F1 Supplier Unveils Carbon Monocoque for Production Road Cars

A company that produces carbon fiber components for F1 racing cars and other high-performance vehicles, as well as for the aerospace and defense industries, has unveiled a commercial carbon fiber chassis designed for road and racing cars.

Dash-CAE, based in Abingdon, UK, on Tuesday unveiled the TR01, a carbon monocoque chassis that forms the passenger cell of the vehicle and attaches the front and rear subframes. It is intended for low-volume manufacturers, with prices starting at less than 30,000 British pounds (about $38,470), about half the price of comparable rival solutions, according to Dash-CAE.

Dash-CAE said that "significant" growth in the hypercar market and strong demand from the motorsports sector for affordable monocoques compelled it to launch this chassis. [Dash-CAE CEO Tim Robathan said in a statement, "The TR01 chassis opens up new possibilities for niche automakers and large international OEMs by offering an affordable, versatile, lightweight and stiff carbon monocoque chassis."

WAE, formerly the engineering arm of the Williams F1 team, last year unveiled a complete platform designed for electric hypercars; called EVR, the WAE platform also features a carbon monocoque and can support up to 2,212 horsepower capable of supporting up to 2,212 hp.

Dash-CAE's TR01 chassis is designed for two-seater vehicles and can accommodate gas, hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. According to the company, it weighs less than 110 pounds and meets global crash safety standards, including NHTSA's FMVSS standards.

According to the company, its in-house approach to all aspects of chassis development, including engineering and design, manufacturing (including laminate molding), and tooling, has allowed it to reduce costs.

The company has not indicated whether it already has a customer in mind for the TR01 chassis.