Dash-CAE, an automotive and motorsport engineering and technology company, has launched the TR01, a carbon monocoque chassis for road or race cars that is claimed to deliver a “step change” in price to performance ratio, enabling broader use of the material in performance automotive and motorsport. The headline figures are a stiffness of 35,000Nm/Deg, a weight of 50kg, and a price below £30,000 (US$38,000).
The ‘off-the-shelf’ TR01 chassis was developed with proven structural analysis to ensure it can meet EuroNCAP/FMVSS test standards and provide strong crash protection. The design is suitable for any two-seat vehicle requiring a lightweight and stiff carbon monocoque, and although it is a mostly standardised design that can accommodate different front/rear ends plus powertrains, Dash-CAE says it can be adapted to customer requirements – a centre console modification, for example.
The relatively low cost of the monocoque has been enabled by Dash-CAE’s in-house experience in the design, engineering and manufacturing of composite and additive manufacturing parts across various industries, including motorsport teams and programmes. Formula 1 has been one area of activity.
Tim Robathan, CEO at Dash-CAE, said of the design: “The TR01 chassis opens new possibilities for niche automotive manufacturers and larger international OEMs, by offering an affordable, versatile, lightweight and high-stiffness carbon monocoque chassis. These programmes are often incredibly expensive, and the ability to use a production carbon monocoque is a huge time and cost saving, without compromising performance. Our commitment to innovation and engineering excellence makes the TR01 an industry-disrupting solution that challenges traditional carbon chassis production and makes high-performance monocoques far more accessible.”
