Volvo car group has unveiled its Polestar 1 model representing the first time that the company has explored carbon fibre construction for the body of their vehicles.
The vehicle uses carbon fibre components in the car's structure including the bonnet, boot lid, side panels, doors and the entire roof structure.
The vehicle makes use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) to produce an overall weight saving of 230kg.
The car also makes use of a “dragonfly” component that improves torsional stiffness at a critical point in the body's structure between the middle of the floor and rear construction.
Polestar head of product creation Christian Samson said the dragonfly combined with the strengthened framework to contribute to the car's smooth driving characteristics.
“The 'dragonfly' is also made from CFRP. When you combine this strengthened framework with the super-strong body and roof structure, you get a stiff communicative chassis which translates driver input into superb driving characteristics.”
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said that the group found carbon fibre crucial to the development of the vehicle.
“Carbon fibre is crucial in meeting our design, engineering and performance goals with the Polestar 1. The result is a beautiful, technological package that remains faithful to the original design with its elegant and low silhouette.”