Future Prius prototype

Personally, I think there will be increasing use of CF in cars (and trucks). CF is the only credible way (at the moment) to get the weight down. If the Tahoe/Yukon hybrids had a CF chassis and frame, they could probably meet the 35 mpg requirement.

 

How can something be so funky looking while still being noticeably "prius shaped?" It boggles my mind...

 

Toyota, please use some of that technology in the next Prius along with new and improved lighter HSD.

If the next Prius is 400 lbs lighter, I will be very impressive. Acceleration and fuel economy will be better instantly.

 

The picture resembles the new VW beetle with front end streamlining.

 

My only concern with anything that is made of plastics is what happens when they get in accidents in extremely cold weather. I've seen corvettes where the body appears to have simply shattered into small pieces instead of breaking in large pieces or bending like metal. As far as I am aware CF is made in much the same way as fiberglass, except that the fibers are much stronger than glass; but are the resins still the same as a typical fiberglass resin? Maybe that is the limiting factor?

I like the idea of a lighter vehicle via the use of CF but if the tow truck guy has to call in a bulldozer or bobcat to scoop it up because it shattered instead of bending you will see me on the curb cursing CF.

 

I'm a flight instructor at a school in Seattle whose fleet is almost entirely composed of Carbon Fiber aircraft (Diamond Aircraft). The crashworthiness of these airplanes is astounding; many times the rating for an aluminum airplane. In one instance (not at our school), an instructor and a student experienced some sort of roll turbulence and flipped the plane on its back at 300 feet above the runway. The plane crashed but both of them survived with few injuries. I wouldn't worry about the structural strength. The FAA recently awarded the Diamond DA-40 an "unlimited hull replacement" rating, meaning that the FAA believes that the hull should last indefinitely. Carbon fiber airplanes have been around for about 15 years and have accumulated an impressive crash survivability record.

Corvettes, I believe, are (were, anyway) made of fiberglass which is similar but not the same, nor nearly as strong, as carbon fiber which is a relatively new technology.

 

Carbon fibre also tends to break into shards, and isn't wonderfully abrasion-resistant, which is why design guidelines for Human Powered Vehicles specify layers of Kevlar.

 

The concept is made with carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. This is just a concept of what it can achieve when fully used.

I am sure there will be trade-offs between weight reduction and repairability etc... I just hope some parts use this technology where it makes sense.

Production version is not going to have 1/3 the weight of current gen. Even if it can reduce the weight by 15%, that's very good already (2,450 lbs)

 

Seriously, if they could reduce the width of the A-pillar, and open up a bit more visibility, AND make a real moon/sun roof, I'd love it.

Okay, I love my Rudy now, but it would be nice to have more visibility

 

I think there is a greater use of aluminum (hydro-formed chassis for example) in the Z06 (and presumably the ZR1) for weight reduction. The body panels are made from the same material as the non-Z06 C6 (and C5, for that matter). Also, things like thinner windshield and lighter weight cat-back exhaust system are used for weight savings in the Z06.

 

Since 93 all Covette and other GM car panels are made with Sheet Moulded Compounds. Very different product and manufactuing method.

 

All very interesting. I assumed that the resins had changed as well but didn't want to state something without knowing. Thanks for clearing that bit up.

CF sounds like a great idea (stronger than steel and lighter than AL). My next thought would be toughness v strength. Too much strength = brittle; too much toughness = material can't be worked. For instance, abrasion resistance since some body parts move against other parts. I'm sure Toyota will work all that out though.

I wonder how CF compares when flexed back and forth compared to steel. I'm thinking of the time my Pri's tires (OEM) didn't want to go in the snow. Not the car's fault, Bridgestone won't be getting any more of my money, though. While trying to push the car back away from the edge of the driveway, the fender popped out of shape. The fix was simple enough, one good firm thunk with my gloved hand on the upper edge of the deformation brought it right back with no ill effects. I wonder if CF will do that too or just crack. I would hate to think that if this happened on my car with CF panels I would need to call Toyota for a new fender.

 

All very interesting. I assumed that the resins had changed as well but didn't want to state something without knowing. Thanks for clearing that bit up.

CF sounds like a great idea (stronger than steel and lighter than AL). My next thought would be toughness v strength. Too much strength = brittle; too much toughness = material can't be worked. For instance, abrasion resistance since some body parts move against other parts. I'm sure Toyota will work all that out though.

I wonder how CF compares when flexed back and forth compared to steel. I'm thinking of the time my Pri's tires (OEM) didn't want to go in the snow. Not the car's fault, Bridgestone won't be getting any more of my money, though. While trying to push the car back away from the edge of the driveway, the fender popped out of shape. The fix was simple enough, one good firm thunk with my gloved hand on the upper edge of the deformation brought it right back with no ill effects. I wonder if CF will do that too or just crack. I would hate to think that if this happened on my car with CF panels I would need to call Toyota for a new fender.