If you buy a prestige car, you’d probably expect to be buying something offering a touch of luxury and decent performance. And in an era in which concern for the environment is important, you might also expect your prestige motor to be a little environmentally friendly too.
UK-based Lunaz – which re-engineers and converts vehicles to electric powertrains – can probably help you out, with the company taking its upcycling process and philosophy a step further by producing an Aston Martin DB6 concept that is not only all-electric, but which features an interior created using an abundance of sustainable materials.
The car is, the company says, ‘a vision of eco-conscious material usage never seen combined on a road car’, and no doubt some very clever work has been done here.
The dashboard face, gear shifter and three-quarter glass handle are finished in a biodegradable composite material that is produced from discarded egg and nut shells; while the door cards are finished in a fabric constructed from a blend of renewable plant-based materials, including corn and wood pulp-based fibres.
The accent piping on the headlining, seats and door cards is created from a leather alternative made from apple pomace – a by-product of cider, juice and compote production in the beverage industry. It is combined with water-based polyurethane and a backing made from wood pulp.
Some of the fabric used in the DB6 is a blend that includes 66 per cent post-industrial recycled cotton, while the cabin and boot-floor carpets are made from a regenerated nylon derived from recycled waste material such as discarded carpets and fishing nets.
All this eco-friendly work is woven into a car powered by a power system that can accommodate an 80 to 120kWh battery with Combined Charging System (CCS) fast-charging capability, and deliver up to 410km of range and 280kW
or power.
“We’ve seen significant interest from our clients in maximising our use of sustainable alternatives to traditional leathers, veneers and fabrics,” said David Lorenz, founder of Lunaz. “This upcycling project provides a wonderful showcase for emerging materials and innovative products, which are opening up new possibilities across the luxury world.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (December 2023 / January 2024)
31 January 2024