retention in moist, high temperature conditions. Developed with high performance road car manufacturers in mind, MTM®58FRB can be processed over the widest possible range of operating conditions; from vacuum only consolidation of heavyweight reinforcements (up to 1000g/m²), to rapid compression moulding with a 10 minutes cycle time. The resin system is capable of generating a glass transition temperature up to 140ºC.

MTM®58FRB offers the handling and curing characteristics demanded by OEM suppliers, as well as meeting their ever-increasing demands for improved mechanical performance and more economic processing.

MTM®58FRB is also self-extinguishing when tested to FMVS302/ISO3795.

MTM®58FRB has already under-gone extensive property characterisation and processing trials at ACG's Technical Centre.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Aston Martin Racing at 74th Le Mans - March 2006

Since our March 2006 news item Aston Martin Racing confirmed its participation in the 74th Le Mans 24-hours, and its driver line-up for the race, which took place on June 17-18.

Aston Martin Racing's two DBR9s were granted permission by The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which is celebrating its centenary this year, to use the numbers 007 and 009. The cars were driven by Tomas Enge, Andrea Piccini and Darren Turner, who will shared the number 007 car. In car number 009 were Pedro Lamy, Stephane Ortelli and Stephane Sarrazin. French driver Stephane Sarrazin summed up the team's determination, "I love Le Mans. It is one of the biggest races in the world and is special for any driver but for a French driver like me, it is extra special. Our podium finish last year was a great achievement but of course we always want to win". The podium eluded the AMR team this year, but no doubt a new challenge will be made next year.

The extensive programme of development continues with ACG working alongside Aston Martin Racing and Prodrive Composites on the manufacture of the DBR9. Signed up for 3 years as an Official Technical Supplier to Aston Martin Racing, and with a concurrent supply agreement with Prodrive Composites, ACG is fully committed to the partnership, which provides an ideal opportunity to test bed several exciting new composite technologies.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Sculptured BPS240 Body Panels - March 2006

The latest concept car to provide surprises from PSA Peugeot Citroen is the 20Cup. A sporty 2-seater with avant-garde styling, the 20Cup is a powerful vehicle providing an amazing weight/power ratio: 170bhp for under 500kgs!

As with other recent concepts from PSA Peugeot Citroen, the 20Cup makes extensive use of ACG prepreg materials. MTM49-3 prepreg materials were used in the manufacture of the chassis and engine bulkheads. MTM49-3 offers sustained service up to 150-160°C and has a proven pedigree, being the material of choice for many Formula One chassis over recent years.

The 20Cup's stylish body is manufactured from ACG ZPREG BPS240 body panel system. BPS240 is steadily developing a reputation as the composite body panel of advanced composite material for body panels - consistently giving high quality moulded finishes and providing an extremely stable base to sustain Class A painted finishes when exposed to the elements.

The majority of the 20Cup's composite components were manufactured by Application Composites ( Monereau-sur-le-Jard , France ).

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Koenigsegg CCR Breaks the World Speed Record - October 2005

On February the 28th 2005, at 12:08hrs local time, the Koenigsegg CCR broke the production road car speed record, achieving a new official top speed of 387.87km/h at Italy 's Nardo Prototipo proving ground.

A team of Koenigsegg engineers and mechanics, together with founder Christian Von Koenigsegg, ran a technically standard Koenigsegg CCR and set the new world record speed for production road cars. Supercar test driver Loris Bicocchi drove the CCR.

The Koenigsegg CCR raised Mclaren's previously unofficial mark of 372km/h set at Nardo Prototipo in 1993 by over 15km/h. On top of this the CCR broke the official Mclaren F1 record of 386.7km/h, which was set on the 9km straight line VW Ehra facility in Wolfsburg , Germany .

A team of Nardo Prototipo technicians independently verified the speed of the CCR. The car was clocked using Tag Heuer's Splitmaster 650 with photocells stationery at the track, recording the average speed during 1km. Since the Swedish Supercar manufacture first established itself in the mid-1990's, ACG and Koenigsegg have collaborated extensively on the cars composite requirements.

ACG's materials are used solely throughout the vehicle from complete monocoque structure to exterior skin, giving the vehicle exceptional structural, aerodynamic and safety performance. As you would expect of the World's Fastest Supercar manufacturer, development work continues. ACG recently introduced their new ZPREG® technology BPS240 system onto the CCR's body work and the Company's engineers continue to work closely with Koenigsegg on further productionisation of the car's composite structures.

