Spanish car builder Cupra has collaborated with lightweight materials specialist Bcomp and automotive seat designer Sabelt to produce more sustainable car seats for its electric vehicle range.
By replacing the seatbacks currently made from carbon and glass fibres, the new all-natural fibre seatbacks offer significant reductions in emissions.
In fact, the use of Bcomp's proprietary ampliTex technical material reduces CO2 emissions by 49% compared to the hybrid version, while also offering end-of-life options. The incorporation of natural fibres offers other significant benefits including enhanced vibration damping and increased safety, providing an optimal blend of sustainability and high performance.
The close collaboration between Cupra and Bcomp also reflects the ability to rapidly integrate these natural materials into the production car manufacturing process. With a shared commitment to improving environmental responsibility without compromising performance, the transition from traditional materials to innovative sustainable materials has been remarkably swift.
The ampliTex natural fibre provides both the structural layer and a visual surface that introduces an elegant natural appearance and higher level of comfort for drivers and occupants.
The resulting fully natural fibre-based CUP Bucket seats are available exclusively for the most powerful electric Cupra, the Cupra Born VZ, that delivers impressive performance with 322 hp and instant torque of 545 Nm.
By adopting advanced eco-friendly materials, Cupra not only enhances the sustainability of its vehicles but also sets a new benchmark for the automotive industry.
Per Mårtensson, chief revenue officer at Bcomp, commented: “Everyone involved from Cupra, Sabelt and Bcomp showcased unparalleled agility to deliver a world’s first series high-performance natural fibre bucket seat within an extremely short timeframe, challenging standard automotive go-to-market timelines in favour of sustainability.
“We at Bcomp are happy to prove once again, that we can deliver quality competitive products for the large volume market that offer a much more sustainable solution to automotive interiors than standard materials.”
Francesca Sangalli, head of colour and trim concept and strategy at Cupra, added: “We’ve been researching the use of flax fibre for some time to integrate it in our car seats. We presented this project at the Unstoppable Impulse event in Terramar and are now happy to say that it’s been successfully implemented.”
