Abstract: An automotive component (10) and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The component (10) comprises a core portion (14) formed of a first material and a second portion (18) integral with the core portion (14) and formed of a second material. In one illustrated embodiment, the first and second materials have different material property characteristics. For example, the first material can be made of a relatively harder plastic material than the second material made of a softtouch plastic material. The method for manufacturing the component comprises the steps of injecting the first material into a first cavity of a mold to form the core portion (14), altering the mold cavity to form a second cavity and injecting the second material into the second cavity while the first material is in a reactive state to form the second portion (18) of the component. Because the first material is in the reactive state, the second material is integrally formed with the first material.

Abstract: A structurally reinforced cross-car beam is comprised of a plastic material impregnated with long reinforcement fibers. The long reinforcement fibers have a length of at least three-quarters of an inch. The plastic material may be a thermoplastic and the reinforcement fibers may be comprised of glass fibers. The cross-car beam may also include a first portion comprised of a metallic material, such as magnesium, and a second portion comprised of the plastic material impregnated with long reinforcement fibers.