The company has been developing the plant-derived materials for years, slowly improving the technology to serve as a replacement for traditional plastics and fibers.
One of the bioplastics is said to be finally suitable for exterior use. The material can be dyed — eliminating the need for painting — in a process that is claimed to result in a deep hue and mirror-like finish “of a higher quality” than painted plastic.
Initial developments have focused on interior components as engineers continued to work to improve weather-, scratch- and impact-resistance for use in harsher outdoor environments. A recent breakthrough is said to have finally found the proper mix of moldable bioplastic, additives and coloring agents to compete with painted ABS parts in term of durability and finish.
The improved bioplastic will first be used for interior parts on the all-new MX-5 Miata before making its way to exterior components of other production models.
Leave a Reply