Don't destroy your R Wheels.

[101charley]

Basically, for all intents and purposes carbon fiber wheels are a fantasy. There is no meaningful actual use - it's like Elon Musk's mission to Mars. I might happen some day, but for everyday commuters slogging to make a living and pay for the new Mustang it is just a fantasy. Interesting, but not real.

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[AgentOrange]

A lot of people here will not remember the $14K GT500KR hood that Ford tried to sell.

What are you talking about? Ford didn't produce the KR, Shelby Automobiles did and they set that price. All KRs were built by AutoAlliance International on the normal Mustang production line and then shipped to Shelby Automobiles Incorporated (SAI) where final assembly was completed. SAI was the manufacturer of record.

 

[krt22]

Basically, for all intents and purposes carbon fiber wheels are a fantasy. There is no meaningful actual use - it's like Elon Musk's mission to Mars. I might happen some day, but for everyday commuters slogging to make a living and pay for the new Mustang it is just a fantasy. Interesting, but not real.

Well, there will be 1000+ fantasy cars out there by the end of 2017. Its not a fantasy, its just an emerging fabrication method that is only going to become more prevalent as the CAFE standards scale with each year. Perhaps not the most practical for wheels on everyday cars, but many more parts could benefit from CF/composite construction. OEMs can/will start to do drastic changes when their hand is forced, at that time they take the time to mature the technology.

 

[Stage_3]

Its clear no one would think the wheels actually cost 30k on a 60k car, this is just retail pricing which can be set at any price basically. While this doesnt tell us what they will actually cost it does suggest even without a big mark up it's gonna be really expensive.

Agreed 100%.

 

[Spa2k]

Well, there will be 1000+ fantasy cars out there by the end of 2017. Its not a fantasy, its just an emerging fabrication method that is only going to become more prevalent as the CAFE standards scale with each year. Perhaps not the most practical for wheels on everyday cars, but many more parts could benefit from CF/composite construction. OEMs can/will start to do drastic changes when their hand is forced, at that time they take the time to mature the technology.

When he was in 6th Grade, my son had to build a rubberband-powered car for his physics class; the car that went the farthest across the gym floor would be declared the winner. Much to his chagrin, I insisted that we throw away the balsa wood for the frame that came with the kit and use square carbon fiber tubing instead.

We (I mean, he) won. Our (I mean, his) car traveled twice as far as all the others, because it was light, strong and made the most of its power plant.

That's all you need to know about carbon fiber in automotive applications. :lol:

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Well, there will be 1000+ fantasy cars out there by the end of 2017. Its not a fantasy, its just an emerging fabrication method that is only going to become more prevalent as the CAFE standards scale with each year. Perhaps not the most practical for wheels on everyday cars, but many more parts could benefit from CF/composite construction. OEMs can/will start to do drastic changes when their hand is forced, at that time they take the time to mature the technology.

This.

Ford has shown the CF wheels on that new Fusion test car that has had pictures and info floating around on. Just wait, 5 yrs from now and see how many wheels are CF.

 

[Chameleon]

So, who's buying the first set? lol

 

[ohtobbad]

So, who's buying the first set? lol

Well I hopes its not me, I will be watching curbs, like never before

 

[DWC_SmOziLLa]

What are you talking about? Ford didn't produce the KR, Shelby Automobiles did and they set that price. All KRs were built by AutoAlliance International on the normal Mustang production line and then shipped to Shelby Automobiles Incorporated (SAI) where final assembly was completed. SAI was the manufacturer of record.

This is true, but you could order and purchase a replacement hood through Ford, that was my point.

 

[asphal]

hilarious people saying "it doesnt cost 30k"

uh it costs whatever dealers want to charge for it. is it ? yes but thats what it costs 30k at this dealership.

 

[Trackaholic]

The sad part is, although crammed pack with great technology, these wheels aren't even truly carbon fiber. They're a carbon fiber reinforced polymer construction.

Not sure what you mean by this.

While it is true that cabon fiber is used in different ways, they all have some type of polymer to force the carbon into a defined shape (when cured).

Usually CF is layered using uni-directional sheets that orient the strands to best take the tensile loads, and then have a single exterior layer of a woven sheet for cosmetics. The sheets can be pre-impregnated with the polymer resin (pre-preg) or the polymer can be injected after the sheets are layed-up (I believe this is what Ford is doing).

