Carbon Bonnets

[Corey]

We have been speaking with a company that produces alot of Carbon bonnets for the VW world over here in the UK, to get to the prototype stage there is some significant costs involved.
The company would require a brand new bonnet to produce the mold and plug from so that cost has to be factored in.
We had requested the bonnet mount and close via all original factory points so bonnet pins would not be required with the manufacturer.
Obviously if the frame work underneath was produced from fibreglass then that would reduce the cost but producing it fully from carbon.
The idea is to replicate the MTM RS4 version but move the vents closer to the swage line so that more air from the manifolds is pulled out, couple with some venting in the lower belly pan to promote airflow (ala Sportec) through the engine bay.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k136/Oceanicblu/carbon.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k136/Oceanicblu/carbon1.jpg
This is all at the planning stage and just gauging interest in this and to see if there is a sustainable market for this product.
Ball park price for this would be £1000-£1100 plus and local taxes and shipping costs based on 20 of out of the first run.

So who is interested?
I'm in for 1 for my RS6.

[RS6C5]

i would be depending on the look and also if the price was lower say ~700

[Mr Balsen]

I gave up on this project. I heard so many projects but never saw any picture...

Frederic

[Corey]

The problem with so many of the projects is getting people to commit to it, the initial outlay is huge for very little return or gain.
Without some form of commitment from customers for this project I don't think any small business is going to fund this in the hope that people "may" buy 1.
To get the price as low as possible needs real numbers, the fewer the numbers the greater the price for the initial outlay.
The company we are in talks with has a long history of producing carbon fibre for road and race cars.
Everything would be made to order so the lead time would be obviously longer than getting a product off the shelf.

[vangelis]

I'm interested in this project ,, I prefer if the price can be around 700-800.

[Fonzie Audi]

I'm in 100%

[formula1man]

You can count me in as well.

[vangelis]

I'm in :)

[grizz]

I've sent a bonnet to a guy in the north east. He's doing some for me.

[vangelis]

I've sent a bonnet to a guy in the north east. He's doing some for me.

Is it going to cost the same grizz or less?

[hahnmgh63]

The factory Bonnet is Aluminum, how much less would the Carbon unit weight? Would it be stiff enough (Torsional?).

[grizz]

It's not about the weight is keeping the engine bay cool ....

[RS6C5]

Grizz - Very interested in the bonnet and also turbo. Feel free to PM me with details price.

Cheers

[Boosted-Bora]

interested but since my money is worth nothing I pay double....:cry:

[grizz]

interested but since my money is worth nothing I pay double....:cry:


It's much better now for you .It was good for us @ $2 =£1 but it's now $1.46=£1......

You get more for your money ..

[Corey]

Some images from the company we are dealing with over here in the UK.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k136/Oceanicblu/porsche911.jpg
Porsche 911 bonnet
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k136/Oceanicblu/volkswagengolfmk1.jpg
underside showing the frame work on a VW Golf mk1
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k136/Oceanicblu/volkswagengolfmk1wing.jpg
VW Golf mk1 wing (fender)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k136/Oceanicblu/volkswagengolfmk2.jpg
VW golf mk2 showing the factory closing mechanisim.
The company chosen is a small team dedicated to producing light-weight trim and panels for fast track, race and road cars. They specialise in door cards, bonnets, wings and panels in carbon fibre and fibreglass - all made to the customers own requirements.

The end product will be free of any companies logos and could be left in it's natural carbon state or painted.

This project isn't about weight saving (you would save more by taking your rear seats out) but about the control of engine bay temperatures to increase power.

This is only one aspect of the things which need changing to improve temperatures but when all aspects are applied these cars can be made to run cooler.

[ZRS6]

if temprature driven why make a bonnet for a porsche 911?? or have these guys not been paying attention where the engine of a porsche sits?

[Corey]

I think on the Porsche it was all about weight saving, obviously nothing to do with temperatures.
The carbon bonnet project we are discussing is all about the temperature reduction because we are placing the vents into it for better air flow.

[Mr Balsen]

Do you have a drawing somewhere ?

Frederic