Alcantara Interiors Showcased at Beijing Auto Show

BEIJING--May 16, 2012: Alcantara materials were featured on some of the world's most prestigious brands displayed at the recent 2012 Beijing International Auto Show, including Porsche, Audi, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Porsche and Audi both unveiled vehicles with Alcantara interiors in Beijing. The Porsche Cayenne GTS with an upgraded engine and exterior styling has Alcantara material on seats, door panels and overhead paneling, while the latest Audi concept car, the innovative Q3 RS, also features an Alcantara interior.

Audi's 360-horsepower concept SUV sports a unique "Ordos Blue" metallic-blue paint treatment with gold highlights.  Alcantara stylists used the same color scheme for the Audi's seats and door panels with a contrasting gray Alcantara® headliner.

Maserati's Granturismo MC Road Vehicle makes generous use of Alcantara materials on its seats, door linings, headliner, dashboard, steering wheel and gearbox. Also on display with Alcantara interior materials are the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS Award Edition and the Granturismo S Automatic.

Other brands featuring Alcantara® for the Chinese market include Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes. Alcantara®, lighter than leather and other interior materials, was featured on the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini's Gallardo LP 550 2 and Superleggera. Alcantara® also covered the form-fitting seats of the new Mercedes Style Coupe concept vehicle.

In addition, Toyota, Volkswagen and Skoda had vehicles on display at the Beijing Show with Alcantara® which has been certified as "carbon neutral" since 2009. Materials from Alcantara are light weight and offer other environmental benefits that are attractive features for automakers, especially in the design of luxury sports cars, hybrid vehicles and concept cars where performance and the environment are of major focuses.

Alcantara®, the material, is a registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A. Founded in 1972, the company has its headquarters in Milan with a research center and production facilities in Nera Montoro, Umbria. The result of unique proprietary technology, Alcantara® is the choice of leading companies in a wide array of automotive, luxury-boating, high-fashion, home interior and consumer electronics applications.