'Man made leather'?

[Ari]

I see new Mercedes are now fitted with 'man made leather'. I seem to remember my dads Ford Cortina having 'man made leather' in the seventies - it was called 'vinyl'.

I'm sure the newer stuff is a bit more realistic and nicer, but it's still basically vinyl seats isn't it?

[jkh112]

Mercedes man made leather has been fitted for a long time, I think they call it artico.
You are right it is a posh version of vinyl seats.

[PK0001]

Ari said:

I see new Mercedes are now fitted with 'man made leather'. I seem to remember my dads Ford Cortina having 'man made leather' in the seventies - it was called 'vinyl'.

I'm sure the newer stuff is a bit more realistic and nicer, but it's still basically vinyl seats isn't it?

Mercedes have been doing this for a long time.

ARTICO man made leather means plastic.

NAPPA leather is real cow skin.

[V88Dicky]

Not sure what kind of leather is in my mate's A5 S-line (the imagine), but it ain't from no cow I ever did see.

[jkh112]

Mercedes aren’t the only manufacturer doing this.

[steve-5snwi]

V88Dicky said:

Not sure what kind of leather is in my mate's A5 S-line (the imagine), but it ain't from no cow I ever did see.

Nappa ..... although some sections are vinyl ..... which probably means only the seat face is leather.

[kambites]

Almost any "standard" leather is artificial - typically polyurethane with an artificial "leather-like" grain embossed onto it which is then bonded to a "split-leather" (which is a waste product of the production of proper leather) backing; so whilst there is some cow skin in there, but you can't see or touch it.

There's a big variation in the quality of polyurethane leathers, though.

[Hoofy]

So no "it puts its lotion on its skin or it gets the hose again"?

[alorotom]

Renault used to use Sportex not sure if this is still the case

[55palfers]

Back in the day, there was also MB-Tex

[saaby93]

Was this thread too full?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[98elise]

My daily is a Mercedes, the "leather" has the luxury feel of a 1970's ford, with the added benefit of being super heated on a summer's day.

[Butter Face]

Keeps the vegans buying MB!

[ruhall]

55palfers said:

Back in the day, there was also MB-Tex

Yes it was and their 'proper / real' leather was much thicker as well.

Of course, Leyland and the like had 'Ambla in the late 60s and 70s. IIRC that was inclùded in the 'cheaper MK 11 Jagwahs when they became 240/340.

[mikey P 500]

You can still option real leather on most mercedes (our old CLS had this) but it costs alot more so most are happy with man made efforts, which I think is just as good and wears better, most the German brands offer fake leather and you have better chance of finding real leather in Japanise cars where fitted.

[Efbe]

Man made leather?

[Jimmy Recard]

I bought some pork & beef mince from Aldi - I'd love to see the animal that donated that

[ghost83]

When I was buying my 2016 golf gti the salesman said it was real leather

It isn't and it was a bloody rip off at a £1700 option!! It is better than cloth though but it certainly ain't real leather!

[Ari]

ghost83 said:

When I was buying my 2016 golf gti the salesman said it was real leather

It isn't and it was a bloody rip off at a £1700 option!! It is better than cloth though but it certainly ain't real leather!

Wasn't there a massive fuss about VW leather a few years ago? People were complaining that a lot of what appeared to be leather was vinyl (although I seem to recall the seat facings were leather).

[anonymous-user]

The PLeather in my Skoda is genuine