The latest from DiMora: supersedan to use volcanic rock-based Barotex fiber
Click above to view more of the Dimora Natalia SLS 2
Of all the bits of vaporware out there that never seem to get any closer to reality, the DiMora has to be one of our favorites. The sheer ambition of it all involves independently developing and producing a $2 million super-sedan that would, we're sure, make the likes of Bugatti and Maybach seem downright ordinary. But first it would have to actually get built, and all we've seen to date are computer images and announcements on component and technical partnerships.
The latest to join the immaterial spec sheet of the fictitious DiMora Natalia SLS 2 (don't ask what happened to the SLS 1) is Barotex. The Californian company is developing a new material, similar to carbon fiber, but made out of volcanic rock. Complementing the Volcano V16 engine that would power the Natalia were it ever to be built, Barotex offers lightweight yet extremely rigid and flame-retardant construction. As for which seems more fantastic – the DiMora itself or the lava-based fiber that would form its body and frame – we'll leave that up to you. Press release after the jump.
Gallery: DiMora Motorcar Natalia SLS 2
[Source: DiMora]
PRESS RELEASE
Barotex Adds Strength, Cuts Weight in DiMora's $2 Million Automobile
World's Most Expensive Production Car is First to Use Volcanic Rock
Chatsworth, CA, August 11, 2008 - Barotex Technology Corporation (BARX), inventor and producer of the remarkable Barotex® inorganic fiber, announced today that it has become the newest Technology Partner to work with DiMora Motorcar to develop and produce the Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedan.
Barotex materials have characteristics that make them superior to carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar, and other advanced materials in a variety of applications. "Barotex enables our design team to create some of the strongest and most durable automotive components ever produced," stated Alfred DiMora, Founder and CEO of DiMora Motorcar.
DiMora further noted, "For the Natalia SLS 2, Barotex will be formed into various body panels and our revolutionary D-Tek™ chassis, where its high strength will add significantly to the automobile's torsional rigidity. Yet our chassis will be more than a thousand pounds lighter than the conventional steel chassis found on other luxury automobiles of similar size."
Barotex starts as volcanic rock, widely available throughout the world. "In contrast, carbon fiber products are petroleum-based, and we know about the challenges that involves," said Lilo Beuzieron, CEO of Barotex Technology Corporation and inventor of Barotex. "Not only is lava rock more abundant, but our manufacturing process requires far less energy. It is friendly to the environment, and the automobiles built with Barotex are lighter, so they use less energy every mile traveled."
"We recently received our patent for the proprietary process used to produce Barotex," noted Beuzieron. "We are delighted that the first production automobile to integrate this technology will be DiMora's Natalia SLS 2, which abounds with technological breakthroughs from bumper to bumper."
The versatility of Barotex fiber materials brings exceptional uses to a wide variety of products for markets including automotive, aerospace, ballistics, industrial, and sporting goods. In fabric form, Barotex offers an excellent combination of properties, from high strength and impact resistance to fire resistance and design adaptability. The design potential and flexibility possible are almost unlimited, thanks to the wide range of yarn sizes and weaving patterns that are available. Barotex does not stretch or shrink after exposure to very high or low temperatures, making it extremely stable in the production of automobile bodies and related parts.
The high strength-to-weight ratio of Barotex fiber makes it a superior material in many automotive applications. Barotex fiber is an inorganic material that will not burn or support combustion, which also improves passenger safety.
DiMora added, "When we began designing our 16-cylinder engine that would erupt with 1200 horsepower, we decided to call it the Volcano V16. It's only natural that we now surround the DiMora Volcano with volcanic rock from Barotex."
About Barotex Technology Corporation
Headquartered in Chatsworth, California, Barotex Technology Corporation has developed a family of materials that represent a truly disruptive and paradigm-shifting technology. We produce fibers that improve the quality and performance of our customers' products in the global armoring, transportation, industrial, aerospace and consumer markets. Barotex woven goods and most products made using the fibers can be recycled to produce new materials. For more information, please visit www.barotextechnology.com.
About DiMora Motorcar
Based in Palm Springs, California, DiMora Motorcar crafts automobiles designed to exceed expectations for safety, performance, technology, ecology, beauty, comfort, and luxury. We are the first to reveal the design, production, and testing of our automobiles via the Internet so that people around the world can learn about--and participate in--the process.
