Currently reading: Lighter car-building tech unveiled
New, lighter car construction material called inrekor launched in the UK

Inrekor, a new car construction material capable of cutting vehicle weight by up to 30 per cent, has been unveiled by the company with the same name.

Inrekor is an ultra-lightweight structure made up of AAPRO – a propylene-based foam – sandwiched between thin sheets of aluminium.

See pics of the inrekor launch

Inrekor claims the material is significantly lighter than, and just as strong as, conventional current car construction materials.

It also says that inrekor is cheaper to produce than carbonfibre and both elements of its construction are 100 per cent recyclable.

Car chassis and other structures can be made using panels of inrekor bonded together by an adhesive and then strengthened with other pieces to prevent the joins from peeling.

The new construction technique was launched by showcasing a prototype of a Porsche 356 Speedster kit car built with an inrekor-based chassis.

The car – built in association with Chesil Motor Company, which manufactures kit cars – is 15 per cent lighter than the same car made with traditional materials.

Inrekor also had on show a prototype of a four-seat chassis made with the technique; the firm says inrekor reduces weight from a typical 300kg to 160kg on this type of construction.

The company estimates that a typical family car built with a lightweight inrekor chassis, and other savings that could be made as a result, would weigh 300kg less than a car using current chassis building technology.

The material has undergone independent structural tests by Warwick Manufacturing Group and a crash test at MIRA found that a chassis made out of inrekor performed as well as a Euro NCAP five-star-rated chassis despite weighing around 40kg less. The company says it would like to conduct further tests.

Stewart Morley, technical director of inrekor, said the company already has a contract with a major marine company and is in contact with a major vehicle manufacturer, but would not reveal which one.

“There are programs in place,” he said. “We anticipate a long lead time, however. It could be a year or two years before a concept car is announced.”

Andrew Papworth

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shopa 15 September 2010

Re: Lighter car-building tech unveiled

This technology will work with my invention to reduce the weight of cars.

www.safersmallcars.com

MrTrilby 15 September 2010

Re: Lighter car-building tech unveiled

tannedbaldhead wrote:
The concern of the big girls' blouses of this world.
Says the MX5 driver. If the weight of a car is such a concern, and you're not bothered by luxuries such as crash protection and noise insulation, why didn't you a truly lightweight car like a Caterham 7 instead?

MrTrilby 15 September 2010

Re: Lighter car-building tech unveiled

Maxycat wrote:
Relying on a heavier car for your safety Mr Trilby will only get you killed by a 44 ton truck.... ...I assume Mr. Trilby has no desire to enjoy a powerful motorcycle the ultimate lightweight vehicle and will stick with his armoured car that is his loss my gain.

Blimey. Hold your horses Maxycat. All I said was that I'm not prepared to sacrifice safety or comfort. There's absolutely no need to start pouring scorn and accusing me of running an armoured car. I'm quite aware that heavier does not necessarily equal safer, but I'm also quite aware that innovations that simply did not exist at the time of the 205 - such as air bags, pre-tensioners, active anti-whiplash restraints, side impact bars, safety cells and crumple zones - all make a positive difference to safety and all add weight to a car.