Bcomp ampliTex makes appearance in Cupra EV Cup Bucket seats
The entire Cupra Born VZ line-up features all-natural fiber front seats that highlight functionality, aesthetics and reduced CO2 emissions.
Cupra Born VZ electric vehicle. Source (All Images) | Cupra
Cupra (Barcelona, Spain), a subsidiary of Spanish car manufacturer SEAT, which is part of Volkswagen Group, has announced the use of Bcomp’s (Fribourg, Switzerland) natural fiber composite materials for the new Cup Bucket seats in the Cupra Born VZ electric vehicles (EVs), the latest addition to the brand’s vehicle line-up.
Cupra focuses on innovation and sustainability in an effort to redefine the automotive industry. This approach is exemplified by the Cupra Born VZ, which combines high performance with eco-friendly design, aiming to inspire a new generation of drivers with its progressive and responsible engineering.
According to Francesca Sangalli, head of color and trim concept and strategy at Cupra, “We’ve been researching the use of flax fiber for some time to integrate it in our car seats. We are changing the sporty aesthetics to incorporate a functional part made of flax fiber in the interior of a car.”
Cup Bucket seat backs.
For the car’s interior design, Cupra’s collaboration with Bcomp and Sabelt, known for its high-performance automotive seats, has resulted in the creation of natural fiber Cup Bucket seats. Replacing the original seat backs made from carbon and glass fiber, the Cup Bucket option incorporates ampliTex fibers, which is reported to reduce CO2 emissions by 49% compared to the hybrid version, in addition to offering end-of-life options. Enhanced vibration damping and increased safety are additional benefits. The ampliTex natural fibers provide both a structural layer and a visual surface that introduces an elegant natural appearance and high level of comfort, according to Cupra.
The all-natural fiber Cup Bucket seats are available exclusively to the Cupra Born VZ EV. The vehicle delivers 322 horsepower and an instant torque of 545 newton-meters, enabling it to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers/hour in just 5.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 kilometers/hour.
“Everyone involved from Cupra, Sabelt and Bcomp showcased agility to deliver a world’s first series high-performance natural fiber bucket seat within an extremely short timeframe, challenging standard automotive go-to-market timelines in favor of sustainability,” Per Mårtensson, chief revenue officer at Bcomp, says.
Related Content
-
Drag-based wind turbine design for higher energy capture
Claiming significantly higher power generation capacity than traditional blades, Xenecore aims to scale up its current monocoque, fan-shaped wind blades, made via compression molded carbon fiber/epoxy with I-beam ribs and microsphere structural foam.
-
Composites manufacturing for general aviation aircraft
General aviation, certified and experimental, has increasingly embraced composites over the decades, a path further driven by leveraged innovation in materials and processes and the evolving AAM market.
-
Manufacturing the MFFD thermoplastic composite fuselage
Demonstrator’s upper, lower shells and assembly prove materials and new processes for lighter, cheaper and more sustainable high-rate future aircraft.