Koenigsegg CCR, courtesy of Koenigsegg Automotive AB.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Review of EAC 2005 - June 2005

The new EAC 2005 Expo at Stuttgart was well attended and afforded ACG a good cross section of visitors interested in how composite materials are changing the face of automotive manufacturing.

With high quality exhibits demonstrating key case studies, and technology engineers on hand to discuss in depth the optimum use of low temperature curing prepreg materials as supplied by ACG, there was an important message for the industry - composites are improving efficiency in production and do not compromise the manufacturer on either cost or quality.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

New European Automotive Components Expo - March 2005

European Automotive Components Expo was an important new OEM initiative designed to create a much-needed centrally located annual exhibition for the European Automotive industry.

Launched on 31 May 2005 in Stuttgart, European Automotive Components Expo was scheduled to take place at the same time as the Engine Expo, Vehicle Dynamics Expo and Automotive Testing Expo - Europe. Shows that already attract many thousands of automotive industry visitors into Stuttgart every year.

The show took place in its own dedicated halls at the Stuttgart Messe, ensuring that European Automotive Components Expo has its own focused environment within the context of what will be the largest industry-only exhibition to be staged in Europe. This show was not open to the public.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Quick Car - March 2005

The stunning Peugeot 907 concept made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September 2004, but just four months earlier this mainly carbon fibre composite car existed only as a computer design. Working closely with PSA Peugeot Citroen Automobiles, Advanced Composites Group not only provided all the raw materials for the tooling, chassis and bodywork, but also, through its highly experienced automotive engineering team, contributed significantly at all stages of the car's construction.

Peugeot approached ACG in April 2004 with the initial computer models of their concept and a requirement for an advanced composite tub with the latest composite exterior. Working with Peugeot as the vehicle styling developed, ACG was able to adapt to the customer's changing requirements without affecting the delivery deadline.

The finished tools were delivered to Peugeot's sub-contractor in early June, where component manufacture was supported by ACG technical staff to maintain the tight deadline. Fully completed chassis and exterior bodywork were delivered to PSA in La Garenne three weeks later for final assembly and painting. The finished car was completed by July; only 4 months from concept to reality.

ACG's unique ZPREG® technology was used extensively in rapid tooling and chassis manufacture and the production of the body panels, to allow PSA to meet their aggressive timescales with such a startling design statement.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Award Winning Material - March 2005

ACG materials are used in the award winning Saturn Aura concept vehicle. The new Saturn Aura vehicle was awarded the "Most Practical Vehicle" at North American International Automotive Show 2005.

The Air Induction System, Fluid Reservoir, Up-Stream Ducting and Engine Cover on the vehicle were made from ACG LTM prepreg systems, giving the engineers both the technical and commercial freedom necessary to meet the styling requirements laid down by the Saturn design team.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Autosport International - January 2005

The Autosport Engineering show section of Autosport International took place over 13 and 14 January 2005. ACG exhibited at stand E145 where they accepted visits from existing customers and met many new contacts interested to learn how composite materials can contribute to their projects.

ACG Automotive is a Composite Technology supplier offering full turnkey application development from design through to concept and prototype manufacture. The service includes material, processing and technical support for each step, from initial carbon composite component design through to prototyping and production process optimisation. Full CAD and CAE optimisation is included throughout the application development process.

The company can call on over 25 years experience in the motor racing industry in both component and materials design, development and supply to most of the Formula One Teams.

In ACG's Technical Centre there is a dedicated research facility geared to the specific requirements of the motorsport industry (e.g. the rapid completion of product or application specific research programmes).

ACG takes pride in its special position as a Partner to West McLaren Mercedes and eagerly look forward to seeing the continued development of their MP4-19B as Juan Pablo Montoya joins Kimi Raikkonen on January 1 2005.

This was an excellent opportunity for ACG to meet clients from both the automotive and motor racing industries. Sales Engineers were on hand to discuss the specialised prepreg materials designed and developed by ACG for these markets and how they can optimise the performance, design and production of a vehicle.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

New Peugeot 407 Silhouette at JEC - March 2004

Advanced Composites Group Ltd's main exhibit at this year's JEC SAMPE Exhibition (Paris) was revealed to the public for the first time only a few weeks earlier at the Geneva Motorshow 2004. The Peugeot 407 Silhouette concept car is a stunning rear engined 3 litre V6 320 bhp performance sportscar. Designed to transform the standard road 407 into a stylish carbon fibre bodied racer.

The Silhouette's tubular metallic chassis is clad entirely in ACG carbon composite materials. The bulk of the bodywork is manufactured from ACG's 2 ply ZPREG carbon body panel system (BPS), with the bonnet and boot also making extensive use of ACG LTM24ST and VTM260 resin systems. The ZPREG BPS chosen for the bodywork in particular offered significant benefits to the Silhouette's design team.

