Lighter, more resistant materials for vehicle components

The first is a protective gaiter for premium-class passenger cars. Attached inside the wheel arch, it protects the elements of the vehicle's air suspension against stone impact, thereby extending the service life of this component. The material of construction is thermoplastic polyurethane, providing flexibility and greater rebound strength than that of thermoplastic polymers.

Second is a new torque clutch. The weight of this component is less than half that of previous variants. This helps to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, driving down fuel consumption and thus emissions.

Material innovations include carbon-fibre-reinforced polyamide. A similar material is already used for other vehicle components such as transmission crossbeams and torque rod supports, but is a first for this application.

The assembly also contains components made from thermoplastic polyurethane. This combination makes the torque clutch particularly abrasion-resistant. In passenger cars with electronic steering assistance, it links the engine with the transmission at the steering and protects the transmission by compensating for the axle offset in the event of wear.