Earlier this week, INEOS Styrolution announced BMW M’s choice of using the aesthetic composite StyLight® as the material for a new generation of ergonomically ideal carbon shift paddles. As per INEOS, this selected material is the composite StyLight Aesthetic S C245-1-060, back molded with PC/SAN GF30. Developed particularly for automotive interior and exterior applications. It’s also applicable in the electronics, sports, and leisure industries when further enhanced.
![Carbon composite shift paddles The future of BMW M](https://www.bmw-sg.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Carbon-composite-shift-paddles-The-future-of-BMW-M-1-853x1024.jpg)
The StyLight boasts of great advantage with its cost-effectiveness and high chemical resistance compare to other materials. Unlike the PC based composite, the StyLight can be utilized without coating. Additionally, the back moulding step already enhanced its high surface appearance. Thus extra compression isn’t necessary.
![Carbon composite shift paddles The future of BMW M](https://www.bmw-sg.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Carbon-composite-shift-paddles-The-future-of-BMW-M-2-853x1024.jpg)
The steering in the new M3 and M4 also featured a new set of paddles that look like another INEOS product. It comes in carbon fibre paddles with a downshift and upshift sequence indicator in the minus and plus sign form. Obviously, those come in handy with an automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the M3/M4 has the ZF eight-speed. Will BMW offer these new paddles as an aftermarket for other models as well? That’s an interesting question. We’ll get into more of that soon.