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Automobili Lamborghini’s participation in the
2011 edition of the JEC Composite Show in Paris
- one of the world’s most important exhibitions
of composite materials - is intended to
emphasize the company’s leadership in this
highly specialized sector, not only in applying
these materials in mass production (as shown by
the new Aventador LP 700-4), but also in the
investigation and development of new
manufacturing technologies and the resulting
product spin-offs.
The use of composite materials reinforced with
carbon fiber is becoming increasingly widespread
in the automotive sector, as revealed by a study
by Lucintel that foresees a growth of 65% over
the next 5 years. Many manufacturers are working
on developing and applying these technologies so
they can build lighter vehicles that make an
important contribution to reducing fuel
consumption and air pollution, through
improvements that include increasing the
strength of the vehicle’s structures.
Automobili Lamborghini’s extensive experience
with using composite materials reinforced with
carbon fiber in the super sports car sector is
demonstrated by the Sesto Elemento concept car,
where these materials have resulted in maximum
stiffness with minimum weight. During the
presentation of the vehicle at the exhibition,
Luciano De Oto, the Chief of the Lamborghini
Advanced Composite Research Center (ACRC), noted
that the complete vehicle weighs only 999 Kg, as
compared with the 1410 Kg of a Gallardo.
The widespread use of CFRP (various types of
which were used to build the wheel rims, frame,
bodywork with roof, seats, exhaust and
suspension elements of the Sesto Elemento) has
enabled structures of extreme technical
sophistication and quality to be created, with
consequent improvement of the power-to-weight
ratio for greater driving pleasure, lower fuel
consumption and reduced CO2 emissions.
At its Advanced Composite Research Center (ACRC,
a section of the Automobili Lamborghini Research
& Development department directed by Maurizio
Reggiani), the Sant’Agata Bolognese-based
company is working on what technicians describe
as “the new frontier” in materials reinforced
with carbon fiber. The company already offers a
host of applications for CFRPs, with particular
focus on components that can be built without
the need of an autoclave.
A prime example is forged composite, which adds
new prerogatives to the more traditional
processes in the autoclave. During his
presentation at the JEC session devoted to the
automotive sector, Mr. De Oto explained that the
most significant development in this regard is a
“hybrid” combination employing long,
unidirectional carbon fiber. What’s more, ACRC
research and development activities aim at
obtaining from forged composite, through its
pairing with finishing materials during the
molding process, components that meet Class A
appearance specifications.
Because they are easy to manufacture and cost
relatively little, these new types of finished
elements are certain to extend applications of
CFRP into other sectors such as the marine,
furnishings, sporting equipment and leisure
vehicles segments.
As a matter of fact, ACRC has already cooperated
with third parties and supplied composite
finished elements to companies belonging to a
broad gamut of sectors.