Apart from the obvious weight saving and performance gains provided by carbon composite materials, the two ply BPS system reduces structure laminating time by as much as 80% over more traditional prepreg or wet laminating approaches.

Also, when processed under vacuum consolidation at temperatures as low as 65°C (149°F), ZPREG BPS produces high quality pit-free surface finishes compatible with the production of the pre-requisite Class A finish. In essence on both commercial and technical grounds ZPREG BPS was a most suitable choice.

The 407 Silhouette is only a concept at this stage, with no immediate plans to move into limited production. However, the Peugeot design team responsible for the project continue to work closely with ACG, taking advantage of the company's 30 years of experience in Automotive advanced composites.

From initial structural design, through project engineering to innovative leading edge materials development, ACG offers an unparalleled package of services.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Automotive Support Team Sets ACG apart - October 2003

Advanced Composites Group specialises in the manufacture of high performance composite materials and offers a unique one-stop-shop for composite technology, combining extensive materials manufacturing capability with an unrivalled in-house design and production base.

Many new composite and hybrid vehicle launches in 2002 and 2003 have used ACG's composite materials. This highlights the significant processing and performance advantages of ACG's materials over the competition and the level of customer support that ACG's automotive team offers. Seen here is the Peugeot Hoggar 4x4 wheel concept car designed and built by PSA Group Design Centre in La Garenne. Whole carbon body is made from ZPREG and structural components from ACG prepreg.

ACG adds a unique combination of technologies, process expertise, logistic support and automotive engineering to its customers worldwide, having been at the forefront of composite technology for over 20 years and is well established as the world's leading supplier of both the technology and materials into the motor racing industry.

Having introduced the first carbon composites into motorsport in the 1970s and then developed the now accepted approach to manufacture integrated carbon composite monocoques in the 1980s, ACG has subsequently designed, developed or manufactured over 700 road and race car chassis.

ACG's continual material and processing developments offer genuine automotive solutions to the industry's complex engineering and commercial challenges that result directly in superior vehicle performance, significant fuel economy and programme cost savings.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

ACG Supports Bertrandt UK - July 2003

Advanced Composites Group Supports Bertrandt UK To Design The Ultimate Gravity Racer

ACG congratulates Bertrandt UK on their excellent result at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the Gravity Racing Club Dunhill Challenge; an outstanding result for a first attempt with a composite Soapbox.

Visitors to the UK's annual Goodwood Festival of Speed will be familiar with the 'Soapbox Challenge', a curving downhill race of approximately one mile contested by an invited collection of high-technology gravity racers. Conceived to invoke the nostalgia of historic motor racing, the single-seater vehicles, powered only by gravity, compete for the fastest aggregate time over 2 days of racing. Competition is fierce and entrants typically enlist increasingly high-technology solutions in order to seek optimal performance from their designs.

For the 2003 challenge, Bertrandt chose the radical step of designing and simulating the vehicle using a completely virtual design and development environment and then approached the Advanced Composites Group for composite materials expertise and complementary automotive focus. The complete vehicle structure and the ride and handling performance were designed and simulated on computer. No prototypes were built or tested, and the first car to be built was the one that ultimately raced and caused such a stir in the paddock. The complete design and manufacture process took only 9 weeks; a real exercise in engineering time compression and a lesson in successful material choices and engineering project management.

About Advanced Composites Group Ltd

ACG has been at the forefront of composite technology for over 20 years and is well established as the world's leading supplier of composite technology and materials into the motor racing industry. Having introduced the first carbon composites onto racecars in the 1970s and then developed the accepted approach to manufacture integrated carbon composite monocoques in the 1980s, ACG has subsequently designed, developed or manufactured over 700 road and racecar chassis.

ACG remains at the forefront of developing and translating this technology into the automotive industry with new and cost effective ZPREG, LTM and MTM material systems. Materials created to support the automotive OEMs and suppliers who are facing the fundamental challenges to build affordable, lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

About Bertrandt AG

Bertrandt is a service partner to the international automotive industry, with a range of services that embraces the entire vehicle development process chain. From initial concept right through to mass production readiness, Bertrandt's 3,100 employees develop design solutions for vehicle bodies, interiors, chassis, engines, electrics/electronics and major components - and can also provide support for mass production start-up. With 20 sites in Europe and the USA the Bertrandt Group is, by design, never far from its main customers. These include leading car manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Opel, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Saab, Seat and Volkswagen, as well as numerous key systems suppliers.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Donkervoort Increases Carbon Fibre Integration - March 2003

Cost reduction, component integration and an improvement in crash performance have been the main drivers for Donkervoort Cars to adopt ACG composite materials for key applications.

