Alcantara® Makes 21 Vehicles Extraordinary at the North American International Auto Show

DETROIT, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is one of the world's premier automotive events, featuring world wide vehicle unveilings from global automakers that highlight the latest in advanced technologies in components and materials. It is only natural, then, that Alcantara® was featured on 21 important and relevant vehicles, making it "the" material that adds a feeling of exclusivity with its unique touch and perfect dash of comfort while remaining committed to environmental sustainability.

Alcantara was once again awarded "Carbon Neutral" status by the prestigious international certification body TUV Sud, substantiating the offset of all CO2 emissions from the entire production process due to its support of three projects related to renewable energies and certified by the UN. Following its activities in India, Honduras and New Zealand, locations of the projects chosen for the 2009 report, the company maintained its strong international vocation by choosing to support projects in Turkey, Taiwan and Indonesia in 2010. Moreover, for the second consecutive year Alcantara published its Corporate Sustainability Report, outlining the company's concrete and long-lasting commitment to the environment and the health and safety of its employees.

SUPERSPORTS AND LUXURY

Alcantara® turns the ordinary into extraordinary, providing a luxurious sensation with every application. It is distinguished from all other materials thanks to its sporty, exclusive, and elegant sensoriality, while maintaining its environmental sustainability. It is for these reasons that Alcantara® is the ideal material to make the interiors of the most luxurious brands truly extraordinary. All premier sport car manufacturers prefer Alcantara® because the material, besides enhancing the sporty grip, is able to drastically reduce overall vehicle weight.

At the NAIAS 2012, Alcantara® is a featured material in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the Carrera Turbo, the GTS, Turbo S, and R versions of the Panamera. Also in the luxury segment, Alcantara® is featured in the BMW M5 and 640i. In the U.S. luxury brand Cadillac, Alcantara® is found in the CTS and CTS V Coupe, and long time customer Audi makes use of Alcantara® on its Q7, A8L and its performance vehicles the S6, S7 and S8, along with premium sports car, the R8 GT Spyder.

ALCANTARA® AND "GREEN" TECHNOLOGIES

"Green" technologies (blue, electric and hybrid vehicles) are in perfect harmony in Alcantara®: this eco-friendly material makes it possible to upholster car interiors without damaging the environment, and, for this reason, is the material of choice for many car makers, including BMW and its Active Hybrid 7. Mercedes-Benz also equips its E 300 Blue Tech Hybrid Vehicle with Alcantara®. Tesla's new Model S electric sedan also makes use of Alcantara® for the headliner.

SPORTS CARS

As automakers seek to highlight the quality of mainstream sports cars, it is only natural that they would turn to Alcantara® for its beauty and durability. The Abarth is a perfect fit for Alcantara® in its FIAT 500, exuding sportiness and performance in the interior to match the exterior's performance design cues. Likewise, the American icon, the Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Chevy Corvette ZR1 feature Alcantara® material.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

ALCANTARA S.p.A. has been one of the top Made in Italy brands ever since its foundation in 1972. The company headquarters are in Milan, while its production plant is in Nera Montoro, in Umbria. Alcantara® is a unique and innovative upholstery material based on a unique and patented technology, selected by many leading companies in various fields of application. It provides an extraordinary combination of sensoriality, aesthetics and functional properties, associated to an ethical and social awareness which is truly representative of a contemporary life style: the life style of people who love enjoying to the full the products they use every day while being very respectful of the environment. Alcantara® is a trademark patented by Alcantara S.p.A. Since 2009 the company's Sustainability Statement is also available which provides details of the efforts made by Alcantara S.p.A in this context.

SOURCE Alcantara