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Toyota is starting to think about what to do with its manufacturing of composite carbon fiber, which until now was engaged in making the Lexus LFA. With the end of production of the same, this is no other utility plant to manufacture spare parts for cars launched.

The initial project, when the LFA was still a project, was to develop a manufacturing base for composite vehicles completely, but the strong yen makes the project to launch vehicle mass (not a limited edition to demonstrate its technology as the LFA) is interrupted.

Therefore we will not see more vehicles Toyota group with 65% by weight of the composite as the LFA, but the knowledge gained will be transferred to other models in the Toyota and Lexus. The focus now goes to produce light components in the composite to be included in consumer vehicles, thus helping to reduce weight and fuel.

This not only involves vehicles built in Japan, that knowledge will transfer to other plants worldwide manufacturer to enter that way, little by little, the composites in more mundane models the LFA supercar.

But to achieve that the first is to reduce the production cost. Current methods were designed for the aerospace industry where weight reduction is an important element that makes the cost of these processes is not as significant, but the automotive industry is another world here sends cost a lot.

The automotive industry before the composites

From General Motors to Lamborghini many manufacturers are looking to produce their vehicles in this lightweight, very durable but extremely expensive. The main problem, as I told you during special Transport technology for lightweight materials, comes from production times. The cockpit of a LFA took almost two weeks to build because of the complications of the production processes.

That is a long time in automotive terms, only leaving the production line one LFA per day, and it was precisely because of the intensity at times, so Lexus losing money on every unit sold.

To improve this aspect manufacturers seek new solutions and new polymeric matrices which cure faster than epoxy or new production processes that enhance automation.

The only manufacturer that has come to make a car affordable composite was electric BMW with i3, which still costs between 35,000 and 40,000 euros; much when you consider how it will be the car.

But BMWs bet seems too risky for Toyota, and is seeking the Japanese make certain components (hoods, trunk doors, aerodynamic additives, etc.) Composite material to save weight, but keeping the problem of the cost of producing the whole car away.

At the moment there is no model of the Toyota group, apart from the LFA, using composite materials in its construction, but it would not be surprising that upcoming models take advantage of the lessons learned in building the Japanese supercar.