Modern Meadow has entered a development partnership with Mercedes-Benz that leverages its Innovera material to develop a bio-design leather alternative for the Concept AMG GT XX technology program.
The development partnership aims to further develop this innovative material for series production and set new standards in vehicle interiors. Made of Innovera, the leather alternative combines chemically recycled AMG GT3 racing car tires, plant-based proteins and biopolymers.
The recycling process is conducted in accordance with the mass balance approach. Because it replicates key properties of the collagens found in leather, the material offers a level of design freedom equivalent to that of traditional leather and can be produced with different finishes such as nubuck, full grain or suede and in various colors and haptics.
“At Modern Meadow, we are redefining automotive interior possibilities with Innovera, our next-generation transformative material that brings beauty, performance and sustainability into perfect balance,” said CEO David Williamson PhD. “In our development partnership with Mercedes-Benz, we have used Innovera to create a new luxury leather alternative without sacrificing aesthetics, versatility and texture. It looks and feels as good as it performs.”
Innovera contains over 80% renewable carbon content and is animal-free. It does not require special preservation or storage conditions, helping to reduce both complexity and cost. The material is compatible with standard manufacturing processes.
In the Concept AMG GT XX, one scrap tire provides the basis for approximately 4m2 of Innovera. The black seat pads of the bucket seats are covered with the Nappa-look variant. The innovative material “emphasizes the performance character of the Concept AMG GT XX”, the companies said.
The bio-design means the leather alternative is breathable and waterproof, as well as lighter than traditional materials. Its maximum tensile strength is also twice as high as that of traditional materials, making it robust and performant. The Modern Meadow bio-design technology used to create this leather alternative included recycled racing tires that were used in tough competition on AMG GT3 customer racing cars.
In related news, the Wyron truecycled yarn, made from 50% post-consumer textile waste and 50% recycled polyester, Nm 15, has been featured in the Lotus Cars Eletre and Emeya models. Read the full story here
