The new carbon fiber bumper beam on the 2020 mid-engine Corvette is drawing attention on this game-changing vehicle for parts and processes in the automotive world.

When General Motors debuted the 2020 Corvette, the industry took notice of the innovative components and the new parts and processes that enhanced performance.  The automotive world’s first curved pultruded carbon fiber bumper beam was especially noteworthy. Built by Shape Corp. using Vectorply’s carbon non-crimp fabrics, the bumper beam has been in development by these partners since 2014.

Using Vectorply’s VectorLam cloud-based, multi-platform compatible approach, the partners worked together to attain perfect levels of stiffness, strength, weight, and cost of the laminate for the bumper beam.  The unique curved design of the bumper beam offered challenges because of the complex structure dependent on multiple shear wall supports.

Vectorply president and interim CEO Trevor Humphrey commented, “Shape Corp. and GM’s curved, pultruded bumper beam is a monumental accomplishment in the automotive and composite industries, and we are proud of the role that we played in the development and supply of specialty carbon fabrics for this groundbreaking application.”

The 2020 Corvette carries over only one single part from the last generation, but this is still the iconic sports car it’s been for years.  With the Z51 performance package or the performance exhaust, there’s 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. torque under the hood in this vehicle, the most powerful Stingray ever.  The car goes from 0-60 in only 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 194 miles per hour.

The car will be available in early 2020, and the C8.R race car will debut in January 2020 in the Rolex 24 at Daytona®.

Photo/Image Credit: General Motors

Original/Source Article: Kimberly Hoodin on www.compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com