The founder, CEO, and driving force behind DiMora Motorcar, Alfred J. DiMora, produced two of America's finest luxury automobiles, the Clenet (as owner) and the Sceptre (as co-founder). When President Reagan declared 1986 the Centennial Year of the Gasoline-Powered Automobile, Mr. DiMora's Clenet was selected as the Official Centennial Car. As a result, he and the Clenet were honored at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Michigan. He also founded Starbridge Systems, Inc., where he developed the FPGA supercomputer. Using his technological and automotive backgrounds, Alfred DiMora blends the two worlds together to create this new experience in automotive history, the Natalia SLS 2. For more information about our products and how your company can become a Technology Partner of DiMora Motorcar, please visit www.dimoramotorcar.com.
Barotex Adds Strength, Cuts Weight in DiMora's $2 Million Automobile
World's Most Expensive Production Car is First to Use Volcanic Rock
Chatsworth, CA, August 11, 2008 - Barotex Technology Corporation (BARX), inventor and producer of the remarkable Barotex® inorganic fiber, announced today that it has become the newest Technology Partner to work with DiMora Motorcar to develop and produce the Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedan.
Barotex materials have characteristics that make them superior to carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar, and other advanced materials in a variety of applications. "Barotex enables our design team to create some of the strongest and most durable automotive components ever produced," stated Alfred DiMora, Founder and CEO of DiMora Motorcar.
DiMora further noted, "For the Natalia SLS 2, Barotex will be formed into various body panels and our revolutionary D-Tek™ chassis, where its high strength will add significantly to the automobile's torsional rigidity. Yet our chassis will be more than a thousand pounds lighter than the conventional steel chassis found on other luxury automobiles of similar size."
Barotex starts as volcanic rock, widely available throughout the world. "In contrast, carbon fiber products are petroleum-based, and we know about the challenges that involves," said Lilo Beuzieron, CEO of Barotex Technology Corporation and inventor of Barotex. "Not only is lava rock more abundant, but our manufacturing process requires far less energy. It is friendly to the environment, and the automobiles built with Barotex are lighter, so they use less energy every mile traveled."
"We recently received our patent for the proprietary process used to produce Barotex," noted Beuzieron. "We are delighted that the first production automobile to integrate this technology will be DiMora's Natalia SLS 2, which abounds with technological breakthroughs from bumper to bumper."
The versatility of Barotex fiber materials brings exceptional uses to a wide variety of products for markets including automotive, aerospace, ballistics, industrial, and sporting goods. In fabric form, Barotex offers an excellent combination of properties, from high strength and impact resistance to fire resistance and design adaptability. The design potential and flexibility possible are almost unlimited, thanks to the wide range of yarn sizes and weaving patterns that are available. Barotex does not stretch or shrink after exposure to very high or low temperatures, making it extremely stable in the production of automobile bodies and related parts.
The high strength-to-weight ratio of Barotex fiber makes it a superior material in many automotive applications. Barotex fiber is an inorganic material that will not burn or support combustion, which also improves passenger safety.
DiMora added, "When we began designing our 16-cylinder engine that would erupt with 1200 horsepower, we decided to call it the Volcano V16. It's only natural that we now surround the DiMora Volcano with volcanic rock from Barotex."
About Barotex Technology Corporation
Headquartered in Chatsworth, California, Barotex Technology Corporation has developed a family of materials that represent a truly disruptive and paradigm-shifting technology. We produce fibers that improve the quality and performance of our customers' products in the global armoring, transportation, industrial, aerospace and consumer markets. Barotex woven goods and most products made using the fibers can be recycled to produce new materials. For more information, please visit www.barotextechnology.com.
About DiMora Motorcar
Based in Palm Springs, California, DiMora Motorcar crafts automobiles designed to exceed expectations for safety, performance, technology, ecology, beauty, comfort, and luxury. We are the first to reveal the design, production, and testing of our automobiles via the Internet so that people around the world can learn about--and participate in--the process.
