1998 Automotive Composites / VS Composites Baja

Technologically advanced, lightweight, and all-terrain, the Baja, designed by Automotive Design & Composites Ltd., based in San Antonio, TX, was unveiled at the Grand Opening of the American Plastics Council's (APC) Automotive Center on October 15, 1998. The world's second all-plastic vehicle, the Baja is an eye-catching, two-door sport utility vehicle featuring thermoformed body panels and a composite-chassis. It is intended for off-road recreational use in the West Indies, Central and South America and the Pacific Rim countries. According to Michael Van Steenburg, president of Automotive Design, 500 Bajas will be sold this year with the goal of more than 2,000 being sold in the near future.

This all-terrain vehicle is ideal for tropical environments where its composite body and chassis resist the sand and sea water. Its combined thermoplastic skin and frame also take advantage of plastic's strength to manage energy, enabling it to pass both the United States and the more stringent European crash tests. Ultra-violet inhibitors and waterproof sealing protect the sufrace exposed to the sun and weather. Drains in the floor also allow water to drain, leaving the interior dry.

What makes the Baja unique is that its body and chassis are made of plastic and also reinforced with plastic composites that provide lighter weight and excellent durability in all weather conditions. This combination of light-weight plastics makes the Baja a fuel-efficient vehicle while also eliminating the need to paint, as a result saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in production costs and substantially reducing environmental damage. The manufacturing process used to create the Baja is also a closed molding process that emits no volatile organic compounds. The Baja is an example of how all-plastic vehicles are a responsible choice in an increasingly environmentally conscious world.

source: via mace-nh.com