2014 Lincoln MKX to make use of tree-based fiberglass alternative

Ford’s Lincoln luxury division has announced plans to use a renewable alternative to fiberglass in its 2014 MKX utility vehicle.

The culmination of a three-year collaboration between Lincoln, Weyerhaeuser and auto parts supplier Johnson Controls, the new tree-based material – called Cellulose Reinforced Polypropylene – promises to be lighter and more eco-friendly than the fiberglass it replaces.

Lincoln is planning to use CRP on a limited basis in the 2014 MKX – just one structural piece located within the center console armrest will be made from the material – but it could become increasingly common in vehicle production in the coming years. In addition to being more environmentally-friendly than fiberglass, the CRP unit in the 2014 MKX is also about 6 percent lighter than its plastic counterpart.

“If we transfer its use to larger parts, it could really benefit the vehicle weight, which benefits fuel economy,” Ellen Lee, plastics research technical expert for Ford Motor Company, said. “Cellulose has good reinforcement, so we looked at fiberglass-reinforced materials for this project.”

Ford has used Cellulose Reinforced Polypropylene in some prototype vehicles, but the 2014 Lincoln MKX will be the first application of the technology in a production vehicle.