Lexus premium sports car uses CFRP

4 December 2009, Osaka - Toho Tenax, Teijin Group’s core company of the in its carbon fibre business, announced today that its carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been adopted for use in the cabin and various components of the Lexus LFA, a new Lexus ‘F’ premium sports car series, which Toyota Motors unveiled at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show and will begin marketing at the end of 2010.

A total of 65% of the Lexus LFA’s cabin will be made with CFRP, enabling the cabin to weigh 100 kilograms less than a comparable aluminium cabin, yet still maintaining high rigidity. CFRP will also be used for the diffuser, speed-controlled rear wing and interior components, contributing to the vehicle’s considerable weight savings. Toho Tenax supplies its materials for most of the CFRP components used in the Lexus LFA.

Toho Tenax developed the components in cooperation with Toyota group companies, parts manufacturers and the Teijin Composite Innovation Center (TCIC). The new components represent important steps forward in the use of carbon fibre for core automotive components, the company said today.

According to Toho Tenax, by 2020, around four million electric vehicles and other environmentally friendly next-generation automobiles are expected to be on the market. As the market steadily shifts towards these environmentally-aware vehicles, robust demand is envisioned for high-rigidity, ultra-lightweight carbon fibre composite materials, such as those offered by Toho Tenax.

Going forward, Toho Tenax will collaborate with TCIC to further develop carbon fibre composite materials and related technologies, placing a focus on automotive applications targeted at both high-end and mass-production vehicles.