Ford are one step closer to putting carbon fibre technology into their everyday cars.
It comes after Ford technicians unveiled a prototype, carbon fibre reinforced plastic bonnet which was fitted to the latest Focus.
The bonnet is 50 per cent lighter than the standard steel one, it is also up to five times as strong as steel, twice as stiff, and one-third the weight
Should this technology be used on other parts of the car, such as the wings, it could easily lower fuel consumption and increase performance.
The only problem that has kept carbon fibre composites like this from featuring on everyday cars is the manufacturing process.
Ford believes it has now developed a process which is efficient enough to become part of the production line.
Carbon Composites such as the one used for this prototype bonnet play a big part in Ford's future as they aim to decrease the weight of its cars by up to a third of a tonne by 2020.
