The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4, the follow-up to the Cayman GT4 racer, is here! They have made it faster than the previous model and greener. Some components of the vehicle are made out of flax and hemp fibers and arranged them to compose a similar pattern that one would find in components built from carbon fiber. The new racer comes in two color schemes, either a “Trackday” variant aimed at the amateur racer or a “Competition” model.
The material is a low-cost alternative to carbon fiber that is a lot better for the environment. Another one of the major environmental advantages is its biodegradability. They used this brilliant material in the new Clubsport’s doors and rear spoiler. Porsche describes it as a “natural-fiber composite material” which is made from an “organic fiber mix” sourced from agricultural byproducts such as flax or hemp fiber. According to Porsche, the natural fiber composite has similar weight and strength properties to carbon fiber.
Agricultural byproducts like flax and hemp are great because they can achieve nearly the same rigidity as carbon fiber. Natural-fiber composites provide eco solutions for the creation of lightweight parts. The 718 Cayman GT4, with its hippie body panels and its single seat, for example, weighs just 1,320 kg (2,910 lbs). Plus, they are dramatically cheaper to use, produce, and cultivate.