You can also use chopped carbon fiber bits impregnated into an injection molded part. I believe this is what Ford is doing for the radiator surround. This one is more plastic than CF typically, and maybe that's what you mean by your statement. However, the wheels are actually cabon fiber sheets that are layed-up, and are just as much CF as anything else out there.

-T

 

[DWC_SmOziLLa]

Not sure what you mean by this.

While it is true that cabon fiber is used in different ways, they all have some type of polymer to force the carbon into a defined shape (when cured).

Usually CF is layered using uni-directional sheets that orient the strands to best take the tensile loads, and then have a single exterior layer of a woven sheet for cosmetics. The sheets can be pre-impregnated with the polymer resin (pre-preg) or the polymer can be injected after the sheets are layed-up (I believe this is what Ford is doing).

You can also use chopped carbon fiber bits impregnated into an injection molded part. I believe this is what Ford is doing for the radiator surround. This one is more plastic than CF typically, and maybe that's what you mean by your statement. However, the wheels are actually cabon fiber sheets that are layed-up, and are just as much CF as anything else out there.

-T

I stand corrected then, my apologies. I was under the impression that Ford was using the technique of the Carbon fiber bits impregnated into an injection molded part similar to the radiator surround and other parts.

Thanks for the pics!

 

[Trackaholic]

I stand corrected then, my apologies. I was under the impression that Ford was using the technique of the Carbon fiber bits impregnated into an injection molded part similar to the radiator surround and other parts.

Thanks for the pics!

No prob. I agree that it is pretty amazing to have a full CF wheel. Pretty cool technology, that hopefully will not actually cost $30,000 in the end!

-T

 

[Liquidsk8s]

You will NOT see these wheels sold anywhere for less than $15,000. Not gonna happen...

The sad part is, although crammed pack with great technology, these wheels aren't even truly carbon fiber. They're a carbon fiber reinforced polymer construction.

Considering these wheels cost $15k 2yrs ago..... yeah you will be able to.

Realistically the price on these wheels will be around $6-8k retail. This $30k piece of garbage is either fake or a dealer just trying to get attention. "hmmm how do we get every Ford owners attention?? Let's post something completely insane".

You guys need to go do your homework on Carbon Revolution. They have figured out how to mass produce CF wheels and are looking to produce 50,000 sets in 2016 and expand to making wheels for transport vehicles such as Fedex/UPS etc who would see a HUGE cost savings from higher MPG. But this cost savings only happens if the wheels are cost effective, and at $30k they wouldn't be. Not even at $15k.

$15k was the starting price for guys who had plenty of money to blow. It was the price for the early adopters, which is how it works with any new tech, early guys take a huge price hit to have it, then the price plummets so that everyone else can buy it.

Ford is probably spending around $4-5k on the wheels, and will mark them up to around $6-8k.

Anyone who actually believed that $30k thing needs their head checked.

 

[10splaya22]

Considering these wheels cost $15k 2yrs ago..... yeah you will be able to.

Realistically the price on these wheels will be around $6-8k retail. This $30k piece of garbage is either fake or a dealer just trying to get attention. "hmmm how do we get every Ford owners attention?? Let's post something completely insane".

You guys need to go do your homework on Carbon Revolution. They have figured out how to mass produce CF wheels and are looking to produce 50,000 sets in 2016 and expand to making wheels for transport vehicles such as Fedex/UPS etc who would see a HUGE cost savings from higher MPG. But this cost savings only happens if the wheels are cost effective, and at $30k they wouldn't be. Not even at $15k.

$15k was the starting price for guys who had plenty of money to blow. It was the price for the early adopters, which is how it works with any new tech, early guys take a huge price hit to have it, then the price plummets so that everyone else can buy it.

Ford is probably spending around $4-5k on the wheels, and will mark them up to around $6-8k.

Anyone who actually believed that $30k thing needs their head checked.

$6-8k is a dream. I don't see them being that cheap in the near future. If they get under 10k a set I would consider that a good deal. $2500 for a full carbon wheel isn't bad compared to other wheels out there.

Also its 50,000 units total produced per year, not sets.

http://motrolix.com/2015/10/austral...-cf-wheels-for-ford-gt-shelby-gt350r-mustang/

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