Road cars a lot to the world of racing, including traction control, (to minimize wheel spin), ceramic brakes and electronic suspension. One development eagerly anticipated is the use of carbon composites- or carbon fiber, – in the chassis.
Previously, racing cars were built around steel, and then aluminum, frames to provide strength and durability, but with an ever present need for better performance other option continued to be explored. One such alternative was carbon fiber. Over 30% lighter than aluminum, it came in the foam of flexible sheets which could be cut and baked in a special oven to achieve a desired shape. Expensive and difficult to apply, it was the racing industry that first decides to experiment with the material.
In 1981 McLaren launched their formula 1 challenge MP4/1. It was the first car to feature a light weight carbon composite frame and became an instant hit, giving McLaren six Grand Prix wins and 11 others podium finishes. Its bigger feat, however, was that its driver could often escape unscathed from otherwise massive car wrecks; thanks to unprecedented standards in performances, strength and driver safety, the car’s design was copied by other competitors within months of it launch.
By the end of the decade, a number of car makers such as Lamborghini had lunched carbon fiber versions of their cars. The most significant effort in road cars came from McLaren yet again in 1993 with the launch of the McLaren F1, the fastest naturally aspirated road car of all time. Soon, Ferrari jumped on the carbon fibre bandwagon and introduced the F50 in 1995, the company’s most successful car of the decades.
Over the last few years, a number of automakers such as Audi and BMW have been experimenting with the material by introducing carbon fiber parts in their cars to cut down on weight and to beef up safety. Despite the costs and difficulty of moulding carbon fiber, the increasing prevalence of the material means it is only a matter of time before the Toyotas and Hondas begin rolling out carbon fiber versions of their flagship cars.
By Adeel Jawaid