BMW's New M Cars May Feature Plant-Based Composites
In today's eco-conscious world, equipping cars with lower-emission engines or electrifying powertrains is simply not enough for some automakers. Some manufacturers are going as far as decking their interiors with reclaimed wood trim, recycled plastics, as well as seats lined with "vegan leather" instead of the kind that comes off the back of a cow. However, the best of BMW's Ultimate Driving Machines are getting a plant-based alternative to a space-age material.
In a statement released this week, BMW unveiled a new lightweight material that it claims is a more eco-friendly alternative to carbon fiber. Dubbed 'natural fiber composites,' this new material is made from fibers derived from flax, the same plant used to create textiles like linen and special types of paper, including the ones used in banknotes.
The Bavarians claim that this new composite material is stronger than the carbon fiber components it replaces and offers reduced CO2 emissions compared to producing carbon fiber parts. According to BMW, exchanging carbon fiber parts for those made of natural fiber composites in the roofs of next-generation BMW Group vehicles can lead to a CO2 reduction of around 40% in production.
After years of research and development and trial runs in motorsport settings, BMW says these natural composites are ready to be used in BMW's road cars. In a statement, Franciscus van Meel, the CEO of the automaker's M division, said that the high-performance specialists "are now looking forward to the use of these materials in future BMW M product ranges;" meaning that the the next-generation M3 and/or M4 may have a flax-roof when it reaches production.
The flax-based 'natural fiber composites' were made in collaboration with Swiss clean-tech firm Bcomp, a company the automaker has invested in through BMW i Ventures. BMW and Bcomp developed this eco-friendly space-age material through an experimental development phase over several years. BMW M Motorsport initially used reinforcement parts made with these natural fiber composites in the 2019 season of Formula E. Since then, the same parts have also been used to replace carbon fiber plastic (CFRP) parts in BMW's M4 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) car and the M4 GT4 cars. BMW says that the M4 GT4 that will compete at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring will be equipped with these panels onboard.
"Natural fiber composites are a vital element of innovative lightweight solutions in motorsport," he said. "They allow for a reduction in CO₂e emissions in the manufacturing process. This is innovation that perfectly fits BMW M's identity: 'Born on the racetrack. Made for the streets.'"
By looking at it, you can convince me or the untrained eye that this "plant-based carbon fiber" is actually carbon fiber. On a more serious note, BMW and Bcomp are making significant strides toward sustainability with the introduction of this new sustainable lightweight material, especially at a time when there is a strong emphasis on creating more environmentally friendly vehicles. Reducing emissions involves more than just improving or removing engines; it requires comprehensive solutions that go beyond simply placing a green badge on cars with electric motors and batteries and calling it a day.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
September is going to be a huge month for new cars: here's what to expect
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK SUMMARY A lot of exciting new cars are just around the corner, with a whole bunch of new EV reveals scheduled for this year's Munich motor show. Highlights include new cars from Audi, BMW, Polestar, Mercedes, Hyundai, Porsche and more. A whole bunch of exciting new cars from Europe's biggest brands are about to arrive – and they're all hungry to dethrone Tesla, restore faith in the continent's car industry, and fight back against a Chinese EV onslaught. September will see major new cars and concepts from Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes, Polestar, Porsche and Volkswagen, plus important debuts from Chinese startups like Leapmotor and Denza. Many of these cars will get their global debut at 2025 IAA Mobility, better known as this year's Munich motor show, which opens its doors on 8 September. There will be a string showing of cars from German brands, of course, but the scale of the show will mean major news from across the industry – and for drivers, it'll mean a lot of shiny new metal entering dealerships across the year ahead. Here's a rundown of the most important new cars to look out for in the next few weeks. We'll update this list as more news comes to light: Audi Could we see a revival of the TT later this year? That's what the rumour mill is suggesting, with Audi expected to reveal a new concept car in September. There's no confirmation that it'll signal a new generation of the recently-deceased TT sports car, but for now it looks like the concept is more likely to be an electric sports car than an SUV. For that alone, Audi deserves some applause. BMW This could well be the star of the Munich show, and potentially one of the most important news cars of the entire year. It's the BMW iX3, and instead of being merely the next generation of the company's mid-size electric SUV, this is the first car from BMW's Neue Klasse – a whole new family of EVs that will seek to redefine the carmaker's design language for a generation to come. Expected to share its overall design with the Vision Neue Klasse X concept, the new iX3 is expected to benefit from an 800-volt system architecture, fast charging, a long range and a whole host of new tech to get excited about. Hyundai Hyundai produces some excellent electric cars – including the wonderfully mad Ioniq 5 N – but none are what you'd consider small. That's about to change though, with the September reveal of the all-new Ioniq 2. Related to the Kia EV2 – which is expected to land in 2026 – the Hyundai will likely share much of its platform with the slightly larger Kia EV3. That