Since we'll soon be offering our one-piece luxury nylon and Wilton wool carpets, we've been doing some research on Wilton wool, and what we've found is surprising.

First, Wilton carpets are not a brand, but a type of carpet weave used by carpet manufacturers. Many different companies sell Wilton wool carpets, and the quality can vary enormously. Some manufacturers even sell a Wilton wool imitation nylon carpet, which is manufactured in the Wilton method, but is made of cheaper nylon, not wool. It's like a vinyl substitute for leather. One way you can tell a wool carpet from a nylon imitation is to put a match to it. The nylon carpet will melt because it's basically plastic. The wool carpet will burn.

Wilton wool carpets are made all over the world, but the very best are made in England. English wool has superior qualities that make it especially durable and luxurious. Wilton carpets are woven in three different ways: Single-frame, multi-frame, and face-to-face.

Single-Frame Wilton is one of the methods used to make plain woven carpet. As the backing is being woven, pile yarns are introduced lengthways, (that is, from the warp direction) and looped over wires inserted across (weft direction) the weaving machine. The wires may either be withdrawn leaving loop pile or, fitted with knives, they may cut the pile. A patterned effect in a combination of cut and loop rows may be created and enhanced by using stippled or multi-colored yarn combination.

Multi-Frame Wilton is a manufacturing process used to make multi-color patterned Wilton carpet. The system can also combine cut and loop pile, add sculptured or embossed effects and create other textures difficult to obtain on any other type of machine. With this system, when any color is not visible on the surface of the carpet, the yarn is carried along the inside of the backing. This gives a thicker feel underfoot with excellent wear properties. This method is best for auto interiors because of its durability and feel.

Face-to-Face Wilton uses machines which simultaneously weave two backing fabrics linked together by pile yarns which are later sliced apart to give two cut-pile carpets.

The there are several different types of carpet pile.

Loop Pile is formed by continuous rows of loops producing a wide variety of textures from thick and nubbly to smooth and plain. Multi-height or multi-level loop is made from two or three varying pile heights to produce a high/low or sculptured effect. Level loop pile carpets wear well because the pile bears the weight of the foot evenly on the surface and tends to hide footprints.

Cut Loop Pile has a sculptured appearance created by cutting some loops while leaving others uncut. Level cut loop, and high/low cut loop can be produced. Such carpets combine the practicality of loop pile with the classic appearance of cut pile, in stylish textural effects.

Cut Pile is achieved by cutting the tops of the loops to produce tufts of yarn that tend to stand upright and form an even surface. Cut pile carpets can have a number of different appearances which are achieved with yarns of different twist levels. For example, cutting a yarn with low twist during manufacturing results in the smooth, classic look of velvet or velour pile while highly twisted yarn produces a hard twist pile carpet.
Saxony and plush styles are produced from yarns with a well defined twist level which has been adequately set so that each pile end retains individual definition.

Tip Sheared Pile is manufactured as a multi-height loop with the higher loops cut to give a combination of cut-and-loop pile. It is used to produce a textured surface, sometimes combined with a sculptured effect.

Hard Twist Cut Pile uses highly twisted yarns where the high levels of twist have been set in position rather like a permanent wave to produce a distinctive appearance. Yarn setting is carried out in order to minimise untwisting and splaying of the pile ends and assists in maintaining appearance retention during wear. Hard twist cut pile carpet minimises the visual effect of shading (permanent pile reversal) and tracking.

Our Wilton wool carpets for the S2000 will be made from English wool using the multi-frame manufacturing process and loop pile. Color choices will include charcoal gray, red, and blue, each matching very closely interior trim colors. They will be trimmed in leather in a choice of black, red, yellow, or blue.

We are still negotiating the final price with the maker. These carpets are the very best available and will be very expensive, so we're doing our best to get the lowest possible price.

A nylon version made with top quality nylon pile will also be available as a less expensive alternative.

Both the Wilton wool and nylon carpets are backed with a nubby rubber base that virtually eliminates slippage. Both are sewn together with a middle layer of padding for extra thickness and feel underfoot.

Instead of holes for the floor posts, each version will come with a hidden tab that completely hides the posts and anchors the carpets in place.

We beg your patience as we negotiate the final production price. In this case, time is on your side