Concept cars of today not only have to feature ground breaking technology, but must also feature innovations in sustainability. 

The latest Mercedes concept car is the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, it features an innovative electric motors that will offer an output of 1,000 kW on the 2026 production version, with a top speed of more than 360 km/h.

The car also ticks the boxes when it comes to sustainability with one feature being a biotechnology-based leather alternative derived from recycled GT3 racing tyres. This means what looks and feels like a normal luxurious leather interior is actually made of recycled rubber. 

The LABFIBER Biotech Leather alternative was developed and manufactured as the result of partnership with US bio-design start-up Modern Meadow. The use of this innovative material in the CONCEPT AMG GT XX is a first in the automotive sector. It consists of a combination of recycled rubber, vegetable proteins and biopolymers. The leather alternative can be produced with different surface finishes such as nubuck, full-grain leather or suede as well as a variety of colours and textures.

In contrast to artificial leather, this innovative combination of materials has the same structure as genuine leather and can also be processed like genuine leather in retanning processes. As a result, it has the same high-quality look and feel as materials like nubuck leather as well as natural ageing properties. The bio-design means the LABFIBER Biotech Leather Alternative is breathable and waterproof and as well as being lighter than real leather. Its maximum tensile strength is also twice as high as that of genuine leather, meaning it is very robust. Because of its low thermal conductivity, the material does not heat up quickly even in summer.  

For the application in the CONCEPT AMG GT XX, Mercedes-AMG uses pyrolysis oil produced from racing tyres that were actually used in tough competition on AMG GT3 customer racing cars. One scrap tyre provides the basis for around four square metres of new LABFIBER Biotech Leather Alternative.