means the same (and rather good) E-GMP electric architecture, but at a price point of around £25,000, making it a fair bit cheaper than other members of the Ioniq family. Given how Hyundai likes to describe its cars as a set of chess pieces, each placing a very different body design on shared foundations, you can expect the Ioniq 2 to look quite different to the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. Leapmotor Another affordable EV expected to make its debut in September comes from Leapmotor, a Chinese upstart with a reputation for undercutting its rivals with small, affordable and back-to-basics electric cars. Backed by the Stellantis car group, Leapmotor's next car is expected to be a VW Golf-sized family hatchback called the B05. It'll be based on the new B10 SUV and could fall just below the £30,000 barrier, while still offering in the region of 350 to 400 miles of range. Mercedes We already know Mercedes will reveal its new electric GLC in September – because the IAA show's own website says so – and it'll sit alongside members of the new CLA family. These include a new electric CLA shooting brake (or estate, if you prefer), and a hybrid too. The stand will also show off a camouflaged prototype of the new electric VLE minivan, due on sale in 2026. Mercedes will also be showing off its AMG GT XX concept car, which it revealed in June. This is said to be a preview of the first production model based on its new High-Performance AMG Electric Architecture. In other words, a first glimpse at what an electric future for AMG looks like. It won't be all about EVs, though, as Mercedes is also expected to announce a second concept, called the AMG GT Track Sport. This is described as 'a preview of a possible expansion of the GT series with a V8 engine,' and suggests Mercedes still has an eye on internal combustion for future cars. Polestar Polestar's super-simple naming convention means that, after the 3 and 4 arrived last year, it's almost time for the 5. This will be revealed at the Munich motor show in September, and is a high-powered electric saloon car that's expected to take on the Porsche Taycan and Lotus Emeya. This is the first Polestar to use the car's own platform, and it's also the first to use an 800-volt electric architecture. Double the voltage of all previous Polestars, this will unlock faster charging and close to 900 horsepower of total output in its most aggressive configuration. The Polestar 5 has been a long time coming, tracing its routes back to the company's Precept concept car back in 2020, then first appearing as a production-ready prototype in 2023. I hope the finished car will have been worth the wait. Porsche Following on from the new electric Macan, Porsche will use the Munich show to reveal an all-new electric Cayenne. The SUV has been seen in public a few times recently, including at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but wearing extensive camouflage. Little is known for now, despite the high-profile outings, but Porsche fans can expect an 800-volt system architecture, rapid charging and equally potent performance from the flagship model. Volkswagen A small Volkswagen will be big news next month, as the company reveals more of its plans to turn the adorable ID.2All concept into reality. A VW Polo-sized electric car, the ID.2 (or whatever Volkswagen decides to call it) will sit below the ID.3, and is expected to be priced from just over £20,000, making it a close rival to the Renault 5 E-Tech.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
How BMW's "scary" performance led to DTM Nurburgring 1-2
BMW dominated the second Nurburgring DTM race with Rene Rast taking victory ahead of Schubert team-mate Marco Wittmann, as its rivals had no answer to its performance: 'It was a bit scary with the top speed machines I had around me,' smiled third-placed Landgraf Mercedes driver Lucas Auer. The DTM leader started from second but had to admit defeat to Rast after just four laps: 'I saw Rene, he was closing in so quickly. So, I defended once and then the second time he basically just overtook me fair and square.' Read Also: DTM Nurburgring: Rene Rast bolts to victory, Lucas Auer regains points lead Rast and BMW's overall performance took most by surprise – including the driver himself. 'I don't know [where the performance came from], to be honest. If I knew, we would do the same every race,' Rast said. 'But I could already feel in the formation lap that the car was connected like it has never been before on this track this weekend. 'So I went for the attack. I passed five cars in the first couple of laps and still pulled away, which was even surprising to me. I was hoping for a podium, but I wasn't expecting a victory - and such a dominant one as well.' However, Wittmann was unsure why he was not able to make equally-strong progress in the first stint: 'Somehow I struggled with tyre performance and couldn't really keep up with the leading group.' Marco Wittmann, Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 But team boss Torsten Schubert had an explanation. 'It was simply due to his position, because Marco was stuck in traffic. He always had cars in front of him, and when you can't drive freely, you naturally have a problem,' he told sister website 'Otherwise, they were already doing well in terms of pace, and Marco also said that he had a great car. It depends on the situation. When you're stuck behind someone for a few laps and have to try to fight your way past, it's not that easy.' 'That was also the main reason why we decided to stop early to put on the second set [of tyres],' added Wittmann, alluding to his strategy, as he undercut several drivers and moved up to third, directly behind Auer. 