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Yep, being a big GM parts supplier they just add to the guessing! Their video uses the same words.
Since I had my 2014 C7 3LT Kalarahi interior where the dash had full "leather" have read a number of GM docs and accept for a few marketing pieces, all I could be very sure was my "Seating Surfaces" were Nappa leather and all other were "soft touch" materials. Their words!
I'm sure some other parts were "leather" but also some were Mulan leather. Until I see some documentation other wise I continue to think it is probably old McDonalds cow/steer hide shredded into fibers and mixed with a binder! No problem with me as long as it holds up.
Like the "plastic" body of the Vette that had 40% limestone "filler" and now, in addition, has hollow glass ***** to make it lighter- so it almost floats! I really don't care-science is wonderful!
In any case, the UltraLeather I have in my Prostreet Rod is man made, as soft as unborn calf skin, used by some for women's gloves and looks and feels new after 16 years! It is softer than the Nappa and Mulan leather seating surfaces! Could care less that it started as oil and has no animal fiber! In fact daughter and three granddaughters would love that!
After owning an all ebony with suede insert 2LT and now the diamond blue leather interior 3LT..... I'll tell you hands down to go with 3LT!!!! After just a few months the new car smell was gone in the 2LT. In the 3LT every time I open the door after a year and a half, especially in the sun, it smells of a very high quality leather jacket. Not to mention the leather on the dash and doors is a very extremely high quality!!!!
My 16 2lt will be 2 in october and it still smells great to me Just sayin
I just bought a 2014 C7 with 3LT Kalarahi interior and it still smells like a new leather jacket and the car is 3 years old, albeit with only 8500 miles. It looks and smells like new! Very smooth also.
I just bought a 2014 C7 with 3LT Kalarahi interior and it still smells like a new leather jacket and the car is 3 years old, albeit with only 8500 miles. It looks and smells like new! Very smooth also.
That is what I had, sold a few months ago for a Grand Sport. You have a much better interior look than a 2016 to 2018 where GM got cheap and reduced the amount of Kalahari color on the dash. It's now a combo Kalahari and Black. Just doesn't fit IMO!
Yep, for sure all that black is vinyl on all levels, IMO. Leather cleaner condition should do no harm as folks note, it's all coated (even the real cow hide Nappa leather on the "seating surface" on a 3LT) with a thin layer of plastic. Conditioner may do nothing for any of the materials as most folks will tell you. I like the smell on Zaino. However I do find their cleaner works well and is better than soap and water.
thanks for that, how about vinyl/rubber protectant does it do any harm to leather if I apply on them by accident?
thanks for that, how about vinyl/rubber protectant does it do any harm to leather if I apply on them by accident?
Just came over from the C6 forum and would like someone from GM to post what is and what isn't real leather in 1lt/2lt vs 3lt. AllI see are opinions on this. I bought a 2015 3lt convertible and love the interior, don't care if some of the interior is fake cow, but it would be useful info to know which is real.
^^^
From when I bought my September 2013 built C7 with 3LT Kalahari interior this has been a question! I have tried to follow comments about just what is GM's Mulan leather! They state, even in a 3LT the only what I'll call "real leather" is the Nappa Leather seating surface.
GM talks about three materials. Napa Leather for the "seating surface only a 3LT" and the other "Leather" is Mulan. The other material they refer to as soft touch is vinyl.
You can look all you like and best you get is various definitions of Mulan leather. Mulan could well be (and probably is IMO) shredded leather from all those old cows we eat as McDonald's hamburgers! It is chopped, shredded mixed with resin and made into large rolls. It's unlikely directly from a Cow as a hide with defects etc that have to be dealt with in manufacture. IMO, it's more like baloney; beef but all parts ground up! Nothing wrong with it or vinyl for that matter.
Bought a GM part number 3 LT Upper Dash Pad and added to my 2LT Grand Sport. Can't tell the difference in texture etc from the black dash that is vinyl.
FWIW. Recently found this comment from a person who interviewed folks at Bowling Green: "The suede is real and I'll give you the answer on the Mulan leather. Mulan leather is made from recycled leather off-cuts, trimmings and shavings that would normally be sent by the leather industry to landfill. The shavings are bonded to a fabric layer commonly using a process such a hydro-entanglement to force the leather dust into the fabric layer. The product is then finished, typically with a polyurethane based system to give a resemblance of leather. The amount of leather shavings within the final product typically constitute less than 50% of the product." How accurate? Don't know! But think about all the cow hide material from legs, head as well as trimmings such as when splitting the leather when making thin glove like material-where would that go!
Below is a pic of the 3LT GM Upper Dash Pad I bought and added to my 2LT Grand Sport that some say is "leather" and the black 2LT dash which is vinyl. The finishing rolls embossed both about the same! Can't tell
3LT Upper Dash Pad (Red Leather?) 2LT Black Dash (Vinyl)
We love the MB Tex interior in our other vehicles. Easy to clean, always looks new, soft enough.
MB Tex is amazing! It's a product Mercedes developed for seating. The nice thing is that is is the same color all the way thru, vs. Being dyed or stained and coated. You cannot wear this stuff out!
