Automotive interiors combining natural fiber aesthetic and Class A finish

The innovative automotive interiors specialist Johnson Controls Interiors (JCI) has developed a concept car for the small-vehicle market that was unveiled on the occasion of the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This concept vehicle, namely ‘re3’ (for Rethink the interior through innovative engineering, Renew with sustainable solutions, Respond by generating consumer appeal) is both fuel-efficient and eco-friendly by design. It features the use of visible natural fibers in the vehicle interior thanks to the so-called “Exposed Natural Material” technology, which complies with the stringent requirement for Class A finishes: a wood fiber mat with acrylic resin binder i.e. Fibrowood™ material or a moldable mat made of polypropylene (PP) and natural fibers that can be formed and covered in a one-step process i.e. EcoCor™ have been used to produce the instrument and door panels, the Class A surface being obtained by applying a thin, transparent film onto the panels. This technology offers authentic and natural aesthetics for the interior while providing up to 30% weight saving compared with conventional laminated solutions.