Unfortunately Alcantara no longer offers aftermarket products.

Jag did offer Paltrona Frau leather but it is machine pressed onto the headliner and trying to do it by hand would probably be a disaster without the right materials, equipment and adhesive.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Faux-Suede-...-/282602124389

 

 

Hi tberg,
I'm in the camp of needing a headliner replacement in my 08' XKR. Upon recently getting a quote for replacement with, what I'm guessing is Alcantara, I'm looking for another option. Not trying to go cheap, but if I can find a suitable replacement, I'm all for it. I really don't look at the headliner very often. I have the black interior with what appears to be a grayish/tan headliner. I mainly want the headliner to come as close to matching the other trim as possible but don't mind a slight variance. Are you familiar with matching this? Can you recommend a supplier?
Any assistance is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Kodyw,
As I've stated before, Passion Suede is a very high quality synthethic look-a-like, and costs between $5-$10/running yard. It is 60" wide, so less than 2 yards should cover the headliner. I am picking up some black next week for another forum member and would be happy to send you a sample or I can hold it up to my black Alcantara headliner and give you an honest assessment. I have used thousands of yards of this fabric over many years for customers in all sorts of upholstery projects. PM your address, and I'll send you a piece.
Thanks,
Ted

 

Hi Ted,
I appreciate you responding. I would be glad to send you a self addressed, stamped envelope, and be glad to purchase a sample. This sounds like what I'm looking for. According to jahummer's post, the Alcantara is not available aftermarket so what my headliner person has may not be the same. I would trust the folks on here as to what works well as you guys have experience with Jag stuff far more than I.
If you would like, please pm me address or I'll send mine, whichever you prefer.
Thanks for the help,
Jim

 

Jim,
Just pm me your address and I'll send you out a piece next week. I am sending some to three other forum members who have contacted me in the last few days, so it's no problem.
I'm just surprised that so many members are having the same problem.
Thanks,
Ted

 

 

"Foam Backed" is where the original problem came from. The foam breaks down and separates from the ceiling. Maybe it's better foam nowadays?

 

Some sound deadening material would be cool behind the headliner.

 

I believe all headliner material is foam backed. It's the heat that kills the foam.

 

Foam has a set and short lifespan. But a necessary evil as there are no better alternatives.

Even with car speakers, I was discussing the use of foam with a friend who is the driver designer at Harmon, the rationale is it lasts until the 3rd owner and outside warranty period, and the benefits outweigh the shortcommings

I think if you apply headliner without foam you will see much sooner failure as the foam insulates against searing heat of the roof from transferring to the headliner material. Then there is the acoustic dampening.

 

I test drove a used Bentley Continental GT last week and noticed the headliner was leather. And it was spectacular. I'd vote for leather over any other material. I'll wager it's also more durable than Alcantara.

 

FYI, the name of the "suede" Jag used is Alston TechnoSuede and is touted by some as an alternative to Alcantara, or vice versa. From what I can find the Alston Suede is still leather based to some degree where as Alcantara is purely chemical based (synthetic)



Cheers,

Dave

 

Alston suede as the description in the brochure you've provided says is a microfibre fabric, meaning all synthetic, not leather based. I have used thousands of yards of another microfibre suede called Passion Suede and have found it to be very durable and very real suede looking. And by the way, how much durability does a headliner need to have? So long as it's properly glued to the roof, it's not as if you're sitting on it and rubbing back and forth. I am providing several forum members Passion Suede for their headliners, right now. It is under ten dollars per running yard and is of exceptional quality.

 

I’ll take enough for my headliner. 51x60 I think? I redid my headliner in leather and the weight is too much for the adhesive. How do i order it? The same color as the visors in the pic with the dark suede.

 

It would have been a household name if only they had given it a sophisticated name like the Italians did Alcantara. Sounds like Pavarotti himself named it.

Passion suede brings to mind the acres of tufted velour Liberace would have his heart shaped beds made out of. While its also my style, its hard to sell these days.

 

Tiretrauma,
I have a book of every color of Passion Suede and would be happy to get you anything you need. What color family are you looking at? If you PM me your address, I'll cut a couple of samples from the book in the closest color family and send them to you so you can see them against your interior. Let me know.
Thanks
Ted

 

Could passion suede be used on the dash instead of leather?

 

The Passion Suede is certainly strong enough, however, I would be worried about fading from sunlight. As a napped fabric it is susceptable to losing a lot of color due to fading, so I wouldn't recommend a dark color at all. Lighter colors might be okay.