"Simplify, then add lightness" - Colin Chapman.
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere" - Colin Chapman.

https://youtu.be/EQ_tzvWMCLs?t=373

How to get into a BMW i8

Pure EVs have rendered performance hybrids painfully obsolete at this point. $150k for what? A limp compromise.

Quote from: JWC on June 02, 2021, 12:24:21 PM
I would think items like door panels, well anything "plastic", would be made easier to recycle or made from biodegradable materials. There is a hemp based plastic that only last six months in the right environmental conditions. I know Saab used hemp-based plastics for their door panels, but they still felt as if they were strong.

Automakers are definitely taking the whole "sustainability" route and using materials that are in essence non-strategic and reusable and eco-friendly.

If I remember correctly Audi is refusing to offer leather on the new e-Tron GT and gives you some kind of.... vegan cloth whatever thingy. Which is cool. I am not a fan of leather anyway and would prefer cloth to it any day of the week.

I think Tesla started this trend by marketing their vinyl as "vegan leather." I think it's silly, but whatever.

I thought the Germans have called it leatherette for decades...?

Polyurethane (PU) faux leather is 100% better than classic vinyl seats (PVC)

Quote from: afty on June 02, 2021, 08:55:33 PM
I think Tesla started this trend by marketing their vinyl as "vegan leather." I think it's silly, but whatever.

Between leather and fake leather, I'll take the synthetic stuff.

This Dutch guy on Youtube has a great car history channel. And his videos are in perfect English. Here's episode 1.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPwCMUnkrno

Interesting article...How Ferrari Got 819 HP and 9500 RPM From a 6.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-12

A work of art...

Quote from: Laconian on June 02, 2021, 05:15:20 PM
Pure EVs have rendered performance hybrids painfully obsolete at this point. $150k for what? A limp compromise.

A lot of EV proponents feel the same way about any hybrid... lugging heavy generator sets around.

It's funny.  Nice polyurethane is definitely less sustainable than real leather.  Leather is largely a by-product of the meat industry.  Polyurethane is largely derived from petroleum I'm pretty sure.  I'd like to see a full life cycle analysis of the two, but yeah, "vegan" leather is funny.

Quote from: MrH on June 04, 2021, 06:48:39 AM
It's funny.  Nice polyurethane is definitely less sustainable than real leather.  Leather is largely a by-product of the meat industry.  Polyurethane is largely derived from petroleum I'm pretty sure.  I'd like to see a full life cycle analysis of the two, but yeah, "vegan" leather is funny.

I've never thought the notion of not eating animals was particularly moral anyway. I can understand the objections to factory farming (environmental issues + it can be particularly cruel to the animals) but a farm raised cow/chicken certainly live a better and less stressful like than your typical antelope in africa or deer in the north america. And its not like they would exist without human breeding them for food...at best there would be far fewer of them living in the wild, but really the ones that survived and bred successfully in the wild wouldn't resemble farm raises animals much anyway.

Quote from: MrH on June 04, 2021, 06:48:39 AM
It's funny.  Nice polyurethane is definitely less sustainable than real leather.  Leather is largely a by-product of the meat industry.  Polyurethane is largely derived from petroleum I'm pretty sure.  I'd like to see a full life cycle analysis of the two, but yeah, "vegan" leather is funny.

The leather tanning business isn't great for the environment either, so it would be interesting to see an analysis.

Mushroom "leather" is probably the best environmentally.

AFAIK mushroom leather doesn't last very long. Great for fashionable clothing; cars, not so much.

Naugahyde comes from a wild animal----the nauga.

(Old seventies joke).

Quote from: JWC on June 04, 2021, 12:27:42 PM
Naugahyde comes from a wild animal----the nauga.

(Old seventies joke).

I'm pretty sure that joke was in Leisure Suit Larry 1

Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2021, 12:35:41 PM
I'm pretty sure that joke was in Leisure Suit Larry 1

I first heard it when I worked at Scherba's in Millbrae Ca.

Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 04, 2021, 09:12:46 AM
The leather tanning business isn't great for the environment either, so it would be interesting to see an analysis.

Mushroom "leather" is probably the best environmentally.

Depends on the tanning process.  Chrome tanning, which is what they use for cars, yeah, it's pretty bad.  Vegetable tanning is better environmentally, but it's usually more expensive and not as durable.  After seeing both processes in person, polyurethane processing definitely looked dirtier, if that means anything

A high quality durable cloth is the best option. Especially if you can make it stain-proof.

Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 04, 2021, 01:33:42 PM
A high quality durable cloth is the best option. Especially if you can make it stain-proof.

And UV resistant...

Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 04, 2021, 01:33:42 PM
A high quality durable cloth is the best option. Especially if you can make it stain-proof.

My preference is mohair.  The feel is exquisite, like tiny soft bristles and no goats are killed in the process.

Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 04, 2021, 01:33:42 PM
A high quality durable cloth is the best option. Especially if you can make it stain-proof.

I agree - the Accord had the best seats of any vehicle I've owned. Very short cloth (plus well bolstered and fitting). It was a rare model - base LX V6, and pretty sure its seats were specific only to that model. Anyway, leather cleans up better, esp. with kids, dogs or those with so-so personal hygiene, but I'd choose cloth every time over leather if possible, all else the same (which is never the case).

Quote from: FoMoJo on June 03, 2021, 09:09:16 AM
Interesting article...How Ferrari Got 819 HP and 9500 RPM From a 6.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated V-12

A work of art...

That engine is wild.

OMG. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P5WTj3E4K0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JeH1qnb-bQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW9n234a1M8

Quote from: cawimmer430 on June 07, 2021, 02:38:53 AM
OMG. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P5WTj3E4K0

Bills videos are hilarious!

Quote from: FoMoJo on June 08, 2021, 08:29:38 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JeH1qnb-bQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW9n234a1M8

I was just talking out loud about this as I was reading and wife said "LET'S GET IT"

-4000lbs towing
-hybrid 40mpg
-$20k

Unfortunately those don't all go together in one truck....

I am just laughing at all the people who got their pitchforks out for Ford killing off their sedans

Ford officially called this the replacement for the Focus. Brilliant!

Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C7 on June 08, 2021, 09:04:50 PM
Bills videos are hilarious!

I could listen to this guy for hours. He makes car reviews fun!