How about a car that uses fabric instead of sheet metal? Take a look at this photo gallery of the amazing BMW concept car - the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model.
BMW has unveiled its GINA Light Visionary Model concept car on June 10, 2008. The BMW Gina Light Visionary concept car showcases the direction that BMW’s designs may take, and new materials and technologies that BMW plans to adopt in the future.
The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car uses fabric as the skin that allows drivers to change the shape of the car at will, unlike rigid structures.
The fabric skin of the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car is used to cover metal wires, which can be moved to achieve different shapes using electro-hydraulic devices.
How does it all hang together? Well, wire mesh and carbon fiber.
The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car allows the driver to change both the exterior and interior of the car for as many number of times as desired. So you want a low-slung skirt - you got it. Want a spoiler, you got that too! The headlights are revealed when the fabric moves apart, and the engine is accessed when the bonnet seemingly splits to reveal its innards.
Another plus for the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car is that its lighter and can be made out of materials that require less energy to make them.
In a video on BMW-web.tv, titled BMW GINA Light Visionary Model: Premiere , Chris Bangles, Director of Design BMW Group, says GINA is an acronym that stands for Geometry (shapes), function (how things work), N for Infinite number of Adaptations. He adds, “The GINA philosophy is about flexibility. Thinking flexible. Acting Flexible.”
Earlier, BMW had also revealed a teaser video that shows the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car being transported to the BMW museum in Munich.
The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car may or may not find its way into production, but it may be the precursor of new material alternatives that are lighter and more fluid. The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car may also provide new design inputs because of its shape-changing abilities.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Like to see the crash test or …. wouldn’t want to be in it if it crashed
June 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Cylon anyone?
June 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
As a former convertible owner I can assure you there is a valid reason why convertibles are called “rag tops”.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
wouldn’t want to park that in my neighborhood.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Henry Ford made hemp and soy, rust proof, dent proof panels in the days of gravel roads. Big steel screwed him on it! If BMW proposes to make strong lightweight panels for a commuter car, with serial turbo bio-diesel/electric hybrid propulsion, and two riders in a safety capsule in tandem, to save the American working person, they better hurry! Working Americans are approaching personal bankruptcy, gas prices are rising, and current car designs are getting too expensive to do the daily drive! The good news is that highways are now safer with fewer and fewer Hummers and other large SUVs daily!
June 10th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
i thought it was a pair of sunglasses
June 10th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
can someone please tell bmw to fire its designers?
they haven’t produced anything worth looking at since they mercilessly killed the E46.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Autobots! Transform and ROLL OUT!
June 10th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I’ve got some earth-shattering news. The body of the car does little to nothing to protect you in a crash. It also sounds like the fabric panels would be easy to replace if they got damaged, and the underlying wires would probably flex and restore in very-low speed crashes. Personally, I’m impressed. I want a car that opens its eyes in the morning.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
How could that possibly be safe? If a car made of fabric collides with one made of metal, who do you think wins?
June 10th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
There’s also a video:
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/139721/bda1af5b/wierd_nieuw_bmwconcept.html
If you watch the doors open, it’s pretty obvious that the inner body of the car still contains lots of metal. I suspect the doors almost exactly the same as before except for the cloth side panel. Side panels themselves don’t add a lot of strength, and the strength they do add can be supplemented by strengthening other components.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
i don’t know what’s weirder, the cylon bmw or the submit button being in the middle of the form
June 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
This car doesn’t look inviting
June 10th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
The first car photo looks amazingly similar to Iron man’s mask
June 10th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
The idea of ‘keying’ a car hasn’t really been solved with this…
We’ll just have to use scissors instead.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Not sure about the s\ecurity but the concept is cool.
