McLaren Ramps Up Carbon Fiber Plant
McLaren Automotive Ltd.’s new Composite Technology Center in Sheffield, England, has produced its first prototype carbon fiber chassis.
McLaren Automotive Ltd.’s new Composite Technology Center in Sheffield, England, has produced its first prototype carbon fiber chassis.
The carmaker plans to begin crash testing the lightweight structure this spring, prior to launching series production in 2020. The second-generation Monocell tub will underpin future McLaren models.
McLaren opened the £50 million ($66 million) center in November. Employment at the 75,000 sq-ft facility is expected to more than triple to 200 people over the next year.
McLaren has used carbon fiber chassis since launching the MP4/1 Formula 1 race car in 1981. With the new composites center, the company says it could eventually supply carbon fiber components to other carmakers.
RELATED CONTENT
-
on lots of electric trucks. . .Grand Highlander. . .atomically analyzing additive. . .geometric designs. . .Dodge Hornet. . .
EVs slowdown. . .Ram’s latest in electricity. . .the Grand Highlander is. . .additive at the atomic level. . .advanced—and retro—designs. . .the Dodge Hornet. . .Rimac in reverse. . .
-
Increasing Use of Structural Adhesives in Automotive
Can you glue a car together? Frank Billotto of DuPont Transportation & Industrial discusses the major role structural adhesives can play in vehicle assembly.
-
On Electric Pickups, Flying Taxis, and Auto Industry Transformation
Ford goes for vertical integration, DENSO and Honeywell take to the skies, how suppliers feel about their customers, how vehicle customers feel about shopping, and insights from a software exec