BMW M has always pushed the boundaries of performance engineering — and now, they’re looking at a new kind of material that could eventually replace carbon fibre in future models. It’s called flax fibre, and yes, it’s made from the same plant used to make linen.
But don’t let that fool you — this stuff is no lightweight (no pun intended) when it comes to capability.
What Is Flax Fibre and Why Is BMW Using It?
Flax fibre is a natural composite material that offers similar structural benefits to carbon fibre — but with a much lower environmental impact. It’s renewable, biodegradable, and much cleaner to produce. It's actually even lighter than the current pre-preg carbon fibre composite currently used by the manufacturer.
BMW has been testing flax fibre in high-performance applications, including prototypes of the G82 M4 GT4 race car. They’ve found that, in some cases, flax fibre performs just as well as carbon fibre — especially in non-structural or semi-structural components like interior trims, underbody panels, and aero elements.
The big goal? Reduce CO₂ output across the manufacturing process without compromising performance. And from what’s been reported so far, they’re making real progress.
Will Carbon Fibre Disappear from BMWs? Not Quite.
Let’s be clear — carbon fibre isn’t going anywhere just yet. It’s still the material of choice for structural rigidity, high-end weight saving, and that unmistakable premium look. But BMW’s move toward natural composites like flax is a smart step toward sustainable performance.
However, when it comes to street cars that are bought by real people, BMW need to consider whether customers will take to the way the new flax composite looks. A high-quality carbon weave looks beautiful and intricate - a huge reason why enthusiasts love it - form & function. Will the community take to this plant-based alternative?
So, if you’re thinking of upgrading your car’s aesthetics or aero with carbon — you're still in the right place.
Carbon Fibre at R44 Performance: Still Going Strong
At R44 Performance, we’ll continue offering a wide range of premium carbon fibre parts for BMW models. Whether you’re building out your G80 M3, F87 M2, or anything in between — we’ve got options from trusted brands like:
We’ll also be watching BMW’s flax fibre developments closely. If and when high-performance aftermarket parts using natural composites become viable — and they meet our standards — you may even see them here too.
Final Thoughts
BMW experimenting with flax fibre is an interesting step toward cleaner, smarter performance engineering — and it’s cool to see manufacturers innovating. That said, carbon fibre still plays a huge role in the current generation of BMW models, and the demand for quality carbon parts is only growing. The major issue we foresee with Flax Fibre is the aesthetics. People love the way carbon weave looks, and we can't imagine a plant-based alternative will be able to match it.
Whether you're team carbon, team flax, or just here to keep up with the latest M news — we’ll keep bringing you the best parts, content, and updates from the world of BMW performance.
