Gordon Murray Promises To Cut Vehicle Body Weight In Half With Latest-Gen iStream Tech

Gordon Murray Design has unveiled the latest version of the revolutionary iStream manufacturing system, called Superlight.

The new iStream Superlight system combines a high-strength aluminum frame with carbon fiber composite panels, with the company claiming that it brings F1-derived construction and technologies to the mainstream car production.

The new process is said to offer greater safety, lower emissions, improved handling and enhanced durability, delivering up to 50 percent reduced weight when compared to a standard stamped-metal body.

Gordon Murray’s iStream Superlight also offers great flexibility, featuring a core platform than can be adapted to every segment, ranging from small city cars and sports cars, to SUVs and light commercial vehicles. This level of flexibility will allow manufacturers to basically save money, avoiding the need for high capital investment and separate chassis designs for different model variants.

“The new iStream Superlight approach to vehicle manufacturing is a paradigm-shifting innovation for the global automotive industry,” said Gordon Murray. “It is a breakthrough that will deliver the lightest chassis technology for decades to come. The Gordon Murray Design team has created a unique, adaptable and cost-effective way for manufacturers around the world to dramatically improve vehicle performance and efficiency.”

New iStream Seat

Together with the new Superlight manufacturing system, Gordon Murray Design also revealed the iStream lightweight seat, which uses the same innovations as the iStream chassis.

The newly developed seat features a lightweight composite structure that uses either glass or carbon fiber and a tubular frame, achieving a weight reduction of up to 30 percent when compared to a conventional modern seat. Gordon Murray Design says that although their new seat is primarily designed for passenger cars, it could be used in other transportation sectors, such as aerospace and rail.