I like it!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
hell yes.
cylon!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Dudes & dudettes: Bad news, gasoline is fixing to cost you a crisp five dollar bill PER GALLON at the pump, and will continue to rise. Let’s quit jacking around with monstrous machines to impress any one. Instead, resort to jewelry or upscale clothing lines to present your statement to the universe, which is the reason most of you wanna buy the next “new toy”. Don’t deny it. Buying big ass SUV’s or other guzzlers and any such nonesense will only speak of your poor economic sense. A big turn off to any intelligent potential partner. I am a big muscle car fanatic/owner, but drive around in a matchbox. I don’t like it any more than you do, but you gotta improvise ya’ll….Peace out man!!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Wow, nice looking ride. Very Sleek.
JT
http://www.FireMe.To/udi
June 11th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I actually think that is pretty slick. I kninda of thought it looked like a mouse from head on, but the hood and trunk straight lines actually remind me of more classical cars, especially the Jag XKE. I know it is a long shot.
But there is something there - it needs to be refined, especially the weird headlights, but it does invoke something in me from the 70’s and 60’s sports cars.
On the other hand, there is something disconcertingly Micheal Keaton Batmobile about it.
I give it a good attempt award. But I do like the line down the hood. that rocks.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am
To “I thought it was a pair of sunglasses.” Not yet, but eventually nanotechnology may actually make that possible. But then it would probably be a diamondoid hydrogen filled zeppelin.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Crash protection? Just inflate the entire car.
We all benefit from new ways of thinking and should look for ways to break away from the boring traditional design constraints.
Is the material from the Roswell UFO Crash?
June 11th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
new materials and technologies that BMW plans to adopt in the future.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Does it float? That could be a big safety feature.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:00 am
-wow 2 thumbs up, very i like your new model og BMW GINA…. some day i nwant like that. more power BMW,
June 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
This is only a concept car. No reason to think that something like this will be on the road next year. The materials used in the creation of this car cannot withstand the standards set by the department of transportation. It was only built to show how versatile the company can be with its desine department. Much like the Ford Indigo of the mid 90’s, it will probably never see the light of day.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
when would it realse and how much thinking to get it my lambourgihini is worn out
June 12th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
i just want the cost of the car
please let me know
June 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
nice cool wicked brrialant and the no.1 future car when would it be realsing and how much would it be in pound i want one
June 14th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
bmw always did mega projects. fine fellows
June 15th, 2008 at 3:06 am
i want picture and photo new
June 15th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Really it mindblowing really.
Its look like a real sports car.
In feature i will try to buy this its my wish
In my life first time i have seen a real (MAN CAR)
June 16th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
i loved it
u can all got to h— because the design was awsome
its so cool
June 17th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I’m going to put curb feelers on the front of mine to give it that authentic carp look.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I think it is an awsome concept and if people don’t think that fabric is tuff just
have them rethink about the fabric that is protecting our men in the war zones.
It is called kevlar.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 am
very impressive design.the bmw guys did a great job.i love it! GO !BMW
June 24th, 2008 at 5:07 am
hello sir, mecanical gernal knolge bmw car.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:18 am
which museum will it be at. I plan to be the first in line.
June 24th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Oh Gina. You’re so seductive. Mmmm. Sexy girl.
Let me get close to you. Oh yes. Oh baby. Oh car!
Love you Gina!
July 1st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
OHHH yeah…. wonder if they can make it change colours…. BUHAHAHAAAA… a techno camouflage getaway car at last!!!!
July 5th, 2008 at 7:03 am
what are the advadages you want to done in this car
July 30th, 2008 at 11:19 am
does this shrink after a wash or getting soaked in rain ?!!
August 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
well i wanted to know the cost of this car BMW GINA
August 12th, 2008 at 9:16 am
THe concept is cool. but does it have ir retardent, flame retardent, uv protective clothing.It should also have a UV absorber coating so that the colour doenot degrade…..
August 17th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
wow stunning i must say! the downside is that the back looks a bit like the 350Z but it still rocks. If that could go into production it would shave a fare couple of kilos of the body, that means a smaller powerplant is needed so gas whould not be a big issue.
big up to the dude’s at BMW!