Lamborghini: The catch in Aventador's flexi skin

Lamborghini's spectacular Aventador J one-off was revealed - and sold - at the Geneva Motor Show. Photo / Suppllied

Lamborghini has taken the use of lightweight carbon fibre in supercars to a new level with what it calls "Carbonskin" - but engineers say widespread use of the material boosts potential health hazards.

The so-called Carbonskin appeared on the dashboard of the one-off Aventador J at the Geneva motor show.

It looks like carbon fibre but is flexible and easy to cut into shapes. It is also lighter than traditional leather or Alcantara material.

Lamborghini says the Carbonskin is made by soaking woven carbon fibres in a special epoxy that stabilises the material but keeps it soft.

Theoretically, Carbonskin can replace any fabric, including convertible roof materials; potentially saving precious kilos from future models. It could also eventually be used on high-end clothing.

Carbon fibre is used more traditionally in the rest of the car - in the bumpers, to increase downforce, in the front air scoop with winglets, and the huge rear diffuser.

But engineers say carbon fibre structures can pose health hazards of a similar scale to those caused by asbestos if the material is subjected to impact, explosion or fire.

Research by engineers at the BRE Group in Britain has shown that microscopic particles are released when carbon fibre is stressed and fractured in a crash, and the effect is made worse by fire. The particles can become lodged deep in the lungs.

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann told reporters at Geneva that he is hopeful Carbonskin will be widely available soon.

"We have to now make all the quality tests and checks to make sure we can do it as an option on other cars. We have leather, we have Alcantara and the soft carbon," he said.

"If you take the soft carbon and feel the difference of the weight, it's incredible. The leather is twice as heavy as the Carbonskin."

Lamborghini is no stranger to carbon fibre, having invested heavily in it to cut weight for better performance.

But Winkelmann said work still needed to be done to ensure carbon fibre is cost-effective before it is used more widely.