Volvo moving to chrome-free interiors

[teatako]

Ah, at last. An interesting note.
From Autoblog:

Volvo moving to chrome-free interiors

Apparently there's a sizable group of people out there allergic to chrome. This is different than a normal enthusiast's aversion to chrome trim, mind you.
While we might gag at the overuse of the bling, someone with a chromium allergy can actually develop an itchy rash if they touch it. While most automakers reserve chrome for the exterior and some interior accents, a little known fact is that chromium is often used in the leather-tanning process. That means that most leather interiors are off limits to those unfortunate souls who have this problem. Until now. Volvo has just announced that all of its leather interiors will forthwith feature only chrome-free leather. Instead, all of the leather used in Volvo car interiors will be tanned using either natural or synthetic tanning materials.
The switch is said to benefit both man and nature because it also reduces the environmental impact of the tanning process.

This is why I like Volvo: They might not be the only ones making the switch to chromium-free leather, but they tell you about it. They make visible the design process and by doing that, Volvo educates the consumers in issues that actually matter to them. They´re not bragging to you about some wacky engine technology and its relationship with a race no one cares about.

I had no idea Cr was used in leather tanning.

[f6fhellcat13]

That's weird.
I personally prefer some cloth seat over some leather ones, so forcing people to get cloth isn't that bad. But, I guess that Volvo is a no-compromise company.
As an American I feel I should say; MOAR KROAM!!11!one!1shift!

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13

That's weird.
I personally prefer some cloth seat over some leather ones, so forcing people to get cloth isn't that bad. But, I guess that Volvo is a no-compromise company.
As an American I feel I should say; MOAR KROAM!!11!one!1shift!

why do you prefer cloth ones?
I had them in the mom's car, while dad's has leather and I found the clotch ones to get dirty easier, and are more difficult to clean too.
I had experienced various kind of leather or alcantara on dad's cars, and I never had problem with them (maybe I prefer alcantara but it's more delicate) and always liked them, while all the cloth seats I tried after a while all look the same. dirty and dusty, even when they are clean.
that said, leather on a 20.000 euros car could be a little out of place.

[f6fhellcat13]

I find cloth to be a little grippier and leather (on a hot day) + a sweaty person = yuck.
I definitely would not want cloth in a Rolls, but in a non-luxury car, I think it is tougher and, of course, cheaper.
We occasionally vacuum the interior of the car and it gets most everything. Fortunately we've never stained the interior, because I don't know what we'd do then.

[blingbling]

Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13

I find cloth to be a little grippier and leather (on a hot day) + a sweaty person = yuck.

but dude, if it was cloth it gets absorbed into the seats. equal level of yuckiness but i guess you don't see it

[f6fhellcat13]

Originally Posted by blingbling

but dude, if it was cloth it gets absorbed into the seats. equal level of yuckiness but i guess you don't see it

Mos' def'
I think my dad has some way of washing it out because our car is 10 y/o and smells fine.
But the car smelling bad would be a slightly delayed process, the horrible feeling of sweaty skin on leather would be instantaneous.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13

Mos' def'
I think my dad has some way of washing it out because our car is 10 y/o and smells fine.
But the car smelling bad would be a slightly delayed process, the horrible feeling of sweaty skin on leather would be instantaneous.

if you have leather, you can have air cooling too, always made the trick

[LeonOfTheDead]

driving home with drunk guys on the back seats (you know what happened...), the leather seats were much easier to clean.

[f6fhellcat13]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

driving home with drunk guys on the back seats (you know what happened...), the leather seats were much easier to clean.

That's why you take a friend's car.
I think I've puked in the car, but it was on the floor not the seats, so all I had to do was hose down the floormat.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13

That's why you take a friend's car.
I think I've puked in the car, but it was on the floor not the seats, so all I had to do was hose down the floormat.

I prefer to stay sober and be the one driving than using a friend's car and trust his driving (consider I trust a very few people driving).
then since I'm the car nut of the group, obviously I'm always the one driving, and I'm fine with that.

[Rockefella]

Tldnr

[f6fhellcat13]

Originally Posted by Rockefella

Tldnr

Chrome in leather.
People allergic.
Vovlo says: "do not want."
no leath4r.

[henk4]

the only result of the new Volvo policy is that they have changed to process of leather preparation. Nobody is forced to cloth, so nothing changes, only the very few allergic people can buy leather too.

[f6fhellcat13]

Originally Posted by henk4

the only result of the new Volvo policy is that they have changed to process of leather preparation. Nobody is forced to cloth, so nothing changes, only the very few allergic people can buy leather too.

I was referring to companies that do use Cr in the treating process. People with this allergy would be forced to get cloth.
But, now they aren't forced to if they get a Volvo.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by f6fhellcat13

Chrome in leather.
People allergic.
Vovlo says: "do not want."
no leath4r.

Comical and perfect summary.