LIVE Detailing Class - How to clean & protect Micro-Suede & Alcantara - 65 Carbon Corvette

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

LIVE Detailing Class - How to clean & protect Micro-Suede & Alcantara - 65 Carbon Corvette




Here's the LIVE video from this class now available on the Autogeek YouTube Channel

Here's the car we'll show how to clean and protect the micro-suede in a 2018 Carbon 65 Corvette.


2018 Carbon 65 Corvette

You can watch our live feed on any of the below Facebook channels,


Mike Phillips Facebook Page

Autogeek Facebook Page

Detailing 101 Facebook Group




From Chevrolet.com

2018 Corvette Carbon 65 Edition

The first Corvette rolled out of the factory on June 30, 1953. Chevrolet is commemorating the 65th anniversary of that auspicious debut with a new track-inspired Corvette Carbon Edition 65 package offered on 2018 Grand Sport and Z06 models.

Limited to only 650 vehicles, each with a unique vehicle identification number, the distinctive package blends visible carbon-fiber exterior elements similar to the Corvette Racing C7.R with a new Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior color and unique interior appointments that include a new carbon fiber-rimmed steering wheel.

2018 CORVETTE CARBON 65 CONTENT

Available on Grand Sport 3LT and Z06 3LZ trims (order code Z30)
Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior (blue top on Convertibles)
Unique fender stripes and door graphics
Black wheels with machined grooves (Cup-style wheels for Grand Sport and Blade-style wheels for Z06)
Blue brake calipers
Visible carbon-fiber ground effects, hood section and roof (Coupe models) or tonneau inserts (Convertible models)
New visible carbon-fiber spoiler (all models) and quarter intake ducts (Coupe)
Center caps with Carbon logo
Carbon Flash badges and outside mirrors
Jet Black suede-wrapped interior with blue stitching
Carbon-fiber steering wheel rim and gloss carbon-fiber interior trim
Competition Sport seats
Carbon Edition sill plates




GM Jet Black Micro-Suede

Here are some pictures showing the volume of GM Jet Black Micro-Suede is in the Carbon 65 Corvette. GM Jet Black Micro-Suede is GM's version of Alcantara.


We're talking LOTS of this material in this special edition Corvette. The key areas to clean are the areas where human skin touches the most. The steering wheel, the center console, the insets in the seats and the door arm rests.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued....


From CJPonyParts.com


What is Alcantara?

Alcantara is a synthetic suede product that rapidly became a go-to interior material for performance and luxury-oriented auto brands, used by manufacturers such as Porsche, Tesla, and Lamborghini. In recent years, it’s become clear that these microsuede materials are no longer exclusive to racing and ultra-luxury cars; they’ve been adopted by numerous vehicles across a wide spectrum of price points, including super-affordable models from Chinese companies. It’s so popular, in fact, that the company hasn’t been able to keep up with demand since early 2018.

Mustang GT350 with Alcantara Seats

The material is also used for many other applications, including boats, aircraft, clothing, furniture, and even mobile phone covers.

Alcantara is perhaps the best-known synthetic suede product on the market, but competitors do exist, with virtually indistinguishable products. Other brands of similar microsuede include Ultrasuede, used by several car companies, including Mazda and Dodge. Dinamica is another type, which has been used by Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, Chevy, and Ford. Ford brands their use of Dinamica by referring to the manufacturing company itself, Miko, using the term “Miko suede”. In recent times, Ford has been adding Alcantara inserts to certain models in their performance segment, such as the Mustang.
Alcantara vs. Suede

Alcantara is a registered trademark of Alcantara S.p.A., Italy. The company prides itself on being environmentally sustainable and tout their product as certified 100% carbon-neutral. The exact “recipe” for the material is a secret, but the general make-up is a blend of an estimated 68% polyester and 32% polyurethane. Alcantara is only authentic if it is created by the Alcantara company in Italy. Though it’s sometimes called “Alcantara suede,” it is a completely synthetic product that is not actually related to real suede, despite the resemblance in texture.

Although suede has been popularized in American culture and fashion (think of Elvis Presley's famous cover of the song “Blue Suede Shoes”), the word itself originates from the French “gants de Suede,” meaning “gloves from Sweden.” Using the underside of an animal’s skin (often lamb), the softer, more delicate feel compared to other fabrics like leather originally led to it being used and marketed for women’s gloves.

Dark Brown Suede Gloves

The origins of Alcantara and Ultrasuede began in racing applications, as the lightweight, flame-retardant material was used in various parts of the interior. Alcantara’s similar feel to suede meant that it quickly moved into the luxury goods market.

There are many advantages that synthetic microsuede has compared to natural suede. It is much cheaper to produce. It is also lighter, more stain-resistant, and more durable than natural suede. Another big positive is that the material does not require the use of animal by-products, unlike traditional suede. Many enjoy Alcantara’s smooth feel on the steering wheel, sporty yet luxurious good looks, and appreciate that it doesn’t get as hot as leather does in the summer sun (nor as cold in the winter).

Others are more critical, decrying the material for being too sensitive to the oils of human skin and difficult to clean. Another unfortunate aspect is that being touched can make it appear mottled or unsmooth. Regular, proper cleaning should help to alleviate these issues (most of the time). It’s worth noting that these critiques apply to both natural suede and synthetic microsuede...those who are against their use in cars typically prefer leather or a more traditional cloth surface. Finally, detractors note that the material is only perceived as luxurious...in reality, it can be 10 times cheaper than leather to produce. Although viewed as a premium product, that perception may change as cheaper cars begin to use Alcantara and other microsuedes.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued.....


Besides sharing techniques for cleaning and protecting micro-suede, we'll also be showcasing these products,


SONAX Upholstery & Alcantara Cleaner 250 ml and SONAX Textile and Leather Brush

Dr. Beasley's Microsuede Cleanser and Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Protection

As you can see from the picture above - there's plenty of GM microsuede real-estate to go around and share both brands. :xyxthumbs:



On Autogeek.com


From SONAX

SONAX Upholstery & Alcantara Cleaner 250 ml

SONAX Textile and Leather Brush

SONAX Ultrafine Microfiber Cloths



From Dr. Beasley's

Dr. Beasley's Microsuede Cleanser

Dr. Beasley’s Microsuede Protection

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

:bump:


Reminder - this LIVE class takes place at 3:00pm today.

Yancy says he's going to try to dual-broadcast on both Facebook and YOUTUBE!

And.... maybe on the forum!


Stay tuned....

 

[JustJesus]

The time slot was perfect (for me, hehe).

I tuned in and watched during my lunch break.

YES, the Microsoft keyboards with the Alcantara do get grimey! and yes, I have used the Sonax products on it

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

:bump:


The YouTube version of this video is now shared in the first post of this thread.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I have suede cases and have always wanted them to stay clean, bright and beautiful. I have always been tormented by the question of how to keep my covers intact.

Found a cool suede cleaning guide leather-toolkits.com/reviews/best-suede-cleaners/ found a lot of interesting materials for myself and cleaning methods.

Like a lot of spammers, you start out asking questions, sharing your experience by replying to other people's threads.

Then you start including links to other commercial websites.

And now you insert a link to a site that is also in your Sig Line?


Looks like pure Spam to me?

All anyone has to do is click on your forum name and a window will pop-open with three links,

View Profile
Private Message
View Forum Posts <--


It's this last link, View Forum Posts. When I click on it, a list of all your past posts pull up and as I start to go through them - lo-and-behold, you're including links to outside commercial websites.

I believe this is the definition of Spam. Use this social media platform to send traffic to sites you're affiliated with?


What say you?


:dunno: