By Drew Johnson
Tuesday, Jan 22nd, 2008 @ 12:16 pm

General Motors will use its new Corvette ZR1 to test the feasibility of carbon fiber in high-volume vehicles. The ZR1 — which uses a carbon fiber hood, roof, front spoiler, side rocker panels and rear spoiler — will help GM engineers determine the durability of the light-weight material.
“Carbon is one-fifth the weight of a composite, which is half the weight of steel,” Tom Wallace, vehicle line executive for the Chevrolet Corvette , Cadillac XLR, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel/Vauxhall GT, told Automotive News.

The use of carbon fiber in high-volume vehicles would help GM keep vehicle weight down, ultimately improving fuel economy. If carbon fiber proves to be feasible, it could help GM — and other automakers — comply with new CAFE standards.

According to Wallace, Toyota has already announced a joint venture with a carbon fiber company.

But don’t look for carbon fiber in mainstream vehicles anytime soon. Wallace says it will take at least 10 years to know the feasibility of carbon fiber — both in price and durability.

Wallace revealed earlier today that the next-generation Corvette would likely be lighter, but failed to mention if carbon fiber was was in the cards for the C7.

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