2015 Detroit Auto Show: Alcantara Interiors Stand Out

Acura NSX

DETROIT -- Jan. 19, 2015: Alcantara, the Italian-made luxury material, is featured on a number of vehicles showcased at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit (Jan. 17-25), including a number of European, U.S. and Japanese brands.

New-model Audi, Acura, Tesla and BMW vehicles making their world premieres at the Detroit show have interiors dressed in Alcantara. The light-weight, carbon-neutral material is a preferred choice for many of the world's sporty and high-performance vehicles.

Audi, for example, chose Alcantara for the world premiere of its Q7. With a curb weight of 4,398.2 pounds, the second-generation large Audi SUV is the lightest vehicle in its class. To underline the sporty yet elegant nature of the Q7 at the Detroit show, beige Alcantara was chosen for the vehicle's pillars, door panels and headliner.

For the debut of its hybrid NSX high-performance sports car, Acura selected grey Alcantara with contrast stitching for the car's door panels, control panel, headliner and the central section of its seats. The next-generation NSX showcases the production styling, design and specifications of Acura's original mid-engine NSX supercar. The new NSX has an all-new power-unit – a twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and three-electric-motor Sport Hybrid system.

Tesla's new Dual Motor Model S (85D and 85D Performance) made its public debut at the Detroit show accentuated with grey and beige Alcantara on dashboards and headliners. The Model S represents an improvement on conventional all-wheel- drive systems with a motor on each axle independently controlling torque to front and rear wheels.

BMW also selected Alcantara on two of the 6 Series vehicles that made world premieres at the Detroit show. The BMW 650i Gran Coupe was dressed in brown Alcantara on its door panels and headliner. For the BMW M6 Coupe, the German carmaker chose black Alcantara for the steering wheel and headliner. The BMW 6 Series, now in its third generation, sets high standards for comfort, technology and elegance.

BMW's new 6 Series also is part of the carmaker's "Individual" program, an advanced customization program managed by Design Works. Alcantara is a program partner. Other BMW models at the show equipped with Alcantara include the BMW 750i with brown Alcantara on its headliner and rear deck and the BMW 235i with Alcantara on its steering wheel and pillars.

Lincoln's new ultra-premium Black Label collection of vehicles, including the MKZ and MKC, also offers Alcantara interiors. The seats, headliner and door panels of the MKC shown in Detroit were equipped with jet black Alcantara and a special version of the material (perforated black Alcantara with red contrast backing) was used on the seats.

A second Lincoln MKC on display at the Detroit show featured "oasis" beige Alcantara on the center section of its seats and headliners. Limited-edition design themes and ultra-premium materials are among the hallmarks of the Black Label collection. Lincoln also premiered its new MKX dressed in dark grey Alcantara on the headliner.

Other car makers showcasing vehicle interiors with Alcantara at the Detroit show include:

Porsche – Porsche accentuated the interiors of the majority of its vehicles shown at the Detroit show with dark grey Alcantara, including the 911 Targa 4 GTS, the Boxster GTS, the Cayman GTS and the Panamera GTS.

Maserati – Maserati used carbon-neutral Alcantara in light grey on the headliner of its Quattroporte GTS model.

Dodge – SRT versions of Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger were shown with red and black Alcantara on seats.

Alcantara is headquartered in Milan with research and production facilities in Nera Montoro, Umbria. Alcantara is a unique Italian-made material that offers designers a variety of benefits, including the fact that it is soft, durable, resilient, breathable and washable.