Reported by iMotor and brought to our attention by Composites World, during last weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Amedeo Felisa, CEO of Italian sports car maker Ferrari stated that the company does not intend to switch to full carbon fiber structures as the material won’t be where the automaker needs it until 2020.

Felisa believes that the current resins used to bond carbon fiber are still too heavy and lack the mechanical characteristics that Ferrari looks for in its vehicles. The comments were given during the US launch of the F12 Berlinetta, which utilizes a dozen different forms of aluminum in the supercar’s chassis and body. The result is a structure that’s lighter and stiffer than its predecessor, the 599.

The F12 Berlinetta’s engine delivers 730 hp from a 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12. It accelerates from 0 ­to ­62 mph (­100 kmh) in 3.1 seconds.

Composite materials are often seen as the material of the future for auto makers but some questions still remain on its suitability, especially for high volume vehicles. Carbon fibers can be expensive and take longer to manufacture than traditional metallic components but offer considerable weight and therefore, fuel efficiency advantages.

Our knowledge center has an extensive summary of the most common resins currently used by composite materials manufacturers and the relevant advantages and disadvantages of each. Take a look in our Composite Resins section.