The E-4 Coupé will be unveiled to personnel at Bentley Motors Ltd, Crewe, UK, where attendees will be able to view the car's construction, which exploits Advanced Composite Group (ACG)’s products in the chassis and the body panels.
Delta worked with ACG to develop materials and process methodology for the carbon fibre integrated chassis and bodywork construction, generating a lightweight vehicle with a construction philosophy that will carry it from prototype to medium volume production.
The four-seat road car has been engineered with a high level of parts integration to maximise weight reduction. The Body in White (BIW) is manufactured from just 15 major composite panels and weighs only 85 kg, which includes the front and rear aluminium sub-frames and crash structures.
ACG’s DForm® Deformable Composite System (DCS) is employed in the chassis and its Body Panel System (BPS) in the bodywork. Closures have also been manufactured using carbon DForm for the internal panels and either glass or carbon BPS for the outer shell.
The car also used a range of ACG prepregs for the seats. In collaboration with its carbon fibre fabric weavers, ACG has developed a Special Visual Quality (SVQ) material specification that maximises the aesthetic impact of carbon fibre finishes, ensuring that its products meet the exacting requirements set by the automotive interiors industry.
The 2011 European Automotive Technology Roadshow is designed to bring leading technology suppliers to 16 OEM and Tier 1 research and development sites across Europe. ACG representatives will be on hand throughout the roadshow to discuss its range of structural and body panel prepreg systems, and associated tooling solutions. Following the week-long UK stage, the roadshow will travel across Europe.
The Delta Motorsport E-4 Coupé will also be the feature on the Umeco Composites’ stand (T50) at the JEC Composites Show in Paris on 29-31 March 2011. ACG is part of Umeco.
Delta Motorsport Ltd
Delta Motorport, based in Silverstone, UK, is a design and engineering consultancy operating in motorsport and niche sectors of the automotive industry. The company carries out concept studies together with detailed design and styling programmes, as well as prototype construction and low volume vehicle builds. From a concept developed in late 2006, detailed work on the E4-Coupé commenced in December 2008.