I have it in my 2007 R Class and it still looks new. You don't even need to treat it. The stuff is rugged and does not stretch or sag etc.
I'd take it over leather any day. That said I plan on ordering the 3lt interior, because I like the "full" treatment to the cabin.
^^^
From when I bought my September 2013 built C7 with 3LT Kalahari interior this has been a question! I have tried to follow comments about just what is GM's Mulan leather! They state, even in a 3LT the only what I'll call "real leather" is the Nappa Leather seating surface.
GM talks about three materials. Napa Leather for the "seating surface only a 3LT" and the other "Leather" is Mulan. The other material they refer to as soft touch is vinyl.
You can look all you like and best you get is various definitions of Mulan leather. Mulan could well be (and probably is IMO) shredded leather from all those old cows we eat as McDonald's hamburgers! It is chopped, shredded mixed with resin and made into large rolls. It's unlikely directly from a Cow as a hide with defects etc that have to be dealt with in manufacture. IMO, it's more like baloney; beef but all parts ground up! Nothing wrong with it or vinyl for that matter.
Bought a GM part number 3 LT Upper Dash Pad and added to my 2LT Grand Sport. Can't tell the difference in texture etc from the black dash that is vinyl.
FWIW. Recently found this comment from a person who interviewed folks at Bowling Green: "The suede is real and I'll give you the answer on the Mulan leather. Mulan leather is made from recycled leather off-cuts, trimmings and shavings that would normally be sent by the leather industry to landfill. The shavings are bonded to a fabric layer commonly using a process such a hydro-entanglement to force the leather dust into the fabric layer. The product is then finished, typically with a polyurethane based system to give a resemblance of leather. The amount of leather shavings within the final product typically constitute less than 50% of the product." How accurate? Don't know! But think about all the cow hide material from legs, head as well as trimmings such as when splitting the leather when making thin glove like material-where would that go!
Below is a pic of the 3LT GM Upper Dash Pad I bought and added to my 2LT Grand Sport that some say is "leather" and the black 2LT dash which is vinyl. The finishing rolls embossed both about the same! Can't tell
3LT Upper Dash Pad (Red Leather?) 2LT Black Dash (Vinyl)
that is a 2lT dash pad and is cheaper in price too...I have both at home the 3 lt version is completely smooth
that is a 2lT dash pad and is cheaper in price too...I have both at home the 3 lt version is completely smooth
The 2LT does not have a Red dash pad, it's black. Only came in a 3LT, which is the part number I ordered.
Could be a different set of rollers (they could have ones with less or no embossing) or that batch of Mulan was tougher (more binder?) when it went through them! From the published comments I found from the fellow who got the info from Bowling Green (that I posted) the 3LT Mulan leather is made from shredded leather scraps and goes through whatever rollers they elect to use.
Don't mean to be argumentative but have been looking at this since September 2013 when I got my C7 with 3LT Kalahari! GM is very careful not to say what Mulan leather is! Even their top parts seller, Trunk Monkey, uses their same evasive words on their website and repeats them in their YouTube Video!
IMO, Mulan is the same as Ricardo Montalban's famous Corinthian Leather! That name was coined by Chrysler's ad agency!
Would be interesting to see if he would say what the fellow published who got the info from Bowling Green!
"Mulan leather is made from recycled leather off-cuts, trimmings and shavings that would normally be sent by the leather industry to landfill. The shavings are bonded to a fabric layer commonly using a process such a hydro-entanglement to force the leather dust into the fabric layer. The product is then finished, typically with a polyurethane based system to give a resemblance of leather. The amount of leather shavings within the final product typically constitute less than 50% of the product."
Doubt it would be allowed by marketing! I don't care, Nappa leather, Mulan "leather," vinyl or as they advertised early on re the C7 interior, "other soft touch materials," as long as it looks good and is durable. Just don't care for deceptive marketing, which IMO this has appeared to be to some degree for some time!
that is a 2lT dash pad and is cheaper in price too...I have both at home the 3 lt version is completely smooth
I wondered if anyone was going to point this out before I did.
The "material" in the 2LT is fine. The 3LT "material" elevates the car, in my opinion. Is it worth the cost? We can debate that all day, as it's individual preference.
I am very pleased with my 3LT. 1 1/2 years old, 13k + miles, and still looks and smells new. It's truly an interior that improves the car.
I wondered if anyone was going to point this out before I did.
The "material" in the 2LT is fine. The 3LT "material" elevates the car, in my opinion. Is it worth the cost? We can debate that all day, as it's individual preference.
I am very pleased with my 3LT. 1 1/2 years old, 13k + miles, and still looks and smells new. It's truly an interior that improves the car.
The "material" in the 2LT is fine. The 3LT "material" elevates the car, in my opinion.
The leather is really very nice in a 3LT, especially in Kalahari, which just looks rich and beautiful to me. Some people care about that kind of thing and some don't - it is nice that we have the choice.
The leather is really very nice in a 3LT, especially in Kalahari, which just looks rich and beautiful to me. Some people care about that kind of thing and some don't - it is nice that we have the choice. 