LyondellBasell supplied polypropylene (PP) compounds for multiple interior applications of the redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, helping gain the car’s selection among WardsAuto’s 10 Best Interiors for 2012.
The magazine cited the Beetle’s outstanding interior design, materials, fit and finish, much of which involved applications using PP from LyondellBasell.
WardAuto’s highlighted the aesthetically-pleasing interior of the redesigned Volkswagen Beetle in a feature story in the magazine and described how the “blazing red trim that consumes the door panels and dashboard…matches the exterior body color, [creating] a sense of design harmony.”
LyondellBasell supplies nearly 100 percent of the polypropylene-based applications for the Beetle’s interior.
The instrument panel, door panels and quarter panel trim are injection molded, molded-in-color using our Hostacom TRC 352NA in several specifically matched VW colors.
The lower interior trim, such as the lower pillars and scuff (sill) plate, are molded from our Hostacom PPU X9067HS, also in a variety of VW colors.
The interior trim grades offer low total carbon emission, low fogging and low odor with good scratch resistance to meet VW’s stringent finished parts requirements. These grades also provide for non-tacky finished components, which is a priority requirement for VW worldwide.
LyondellBasell also supplies the polypropylene-based applications on the exterior, including bumper assemblies and the innovative structural front end module carrier, which uses a high performance short glass fiber filled compound.
“LyondellBasell is proud to supply these Hostacom performance TPO products as a part of our global portfolio for Volkswagen,” said Neil Fuenmayor, LyondellBasell Customer Program and Market Development Manager.
“These polypropylene compounds are manufactured regionally to the same specifications designed to meet the VW global part requirements. So wherever VW and our customers are, we can quickly and efficiently deliver these products to their global and regional platforms.”
This is the second year WardsAuto editorial staff selected winners from a field of 40 vehicles with new or significantly improved interiors. Selections were based on interior design, fit-and-finish, comfort, ergonomics, safety, material selection, overall value and aesthetics.
The 2012 winners were honored at the WardsAuto Interiors Conference, North America’s only event focused on the automotive interior.