The founder, CEO, and driving force behind DiMora Motorcar, Alfred J. DiMora, produced two of America's finest luxury automobiles, the Clenet (as owner) and the Sceptre (as co-founder). When President Reagan declared 1986 the Centennial Year of the Gasoline-Powered Automobile, Mr. DiMora's Clenet was selected as the Official Centennial Car. As a result, he and the Clenet were honored at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Michigan. He also founded Starbridge Systems, Inc., where he developed the FPGA supercomputer. Using his technological and automotive backgrounds, Alfred DiMora blends the two worlds together to create this new experience in automotive history, the Natalia SLS 2. For more information about our products and how your company can become a Technology Partner of DiMora Motorcar, please visit www.dimoramotorcar.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BigMcLargeHuge 4:37PM (8/12/2008)
That Barotex fiber sure sounds too good to be true.
And probably is.
Reply
Down4town 8:00PM (8/12/2008)
Actually, there is such a thing. I know of a company that uses basalt as a basis for composites. They first superheat it and use the fibrous result as a matrix. I have a friend that builds tubes for bikes and he says that composites are all about the resin. The resin just needs something to hold on to.
Down4town 8:04PM (8/12/2008)
Actually, there is such a thing. I know of a company that makes composite tubing for camera tripods out of basalt rock fiber. They superheat it and use the resulting fibrous material as a matrix for the resin. A friend that builds tubing for carbon bikes locally says that it's all about the resin. The resin just needs something to bond with. Interestingly, the basalt material is a tad heavier than carbon fiber cloth but cheaper.
srDRIVEN 4:45PM (8/12/2008)
Like you said in the article, it's really tough to imagine this car actually being built. In my understanding the development of the Bugatti was so expensive that they don't really even profit when they sell a vehicle for a million a pop (that development is under the financial backing and engineering pool of VW by the way). They are apparently going to be charging twice that for this car, but I still don't see an independent group, with decent business sense, making it work feasibly in production.
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Michael D. 5:05PM (8/12/2008)
This is one of the juiciest debuts that I'm looking forward to!!!
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DKB_SATX 4:54PM (8/12/2008)
Even if Barotex is the most wonderful construction material ever contemplated by man, its best contribution to this project is suggesting the perfect place to dump the thing (an active volcano) so we don't have to LOOK at it. There are probably ultra-rich people who'd pay big money to avoid being forced to ride in one.
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Soccer Mom 4:56PM (8/12/2008)
Well, if they intended to build this car they would definitely hire someone a little more experienced than 12-year-old to design and model it using evaluation version of 3D software.
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srDRIVEN 5:22PM (8/12/2008)
did you miss those badass, ultra modern, wheels!? haha. Couldn't agree with your point more, I have more attractive dishware.
thomas 8:35PM (8/12/2008)
omg its hideous.
WTF??!!
that is all.
Gregg 5:02PM (8/12/2008)
The styling is so 90s. By the time they get out a prototype, it will be an antique as well.
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Chris 5:18PM (8/12/2008)
So, instead of airbags, it will have barfbags?
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Clarence Young 5:53PM (8/12/2008)
I can't imagine that if I had a zillion dollars that I would want to buy a sedan and particularly one that did not say sex.
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stecki 6:02PM (8/12/2008)
the point of this design is to show you are soooo rich, you can spend 2 million on fugly just to piss poor people off. poor folk hate when rich people buy expensive ugly stuff. it rubs salt in the class wounds...
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amac 7:37PM (8/12/2008)
What a ridiculous looking car. I'm sure you'll see a few on the streets of Dubai.
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thomas 8:39PM (8/12/2008)
was thinking the same... if ever there were richer people with no sense of style or design.... its them.
CORVETTE ZR1 6:29PM (8/12/2008)
it Looks Like a Cadillac Sixteen. GM will sue if this is ever built. it looks Very Cool for a knock off though...
Reply
thomas 8:37PM (8/12/2008)
youre kidding.... right?
http://photo.netcarshow.com/Cadillac-Sixteen_Concept_2003_photo_05.jpg
right?!??!
mikey683 6:40PM (8/12/2008)
Sounds a lot like the "Dale" from the seventies. Is there a tranny sales gal?
Reply
Cameron 6:52PM (8/12/2008)
Supersedan also to be hit with biggest branch from world's oldest ugly-tree, then have said branch hand-carved into world's ugliest dash inlays.
Reply
CalGuy 9:02PM (8/12/2008)
Woof. I've always said, money doesn't buy taste or style. Further proof.
Reply