We love it when companies not particularly known for it start putting a lot of effort into materials research. The latest case of this is Lexus and the bad-ass 360-degree loom they've developed to weave strands of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) into three-dimensional shapes.

Lexus engineers saw the need for the loom after experimenting with making an aluminum-bodied car on an aluminum frame and concluding it would not be strong enough for their needs.

"Where this will pay off down the road," says Paul Williamsen, National Manager of the Lexus College research facility, "is in the future cars that will be even stronger and lighter."