GEMBALLA GmbH are proud to announce the debut of the TORNADO, based on the new Porsche Cayenne 958.
This exciting car is significant not only because it is the first creation of GEMBALLA GmbH, but also because its light and strong carbon-fiber body panels showcase the way forward for the top players in the aftermarket industry, raising the bar for exclusive car manufacturers. In the past, it was commonplace to bond carbon-fiber parts to modified factory steel panels.
However, this does not significantly lighten a car, nor is it a rigorous use of this lightweight material. “Carbon-fiber is a high strength, low weight structural material that needs to be used honestly, and not just for decoration,” explains GEMBALLA GmbH CEO, Andreas Schwarz.
Thus, other than its steel body-in-white, rear quarter and roof panels and hatchback, almost all the steel body panels on the TORNADO are replaced by carbon-fiber equivalents.
The carbon-fiber bonnet, front wings, side sill covers, doors, front and rear bumper/valance and rear hatch outer skin save around 70kg compared to the original steel panels and PU bumpers, and all the new panels use the factory mounting points. However, security-related features, such as the passenger safety cell and door side impact protection are untouched, and none of the modifications compromise comfort either. While this is an expensive alternative to the traditional methods, there is a good reason to do it this way apart from just weight saving. “Cutting, filing, and then bonding and blending materials with different coefficients of expansion is setting yourself up for problems further down the line unless the work is done perfectly,” says Andreas Schwarz. “In very hot or cold climates, where many of our clients live, extremes of temperature may eventually cause problems like cracking and de-lamination. So while one-piece carbon-fiber panels are expensive, it means that the fit and finish, whether the new panels are left in visible carbon or painted, will be perfect and consistent. In addition, the relative ease of fitting makes life easier for our dealers around the world.”
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