BASF, Stellantis and L&L Products win SPE Innovation Award for 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee tunnel reinforcement
- SPE awarded BASF, Stellantis and L&L Products the 2026 Innovation Award (chassis/hardware) for the composite tunnel reinforcement on the 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
- The CTR combines L&L Products’ Continuous Composite System (CCS) with BASF’s Ultramid B3Z HP RC02, a 60% post‑industrial recycled, impact‑modified PA6.
- The new component is 13% lighter, delivers 20% higher peak loading and cuts product carbon footprint by 40% versus the previous composite design.
- BASF and L&L used Ultrasim CAE collaboration to optimise design for energy absorption, flow characteristics, scalability and cost reduction.
Award and application
BASF, Stellantis and L&L Products received the 2026 Society of Plastics Engineers Innovation Award (chassis/hardware) for the next‑generation composite tunnel reinforcement (CTR) on the 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The CTR transfers crash loads between the vehicle structure and the transmission crossmember and builds on an earlier composite design.
Materials and process
The solution pairs L&L Products’ Continuous Composite System (CCS) manufacturing technology with BASF’s Ultramid B3Z HP RC02 — an impact‑modified PA6 containing 60% post‑industrial recycled content. BASF and L&L applied Ultrasim computer‑aided engineering collaboration during development.
Performance and sustainability
Compared with the previous composite design, the new CTR is 13% lighter, delivers 20% higher peak loading and reduces product carbon footprint by 40%. BASF describes the Ultramid PIR PA6 as offering excellent energy absorption and superior flow characteristics.
Collaboration and scalability
L&L said early integration of materials, design and manufacturing enabled mass reduction, design simplification and a scalable solution, while BASF noted that combining advanced composite technology with recycled polyamide helped meet structural requirements and sustainability goals.
Source: BASF