For more information visit www.donkervorrt.nl

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Koenigsegg at 2003 Geneva Show - April 2003

Using ACG's materials for the structure and exterior bodywork has given Koenigsegg an immensely strong and impact resistant vehicle. The side impact crash results show something of what can be achieved with composites, with impact levels on the crash test dummies among the lowest ever recorded. The doors were still functional after the tests and the CC could safely have been driven home.

Koenigsegg have recently conducted the first high speed tests aimed at breaking the speed record for the fastest production road car. The record attempt was delayed by rain, but the shakedown tests at the Nardo/Prototipo high-speed test track still showed an impressive 365km/h fuelling their confidence in achieving the record shortly. Good luck to the team.

Koenigsegg has recently exhibited at the Geneva Autoshow and could well have been at the JEC Composites Show had they not suffered a major fire that destroyed part of their production line.

For more information visit www.koenigsegg.com

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Farboud GTS launched at Autosport International - January 2003

Advanced Composites Group is delighted to congratulate Farboud Cars on the successful launch of their GTS at Autosport International 2003 and to be sourced as composite material supplier to Farboud Cars. The GTS utilises ZPREG body panel system material for the whole exterior body and all closures and ZPREG structural material for other assemblies and interior trim. Farboud Cars has also made extensive use of carbon composite tooling.

By introducing improved design integration opportunities, flexibility of styling and integrated body systems that would traditionally have been separate components, ZPREG has given Farboud Cars the opportunity to drastically reduce the weight, manufacturing time and cost of their GTS.

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Launch of Invicta S1 at Motor Show - January 2003

Manufactured using ZPREG® from Advanced Composites Group

Advanced Composites Group (ACG) is delighted to support the launch of the new Invicta S1 manufactured by ITS Ltd at the British International Motor Show 2002, and to be providing ZPREG® carbon fibre material for the exterior body, ZPREG® structural assemblies, and interior trim.

By introducing greater design integration opportunities, flexibility of styling and integrated body systems that would traditionally have been separate components, ZPREG® has given Invicta the opportunity to drastically reduce the weight, manufacturing time and cost of the S1.

ZPREG®: The Composite Technology for Automotive Body Panels and Structures

The technology is applied equally to body panel systems and vehicle structures, without the need for the very high laminator skill level that is required typically in the aerospace and motorsport industries.

Couple this performance with composite tooling, having a lead time of between 8-12 weeks for production tools, and you have the technology to produce vehicles in the tens of thousands per year cheaper and lighter than any traditional metal design.

ACG specialises in the manufacture of high performance composite materials and offers a unique one-stop-shop for composite technology; combining our extensive materials manufacturing capability with an unrivalled in-house design and production base.

As a global leader in composite material innovation, with technical and manufacturing locations in Europe and the United States, ACGs automotive support team design materials solutions that reduce time to market and meet and often exceed the automotive needs for vehicle weight reduction and cost reduction and integration of improved safety applications. We bring a unique combination of these technologies, process expertise, logistic support and automotive engineering to our customers worldwide.

ACG has been at the forefront of composite technology for over 20 years and is well established as the world's leading supplier of composite technology and materials into the motor racing industry. Having introduced the first carbon composites into motorsport in the 1970s and then developed the accepted approach to manufacture integrated carbon composite monocoques in the 1980s, ACG has subsequently designed, developed or manufactured over 700 road and race car chassis.

ACG's continual material and processing developments offer genuine automotive solutions to the industry's complex engineering and commercial challenges that result directly in superior vehicle performance, significant fuel economy and programme cost savings.

Visit the British International Motorshow Website

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.

Dramatic Weight Loss for TraXstar Indy car - August 2002

ACG Inc, the Group's US Manufacturing Division, have supplied prepreg materials to TraXstar supercars inc of Calgary, Canada who have recently launched a new car with a body shell weighing just 30lbs (13.5 kgs).

When at the Vancouver Indy the car stimulated a lot interest, both in the technology behind such a dramatic weight reduction as well as the rigidity and the high quality finish. In fact it was clear that theTraXstar body was superior to those on the $500,000.00 CART cars.

ACG Inc were able to draw on the Group's resource of skilled laminators to assist in the fabrication of prototype parts which brought added benefit to the build. The loan of experienced labour and the opportunity for training programmes are complimentary services always available from ACG.

To follow theTraXstar Indy challenge look at their web site www.traXstar.biz

For further details contact ACG Sales Department.