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BMW GINA - shape-shifting car built from cloth

Concept car covered with fabric instead of metal

Toytown Germany > Discussion forum > Germany-wide > German news

Derekbeggs

Jun 11 2008, 1:54 pm

Wired.com: BMW Builds a Shape-Shifting Car Out of Cloth

QUOTE

Concept cars give automotive designers a chance to let their imaginations run wild, often with outlandish results. But even by that measure, BMW has come up with something as strange as it is innovative - a shape-shifting car covered with fabric. Instead of steel, aluminum or even carbon fiber, the GINA Light Visionary Model has a body of seamless fabric stretched over a movable metal frame that allows the driver to change its shape at will. The car - which actually runs and drives -- is a styling design headed straight for the BMW Museum in Munich and so it will never see production, but building a practical car wasn't the point.

YouTube video: BMW GINA Light Visionary Model: Premiere

In the video it is amazing to watch the bonnet (hood ) open and the headlights open like eyes.

I think this is one of the most original ideas I have seen in a long time.

Darkknight

Jun 11 2008, 5:01 pm

BMW's new concept car uses a cloth type fabric as the outer shell instead of metal. This allows the car and its designers to do
many things with it that couldn't be done with metal parts. Have a look at the below video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTYiEkQYhWY

Topics merged by admin

bluedave

Jun 11 2008, 5:04 pm

Didn't the Trabi have that concept?

QUOTE

The Trabant was a steel monocoque design with roof, bootlid, bonnet, fenders and doors in Duroplast, a form of plastic containing resin strengthened by wool or cotton.

Trabant - Wikipedia

Mapleleafdude

Jun 11 2008, 5:24 pm

Awesome. Talk about "out off the box".

Crawlie

Jun 11 2008, 8:45 pm

So do you just stick the cloth in the washing machine instead of taking it to the car wash?

Totally bizarre

leeza

Jun 11 2008, 8:55 pm

How does it affect the structural safety?

Allershausen

Jun 11 2008, 10:28 pm

The safety structure of the car is still there, it's only the outer skin. Quite how you repair it after little Johnny runs his bike down the side and tears it is a completely different thing. It's quite an achievement, they've managed to make a Z4 even uglier, I didn't think that was possible!

Chat_Capone

Jun 12 2008, 11:36 am

Audi yes, Mercedes yes, Volkswagon yes...BMW...errrrr...no.

DrivinWest

Jun 12 2008, 11:47 am

I wasn't sure how to pronounce "GINA" - then I saw the hood opening.

leky

Jun 12 2008, 11:50 am

Aaah wonder if they'll make poor Kubica drive it around Hockenheim as a publicity stunt

gideon

Jun 12 2008, 12:20 pm

QUOTE (Mapleleafdude @ Jun 11 2008, 6:24 pm)

Awesome. Talk about "out off the box".

I wouldn't say that as I hate this phraseology. The priciple of a canvas covered structure is an old one used in planes before the jet era. The BMW designers have been very astute at their questioning the accepted status quo, and very on-brand with their company's sports feel by recreating a Schneider Cup plane on wheels. Love it.

Now all they need to do is start to rethink why they are such knobs and have designed bumpers which you can not bump without fear of a 2K repair bill.

Owain Glyndwr

Jun 12 2008, 12:23 pm

i think you just answered that question yourself The real money is not made in selling new cars but in the after-sales business.

Chat_Capone

Jun 12 2008, 12:24 pm

according to DrivingWest's reference, "out of the BOX": pun intended.

Punchbear

Jun 12 2008, 12:41 pm

The car depicted in the video, is it the physical model or CGI? Hard to tell these days.

gideon

Jun 12 2008, 1:33 pm

QUOTE (Owain Glyndwr @ Jun 12 2008, 1:23 pm)

i think you just answered that question yourself The real money is not made in selling new cars but in the after-sales business.

Oh I know - you told me!!! I still love the chinese crown jewels story. You must Pm that sometime I think its a classic.

But with this car you can make a fortune on seasonal colours. New skin to match you tan Sir? Wife bought a new handbag and the car colour doesnt match?

Being an absolute no idea car person I actual find this one exciting in its approach, both from an environmental and flexibility aspect. They'll be using wood for the bodies next.

PB - it doesn't look like CGI.

Darkknight

Jun 12 2008, 1:38 pm

Seeing as its in the BMW Museum, I doubt its CGI..

Aschaffenburgboy

Jun 12 2008, 11:36 pm

IT WILL NEVER WORK! come on who wants to drive a purse? this is publicity and nothing else. One questions, is the skin piss resistant?

profundo

Jun 16 2008, 2:17 pm

Hmmm... not really the car for me.

jessingermany

Jun 22 2008, 4:46 pm

What a waste of company money to design something that, although nice, won't be used. I won't be buying a BMW anytime soon.

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