Safety, preservation of resources and environmental compatibility are key areas of interest for today’sautomotive material developments. The main focus is to build cars that are cleaner and more efficient,yet safe and durable. New alternative material options are lighter and greener.

In this new annual report, Stylesight identifies the leading commercial materials for automotive exteriorsand interiors, and spotlights the industry’s evolving color and customization trends.

Stylesight Image Libary Mercedes Benz

Audi Range Rover Evantra

Due to its light weight compared to steel, aluminum gains marketplace momentum.

Lighter weight aluminum helps cut emissions and improves fuel economy / High strength and crash-absorbentsafety performances / 2014 Range Rover is the first all-aluminum SUV / New Audi A6 body contains 20% aluminumand is 66 pounds lighter / One-Body Evantra cars with entirely hand-crafted aluminum bodies / Similar to Apple’sMacBook Pro, the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner with “superforming” technology features distinctly crisp linesfrom heat-molded (to 500°C) aluminum

Volkswagen Bentley

Toyota

Directional car brands incorporate carbon fiber and carbon fiber-reinforced plastics.

Carbon plus aluminum for a smooth, lightweight and durable car construction / Carbon for Toyota 1/X ConceptHybrid Car (weighing 67% less than its progenitor, the Prius) / 2014 Corvette Stingray with carbon fiber hood /Carbon fiber monocoque for the VW XL1 / Toray Industries plans on expanding its carbon fiber production via a$175 million investment for a research center and plant / New Bentley Continental GT3 with carbon-fiber rear wingand front splitter

Mazda seat in BIOFRONT™ bioplastic fabric

Ford Sustainable Bio-plastic injection molds

BMW i3 Ford Sustainable

Helping meet fuel economy and emission challenges, plastics, especially bio-plastics, are booming within theautomotive market.

Plant-derived (i.e., soy or sugarcane) plastics and fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) boost vehicle strength, shock-impact resistance and heat resistance / Soy-based foam replaces conventional polyurethane seat foam / BMW i3Life Module passenger cabin in first-ever mass-produced, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP); as strong as steelyet 50% lighter; 30% lighter than aluminum / Faurecia is the first automotive equipment supplier to mass-producepure bio-based plastic components

While alternative composites are exciting the automotive industry, how they reach mass production remains a keyquestion.

Potential flax and hemp reinforcements for composite materials / Parts already produced or under development aredoor panels, rear seat shells, sound insulation for bulkheads, rear-window shelves, dashboards, floors, under-the-hood parts, tank caps, air ducts for center and side ventilators, and rear-view mirror support frames

BMWi3 - Kenaf instrument panel Kenaf applications

Ford Kenaf Fiber

A growing desire for natural fibers is pushing kenaf into automotive interior applications.

Kenaf bast fiber with 99% degree of purity / From woody debris and pectins / Auto mats with thermoset naturalfibers / Kenaf core characteristics / Natural fibers and kenaf for thermal and acoustic insulation at K.E.F.I. / Kenactivmats and Natural Fiber Solutions / BMW i3 with instrument panel surround and door trim in kenaf fiber / FordEscape based on kenaf fiber

Stylesight Mood Library

Peugeot Buick

Porsche Hyundai

New wood varieties uptrend for sophisticated, sleek car interiors.

Matte and textured vein woods / Ecological woods / BMW i3 dashboard in responsibly-forested eucalyptus /Peugeot Onyx’s interior cabin in wood-like material of stacked, compressed newspaper; cut, milled, sanded andtreated like real wood / Luxury segment chooses premium woods / Porsche Panamera Stingray GTW interior inKarelian birch / 48,000 year-old kauri wood for BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe

Alcantara

Audi Spyker

Hyundai by Hermes Ok Materials Ltd

While weighty, leathers remain key for premium car interiors.

Smooth, grained leathers prevail / Diamond-quilted pattern revival / Foglizzo and crocodile leathers for limited-edition car interiors (Porsche Panamera, Hyundai Equus by Hermès, BMW Pininfarina) / Acura NSX Concept usesglue and strategically placed seams to avoid wrinkle or air pockets in its leather concave base and backrest bolsters/ Hand-wrapped leather for the Corvette 2014 cabin / Bentley Mulsanne uses bull leather (avoiding stretch marks)from its own tanneries / Uptrending skin alternatives like manmade Alcantara and water-based PU

Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna

Giugiaro - Lanificio F.lli Cerruti Tejin - Biofront

Citroen Ruf

Woven car interior materials evolve beyond traditional associations, taking on poshly tailor-made or eco-responsibleattitudes.

Sound-proofing felt for Citroen Technospace and Peugeot Onyx interiors, flooring, headlining and bucket seats /Recycled denim for carpet backing and sound-absorption at Ford / Teijin FR bio-textiles for vehicle interiors / Textilecompanies partner with automotive brands: Lanificio Cerutti and Woolmark wool interior for Italdesign Giugiaro /Lanificio Zegna fabrics for the 2014 Maserati Quattroporte; optional trims and tailor-made solutions

Stylesight Mood Library

Alfa Romeo Rolls Royce

Bentley jeep X Mopar

Gloss effects are mainstream, while low-gloss paints create matte surfaces in broader color variations.

Matte black finishes are mainstream for car customization / Due to the success of matte surfaces, paint suppliersdeliver wider ranges of matte color options / Camouflage pattern with an opaque finish

Youngdo Velvet Co Stylesight Image Libary Mercedes Benz

Range Rover Louis Leeman Ferrari

Velvet-covered surfaces are the up-and-coming car-customization trend.

Soft, matte, velvety surfaces via film-wrapping / Velvet Cars uses a 720-micron, high-tech microfiber textile wrap /Specific colors available / Video: Mercedes CLS 350 AMG wrapped with Velvet Elite by Velvet Cars

Citroen Pininfarina MG Motor

Wook Sung Ind. Co. Lincoln Hyundai

Graphic grid and motion textures enhance car interiors, grills, lights, wheels and car bodies.

Fractal patterns / Graphic grill textures / Karim Rashid x Hyundai i4o wagon with diamond-pattern quilted seats and3-D, micro-geometric pattern embedded in color-changing, airbrushed car surface / Novelty, stain-resistant,nylon/polyester, textured net for wheel covers by Wook Sung (Korea)