How BMW weaves, bakes, and builds the carbon fiber 7 Series - ExtremeTech
BMW armored the cockpit of its next-generation 7 Series with carbon fiber in a move to improve safety and distance its big sport sedan from Mercedes-Benz and Audi as the world’s finest, safest high-end car. BMW uses the term Carbon Core to describe the safety cell surrounding the passenger compartment that uses carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) along with aluminum and high-strength steel. Rather than build an all-carbon fiber tub (passenger cell) that would be expensive even in a vehicle with a price starting in the $80,000 range when it ships this fall, BMW liberally reinforces the already strong metal/aluminum passenger cell with... The 15 CFRP reinforcements include the header above the windshield, door sills, transmission tunnel, front-to-back and left-to-right roof reinforcement tubes and bows, the B-pillar between front and rear doors, the C-pillar, and rear parcel shelf. BMW believes carbon fiber is one of many technology advantages the 7 Series holds. Japanese chemicals, American hydro start the process BMW uses multiple partners to create the chemicals, carbon fibers, and woven mats that become super-strong car components on the 7 Series as well as the BMW i3 city car and BMW i8 plug-in hybrid... of Otake and carbon fiber producer SGL Group of Wiesbaden, Germany (called MRC SGL Precursor Co. Ltd. Source: www.extremetech.com
