A San Francisco start-up is looking to shake up overhaul manufacturing in the automobile industry with a “supercar” that relies on 3D printing for its central structural components.

According to San Francisco firm Divergent Microfactories, the Blade is the first 3D printed supercar, and is created using a series of chassis parts held together by carbon rods - rather like a giant Lego kit.

Its 700-horsepower engine can use either compressed natural gas or gasoline, and altogether it weighs just 1400lbs - 90pc less than some modern cars. Divergent says the car can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in about two seconds.

Divergent Microfactories plans to sell a limited number of high-performance vehicles that will be manufactured in its own microfactory.

"Society has made great strides in its awareness and adoption of cleaner and greener cars," said Divergent Microfactories CEO Kevin Czinger.

"The problem is that while these cars do now exist, the actual manufacturing of them is anything but environmentally friendly."

The Blade is made using a proprietary solution called a Node: a 3D-printed aluminum joint that connects pieces of carbon fiber tubing to make up the car's chassis.

The Node solves the problem of time and space by cutting down on the actual amount of 3D printing required to build the chassis and can be assembled in just minutes

Online Editors