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BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:20 am
by Mr Kleen
BMW GINA Light Visionary Model revealed
Autoblog wrote:The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model that was seen via video being installed in the BMW Museum in Munich last week has finally been revealed, and the futuristic design study shows how BMW designers are thinking outside of the box when it comes to the materials that make up a car and also how the car relates to the driver. GINA stands for "Geometry and Functions in 'N' Adaptations", which basically means that designers from both BMW and BMW Group DesignworksUSA were allowed to throw out the rulebook. This is most evident in the GINA Light Visionary Model's outer skin, which is made entirely out of textile fabric that's pulled taut around a frame of metal and carbon fiber wires. The skeleton of the car is controlled by electro-hydraulic devices and can actually move and change shape beneath the fabric skin. For instance, the headlights of the concept can be exposed or hidden by the car's skin just like blinking eyes, and the hood opens from the center as the fabric parts to expose the engine.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:23 am
by Mr Kleen
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:48 am
by complacent
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:21 am
by chicken n waffles
cool concept.
absolutely the worst acronym for a car ever conceived.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:40 am
by zaxrex
Just like some of the original airplane frames.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:56 am
by ElZorro
I think that's the coolest thing I've seen in a long time.
Now, of course, the engineer kicks in and I wonder how safe it is, weather proofing, etc...
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:23 pm
by Dark
That's awesome!
I can see it now... "Honey, finish your load of laundry, I need to wash the car."
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:18 am
by sirwilliam
I was just thinking of a forum for sale thread for it:
"FS VA: GINA"
Sweet ride, though!
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:19 am
by Sabre
ElZorro wrote:Now, of course, the engineer kicks in and I wonder how safe it is, weather proofing, etc...
Seeing as how the skin on our cars really doesn't add that much, they probably just add a couple of extra ribs under the skin for more protection. Even with the extra ribs, the new skin will save on weight.
Looks awesome, very cool idea... but I do wonder how it will hold up after a couple of seasons here or to the North. Also, will it tear easily? etc. etc.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:49 am
by ElZorro
Sabre wrote:ElZorro wrote:Now, of course, the engineer kicks in and I wonder how safe it is, weather proofing, etc...
Seeing as how the skin on our cars really doesn't add that much
Also, will it tear easily? etc. etc.
Yea, thats my point... ever have a bird hit your car? or a deer? or any sort of road debris? Look at the ding a small rock can make in your metal hood... If they've made a fabric that is that flexible and stretchable, that can return to its original shape, that can protect against flying rocks at 70mph, they have also invented low impact body armour for motorcycles and military use.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:17 am
by GaToR
ElZorro wrote:Sabre wrote:ElZorro wrote:Now, of course, the engineer kicks in and I wonder how safe it is, weather proofing, etc...
Seeing as how the skin on our cars really doesn't add that much
Also, will it tear easily? etc. etc.
Yea, thats my point... ever have a bird hit your car? or a deer? or any sort of road debris? Look at the ding a small rock can make in your metal hood... If they've made a fabric that is that flexible and stretchable, that can return to its original shape, that can protect against flying rocks at 70mph, they have also invented low impact body armour for motorcycles and military use.
i really like the concept. But I think they would have to make the fabric cost-effective too. Certainly no worse than carbon fiber on a per-panel basis. Even the slightest tear is going to be worse than a scratch or ding on metal/plastic panesl. If someone keys my Bimmer, I don't want to spend $15K on a new pool liner.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:44 pm
by Mr Kleen
you guys are
REALLY over thinking this design and engineering exercise.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 12:57 pm
by chicken n waffles
Mr Kleen wrote:you guys are
REALLY over thinking this design and engineering exercise.
a bunch of car-saavy, pasty white geeks over thinking something?
OMFG NO WAI!!1
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:18 pm
by GaToR
Mr Kleen wrote:you guys are
REALLY over thinking this design and engineering exercise.
I'm just trying to refocus my attention away from the obvious target of my juvenile sense of humor.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:15 pm
by sirwilliam
legasleeper wrote:Mr Kleen wrote:you guys are
REALLY over thinking this design and engineering exercise.
I'm just trying to refocus my attention away from the obvious target of my juvenile sense of humor.
I know what you are thinking about:
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:05 pm
by drwrx
In the words of Martin Lawrence, "Damn GINA!"
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:17 pm
by GaToR
sirwilliam wrote:
I know what you are thinking about:
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:14 pm
by Dark
It would be pretty cool to have each color 'fabric' to change at your will.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:36 am
by ElZorro
legasleeper wrote:I'm just trying to refocus my attention away from the obvious target of my juvenile sense of humor.
You mean the fact that the hood looks like a vagina?
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:36 am
by GaToR
ElZorro wrote:legasleeper wrote:I'm just trying to refocus my attention away from the obvious target of my juvenile sense of humor.
You mean the fact that the hood looks like a vagina?
WHAT!?!
Yeah, I saw the hood with what looked like fingers opening it first. Twas only then I realized they named the thing the GINA. Somebody at BMW has a sense of humor.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 8:49 pm
by Libra Monkee
ooooh... looks like something from one of those scary movies.
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:16 am
by sirwilliam
Libra Monkee wrote:ooooh... looks like some from one of those scary movies.
Or "Terminator 4: Rise of the GINA"
"And the GINA became self-aware at 18:34 March 1st and sought out to kill Conner's 2nd lieutenant..."
Re: BMW GINA is made of fabric???
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:27 am
by chicken n waffles
sirwilliam wrote:Libra Monkee wrote:ooooh... looks like some from one of those scary movies.
Or "Terminator 4: Rise of the GINA"
"And the GINA became self-aware at 18:34 March 1st and sought out to kill Conner's 2nd lieutenant..."
sounds like my ex-girlfriend.
ooooooooooooooooooooooh
