Westfield to use World's lightest material

[Julian Turner - Westfield Sportscars Ltd]

http://westfield-sportscars.co.uk/westfield-sportscars-to-use-boeings-microlattice-the-worlds-lightest-material/

 

 

Press Release - 27^th November 2015

 

Westfield Sportscars to use Boeing’s Microlattice, the world’s lightest material?

 

 

Westfield Sportscars is pleased to announce that it will be collaborating with The Boeing Company and Universities in the UK, USA and China on the use of Microlattice in its future sports cars.  Westfield have recently been awarded some Niche Vehicle Network funding to investigate the potential uses of it in the Niche Vehicle Sector.

 

On 6^th October 2015 The Boeing Company announced to the world they had created the worlds lightest material, Microlattice.  Current plans are to use it in non structural parts of the aircraft, providing a large weight reduction.

 

Microlattice is a synthetic porous metallic material consisting of an ultra light metal foam.  It has a density of 0.9mg/cm³ being the lowest value of any know solid.  It is one of the lightest structural materials known to science comparing against silica gels at 1.0mg/cm³.  Voted as one of the top ten world innovations, 100% lighter than Styrofoam and being 99.99% hollow it can sit on top of a dandelion!

 

Westfield are looking to use Microlattice in the vehicle to complement its already ultra lightweight philosophy.  Julian Turner Chief Executive Officer said, “Due to the space constraints of our vehicles we have to innovate with materials and technology to enhance the products for our customers.  We are very excited to be working with Microlattice as a complementary material in the vehicle.  Microlattice has very different material  properties to Carbon which is glass like in its structure so we are very excited to be given the opportunity to work on the project – This material is a game changer for our vehicles.”

ENDS

 

Notes to Editor:

Westfield Sportscars Limited is one of the UK's leading hand built sports car manufacturers that is British owned and family run.  The company based in Kingswinford in the West Midlands, designs, manufactures, lovingly handcrafts and certifies self assembly or Factory built sports cars for distribution over the globe.  

Westfield was established in 1983 in the garage of the founder (The Westfield logo being the name and sign on the house car number 1 was designed and created in - just five miles from the existing factory), in the heart of the UK automotive sector.  The company started selling the Westfield XI Sportscars and as demand grew it diversified with other models.  2002 saw the Westfield XTR road legal track car beat the Pagani Zonda round the Top Gear Test Track. In December 2006, ownership transferred to Potenza Sports Cars and it immediately began the process for European Small Series Type Approval and in 2007 Westfield was the first Niche vehicle Company to be awarded Conformity of Production for its vehicles.  2008 saw the launch of the successful Westfield AeroRace sponsored by Top Gear and the Westfield Cup was launched (each car being exactly the same). In 2010 Westfield launched the Sport Hybrid which ran at Goodwood Festival of Speed successfully. In 2011 the company launched the worlds first one Make Pure Electric Race Series using the Westfield IRacer and developed a number of pure electric cars for the road.  Potenza is continuing the development and expansion of the business into new markets, with investment to meet ever more stringent legislation compliance.  

Westfield has sold over 15,000 cars world wide since 1983 and currently produces over 200 cars a year for driving enthusiasts the world over.

Models include the Sport range, the XTR a new generation of minimalist road legal ultra modern sports carand the reborn Westfield Eleven Sportscar that is based on the Lotus Eleven racer of the 1950’s. This year The company uses an international network of sixteen dealers throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australasia, the Americas and Asia Pacific.

 

The Westfield Sports Car Club (W.S.C.C.) www.wscc.co.uk has been serving the interests of 2200 (current) members since 1987 and has a close working relationship with Westfield Sportscars Ltd. See www.westfield-sportscars.co.uk

 

The GTM marque was launched in 1967. Throughout the last forty years GTM Cars Limited based in Kingswinford, West Midlands, UK, has produced a string of new and innovative cars such as the Coupe and Rossa models which sold in large numbers.  In the summer of 1998 the GTM Libra, a more up-market sports model with fewer compromises than those of previous cars was launched. A convertible version of the Libra , the GTM Spyder was launched in 2002.  In December 2007 GTM changed ownership to become part of the same parent group (Potenza Sports Cars) as Westfield Sportscars. 

 

For more information please call Westfield on 01384 400077 or email Julian.Turner@westfield-sportscars.co.uk

[Tim Reid]

Interesting material, what parts can it be used for if its intended to be non structural. Is it suitable for bodywork?

It's good to see Westfield innovating.

[Kit Car Electronics]

Interesting material, what parts can it be used for if its intended to be non structural. Is it suitable for bodywork?

It's good to see Westfield innovating.

Overhead lockers

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

sounds interesting - and yes where can it be used on the car?

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

It might not be for the current design cars, I'd guess at it be used on the new carbon chassis model, presumably forming bodywork/infil around the carbon.

[TAFKARM]

What new carbon chassis model?

[alexander72]

I need lots of that having just had a 24 oz fillet steak and chips....

[SootySport]

Overhead lockers

For the new Touring model.

[XTR2Turbo]

I am wondering if I could have some as bone transplant material for my winter upgrades ;-)

[tolf]

[Stu Faulkner]

What new carbon chassis model?

They are looking into a centre carbon tub with steel subframes front and rear to suit different engines.

Should be interesting.

[CraigHew]

I'm a lettuce-free zone, even if it is small and fancy....

[Kit Car Electronics]

 

Microlattice is a synthetic porous metallic material consisting of an ultra light metal foam.  It has a density of 0.9mg/cm³ being the lowest value of any know solid.  It is one of the lightest structural materials known to science comparing against silica gels at 1.0mg/cm³.  Voted as one of the top ten world innovations, 100% lighter than Styrofoam and being 99.99% hollow it can sit on top of a dandelion!

 

 

To be pedantic, it can't actually be 100% lighter than anything, or it would have no weight...

[Kyle]

I think it can be 100% lighter than something, which would make it twice as light, no? A percentage is just a ratio between two numbers ultimately.

[CraigHew]

Twice as light.....?   lol 

 

 

 

I weigh 100kg, if I was 50% lighter, I'd be 50kg: If I was 100% lighter I'd weigh zero.....

 

A ship may weigh 138,000 tonnes: if it were 100% lighter it would weigh zero.

 

 

Maths isn't difficult....!