Composites Applications for the Aston Martin DB9

Composites provide a wide range of advantages over conventional metal forming processes used in automotive manufacture. These include weight reduction, styling flexibility, lower tooling investment, part consolidation and customer satisfaction. Composite components can be found in structural and semi-structral applications, under-the-hood components, and exterior (Class-A) body panels. The vast majority of the components used at Ford are exterior body panels produced using the SMC process and include : hood, GOR and front fenders (Lincoln Navigator); tailgate (Volvo V70); hood, decklid, front fenders, package tray and removeable hard top (Ford Thunderbird); rear fenders (Ford F150 Flareside); and GOR, pickup box inner/outer and tonneau cover (Ford Explorer Sport Trac). Data from the Automotive Composites Alliance has shown that SMC useage in North America has almost doubled from just over 100,000 tonnes in 1998 to almost 200,000 tonnes in 2004, with the growth trend almost certain to continue. The same study showed that Ford had a 45% share of this market