BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car pictures

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 13:25 This news item was posted in Concepts, Featured category and has 56 Comments so far.

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.

Who knew Chris Bangle had it in him? Now you know where the inspiration for the creases in BMW design comes from.

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.

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56 Responses to “BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car pictures”

  1. broucks wright said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 17:04

    Like to see the crash test or …. wouldn’t want to be in it if it crashed

  2. Nugget said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 17:39

    Cylon anyone?

  3. Seymour said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 17:48

    As a former convertible owner I can assure you there is a valid reason why convertibles are called “rag tops”.

  4. the truth said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 18:07

    wouldn’t want to park that in my neighborhood.

  5. Uncle B said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 18:20

    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!

  6. tned said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 18:21

    i thought it was a pair of sunglasses

  7. beedogs said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 18:29

    can someone please tell bmw to fire its designers?

    they haven’t produced anything worth looking at since they mercilessly killed the E46.

  8. Optimus said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 18:40

    Autobots! Transform and ROLL OUT!

  9. Josh said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 18:47

    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.

  10. Allinee said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 19:08

    How could that possibly be safe? If a car made of fabric collides with one made of metal, who do you think wins?

  11. Bob/Paul said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 19:12

    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.

  12. weird said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 19:20

    i don’t know what’s weirder, the cylon bmw or the submit button being in the middle of the form

  13. crazy 20 somthing said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 19:30

    This car doesn’t look inviting

  14. bharath said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 20:22

    The first car photo looks amazingly similar to Iron man’s mask

  15. Anonymous said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 20:52

    The idea of ‘keying’ a car hasn’t really been solved with this…
    We’ll just have to use scissors instead.

  16. Mayank said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 20:53

    Not sure about the s\ecurity but the concept is cool.
    I like it!

  17. six said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 23:03

    hell yes.
    cylon!

  18. Rmodel Shelby said on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 23:55

    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!!

  19. John thomas said on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 1:01

    Wow, nice looking ride. Very Sleek.

    JT
    http://www.FireMe.To/udi

  20. bt1295 said on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 3:06

    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.

  21. rhY said on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 9:49

    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.

  22. WErDNA said on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 14:24

    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?

  23. soniyashrma said on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 14:37

    new materials and technologies that BMW plans to adopt in the future.

  24. Gene Carroll said on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, 20:22

    Does it float? That could be a big safety feature.

  25. cyrel quizon said on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 2:00

    -wow 2 thumbs up, very i like your new model og BMW GINA…. some day i nwant like that. more power BMW,

  26. DanEvans said on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 8:40

    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.

  27. sunny said on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 18:08

    when would it realse and how much thinking to get it my lambourgihini is worn out

  28. sunny said on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 18:09

    i just want the cost of the car
    please let me know

  29. sunny said on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 18:10

    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

  30. bmw said on Saturday, June 14, 2008, 15:21

    bmw always did mega projects. fine fellows

  31. rezoo said on Sunday, June 15, 2008, 3:06

    i want picture and photo new

  32. udit bhattacharya said on Sunday, June 15, 2008, 13:08

    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)

  33. shariq said on Monday, June 16, 2008, 19:14

    i loved it
    u can all got to h— because the design was awsome
    its so cool

  34. Johnny O said on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 10:33

    I’m going to put curb feelers on the front of mine to give it that authentic carp look.

  35. Laura said on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, 16:32

    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.

  36. ady said on Sunday, June 22, 2008, 0:57

    very impressive design.the bmw guys did a great job.i love it! GO !BMW

  37. surjit said on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 5:07

    hello sir, mecanical gernal knolge bmw car.

  38. abelgonzales24 said on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 5:18

    which museum will it be at. I plan to be the first in line.

  39. Edward Smith said on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 17:07

    Oh Gina. You’re so seductive. Mmmm. Sexy girl.
    Let me get close to you. Oh yes. Oh baby. Oh car!
    Love you Gina!

  40. Sid said on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 15:36

    OHHH yeah…. wonder if they can make it change colours…. BUHAHAHAAAA… a techno camouflage getaway car at last!!!!

  41. sherin said on Saturday, July 5, 2008, 7:03

    what are the advadages you want to done in this car

  42. john said on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, 11:19

    does this shrink after a wash or getting soaked in rain ?!!

  43. DARSHAN said on Friday, August 1, 2008, 13:53

    well i wanted to know the cost of this car BMW GINA

  44. Teeshant said on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 9:16

    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…..

  45. duane posthumus said on Sunday, August 17, 2008, 21:32

    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!

  46. anurodh arun gupta said on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 9:28

    well its a nice conceptual car, i want to know that what kind of material is used in the skining

  47. Freddy said on Friday, September 26, 2008, 1:05

    This is numero UNO…in everyway!

  48. Okeydoke said on Sunday, October 5, 2008, 7:41

    There has been quite a few lightweight super cars with few outer panals, and even a few with none at all. Look at a Ariel Atom. This is basically just the same concept(In terms of chassis), but with a cloth cover to make it look pretty. And what exactly makes you think that a pannel is what provides you safety??? The Safty of a car lies in the chassis not in the pannels. Only thing a metal panel provides that this cloth won’t is noise reduction. I love how you can also change the lines of this car if you get bored with how it looks. The eye like movement of the head lights almost give the car emotion. I think it’s a great consept, problem is it will most likely stay at that.

  49. mishkish said on Thursday, November 6, 2008, 1:12

    this is such a nice car i wish they could release it in the market i would buy it like in 16 years

  50. Shane said on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 5:57

    No need for a body-bag … !

  51. jahandar -pourazam said on Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 17:26

    BMW always has some thing to show that it is over all ,it is over all

  52. Ramtin said on Saturday, December 27, 2008, 17:53

    I want photo bmw 630i

  53. fitim said on Monday, March 9, 2009, 11:44

    I want photo BMW 318s sport. :S

  54. akshat said on Sunday, July 5, 2009, 7:17

    THATS ONLY MINE

  55. snobar said on Friday, July 10, 2009, 13:44

    what a car
    i thought this is my car
    all cars from bmw is almost best cars in world

  56. Clown said on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 11:12

    Liva Va Gina! …erm…
    Viva La Gina!

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