'In the end, the gap was slightly too big, because once I was close to him [Auer], his tyres were warm already. So I knew there was only a chance maybe at the second pitstop, although he opened up the gap.' But the BMW driver was gifted second place when Auer got held up in his second pitstop due to a problem with his Mercedes. Out in front, Rast had already built up a lead of almost 10 seconds, which was not only due to the favorable Balance of Performance, but also down to an incident on Saturday. In the accident that caused the first race to be red-flagged, Rast had damaged both front rims in a collision with Mirko Bortolotti's Abt Lamborghini. Watch: 2025 DTM - Round 5 - Nürburgring: Race 1 highlights 'We had several broken rims yesterday and were allowed to take the set of tyres from free practice during the red flag,' team boss Schubert explained. 'The regulations allow this set to be used in such cases. We were able to save the tyres, only the rims were damaged.' Read Also: DTM Nurburgring: Jack Aitken wins red-flagged race to take points lead It meant that the two undamaged front tyres, which Rast was allowed to change during Saturday's interruption, were remounted on intact rims overnight and available again to be used on Sunday. 'That was certainly an advantage for the race today. It meant we could put a very good set of tyres on Rene's car. And you could see that Gounon and Engel also had new tyres from yesterday, but when you're stuck in traffic, there's nothing you can do,' Schubert concluded. To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Price hike for used diesels as new car supply dries up
The values of some used diesel cars are actually increasing despite the fading appeal of the powertrain in the new car market, say leading vehicle valuation experts. In the first half of 2025, just 58,722 new diesels were registered, down 11.3% on 2024. This continues a decline that can be traced to 2017, amid the fallout from the Dieselgate scandal and concerns about future vehicle taxation and emissions penalties. Diesel's days appear numbered. Only a few car makers still produce diesel models – among them Audi, BMW and JLR (especially with the Defender) – and other types, such as petrol, hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, are experiencing rising demand. For most diesel models, this is reflected in increased rates of depreciation, but, bucking this trend, some have actually increased in value over what they were worth a year ago. For example, according to Cap HPI, a three-year-old diesel Honda HR-V with 60,000 miles is worth 11.3% more today than the same model was at the same point last year. In addition, the value of an equivalent Mercedes CLS has risen 8% and a Ford Mondeo 6.5%. Explaining the figures, Dylan Setterfield, head of forecast strategy at Cap HPI, said: 'There is still demand for diesel in the used market from both consumers and dealers, with fuel economy continuing to be a significant factor for high-mileage drivers. 'New [diesel] car volumes have been decreasing for some time, and this is translating into reduced used car volumes. We expect these reductions to be partially offset by the ongoing reduction in consumer demand and that prices will behave similarly to petrol [car prices] in the next few years.' However, the market is experiencing wild valuation extremes and some models are instead depreciating at higher than expected rates compared with what they were worth last year. Those suffering the biggest falls in value include the Ssangyong Korando 2.2D, with a three-year-old example with 60,000 miles worth 24.5% less. An equivalent Vauxhall Astra is down 20.2% in value and a Range Rover Evoque down 12.7%. These losses are atop the models' regular year-on-year depreciation. Setterfield said: 'The Korando's falls seem to have been caused by uncertainty and confusion in the marketplace as the brand transitioned from Ssangyong to KGM. Astra diesels with above-average mileage are now suffering increased penalties, while the Evoque's figure can be explained by an increase in used volumes following a shortage of supply.' Consumers unsure about buying a diesel are unlikely to be reassured by these wild extremes. Fortunately, these cars aside, the bulk of the sector is actually quite stable, with the average three-year-old diesel worth just 2.1% less than its equivalent 12 months ago. The equivalent figure for a petrol car is 1.3% less. At 12 months and 20,000 miles, their positions are reversed, with the diesel worth 1.4% less and the petrol 1.6% less. Philip Nothard, insight director at Cox Automotive International, a vehicle auction and remarketing company, welcomed the return of stability to most areas of the diesel market. He said: 'After the highs of the immediate post-Covid years, when even two- to four-year-old diesels were worth 73% of their new price and ones less than a year old 98%, order is returning to the market. In 2023, diesel values fell at a steeper rate than petrol as sentiment shifted to the latter and, thanks to tax changes, to some extent also to EVs. 'The fall in the sales of new diesels that year means that today, there are only155,000 three-year-old diesels on the road. Values are sliding but just about holding firm, with two- to four-year-old diesels currently worth around 51% of their new price compared with petrol cars at 58%. Electric cars are worth around 36%.' The shortage of used diesels and the stability of their values are reflected on dealer forecourts. Motorpoint is a leading car supermarket and typically stocks around 5000 cars, most no older than four years. Currently, only around 350 of them are diesels and diesel hybrids. They include a 2023 Audi A4 35 TDI S Line S Tronic with 14,500 miles for £22,699 and a 2022 Ford Kuga 1.5 Ecoblue ST-Line X with 17,000 miles for £19,999. Motorpoint Group CEO Mark Carpenter believes that although demand for diesels has fallen considerably, the declining number of new ones being produced means that used examples will soon be the only ones readily available to customers. However, he doesn't expect that any future increase in demand for them will necessarily trigger a steep rise in their prices. He said: 'While any uplift in demand for used diesel vehicles will have some impact on prices, with fewer new diesel cars on the road, used diesel stock will continue to get older, reducing its appeal for motorists wanting a nearly new car.' ]]>
