A Swiss Hypercar mixing stunning performance and sustainable technology

Switzerland is well known for craftsmanship, precision engineering and technological innovation. It is also home to the Geneva Motor Show, one of the world’s most prestigious events on the automotive calendar. Despite this we have yet to see a thoroughbred, Swiss-made Hypercar.

As a proud Swiss company ourselves we are delighted to be working with Benoit Morand, Eric Boullier, and the team at Morand Cars. The Swiss-based manufacturer is developing a fully electric Hypercar and also a hybrid version, due for production in 2023.

With Eric and Benoit’s background, combined with the support of a core team of leading Swiss innovators, designers and high-tech manufacturers including SECH, EPFL, Ateliers Clément SA and Starrag, Morand clearly has the experience, drive and resource to pull off this exciting project.

Bcomp’s natural fibre technology is an ideal solution for this track-focused hypercar, with its emphasis on performance, luxury and sustainability. Natural fibre composites will be used for the external bodywork of the Morand Hypercar as well as throughout the interior.

“We are excited to be part of the first Swiss hypercar and to work with such leading profiles from the motorsport world” says Per Mårtensson, Bcomp CSO. He continues “The Morand vision to create a sustainable, Swiss hypercar using the latest technologies is very much aligned with both macro trends and our beliefs at Bcomp – that sustainability is an integral part of performance.”

“As we develop the Morand Hypercar we are enjoying the opportunity to work with Swiss companies at the top of their field. Bcomp is a true leader not just in their field but as a trailblazer bringing sustainable solutions to high-performance applications,” says Eric Boullier, co-founder Morand Cars. “We have a shared outlook and goal, to lead the way in sustainable performance.”

As government’s around the world push to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, we are all now witnessing the most significant shift in technology in the history of the automotive industry. The powertrain however is only one piece of the puzzle. While the appetite for high performance vehicles has not reduced, we are seeing sustainability becoming an increasingly important aspect for customers. Discerning customers are now looking to see how brands are building sustainability into the entire vehicle ecosystem including materials used in the car.

Bcomp natural fibre composites can match the performance of traditional carbon fibre while offering a 75% reduction in CO₂ footprint and won’t end up in landfills as carbon fibre composites often do. Our recent project with YCOM to manufacture and test a motorsport crash-box structure using natural fibre composites has shown that safety is not compromised by the adoption of this more sustainable alternative. This is true even for structural applications, offering interesting possibilities for the future.

Our recent collaboration with a Formula One team to develop the sport’s first natural fibre composite racing seat has shown that even in the most competitive environments, sustainability and enlightened thinking has a place – an ethos that is at the heart of Morand’s Hypercar programme. With more than 2000 bhp and a top speed of over 400 km/h the Morand Hypercar will offer stunning performance alongside its sustainable credentials.

Hypercars have long been the embodiment of extreme engineering, ruthlessly pursuing performance in search of ultimate lap times, power output and acceleration figures. What we are seeing now is a shift to bring the Hypercar into the 21st Century, delivering all of the performance, passion and driver engagement while embracing cutting-edge technology for customers who understand our vital role as stewards of the planet. We are delighted to be working with Morand on this exciting project.

Source

Bcomp, press release, 2021-01.

Supplier

Ateliers Clément SA
Bcomp Ltd.
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Morand Cars
Starrag
YCOM

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