The Forgotten BMW Idea Automobile Made Of Cloth

GINA was clad stem to stern in a stretchy, sturdy, material one piece. The polyurethane-coated Lycra materials repelled water and was temperature resistant, so it maintained a relentless floor stress. The inside was additionally lined within the stuff. BWM by no means talked about how lengthy the material would final (although nothing lasts perpetually) or how a lot it will value to exchange.

Beneath the pores and skin is an aluminum house body substructure consisting of 4 items — entrance, two sides, and rear deck. Every bit had a mesh-like array of metallic wires and carbon struts, a few of which may transfer utilizing electro-hydraulic controls. This function allowed the contours, folds, and features on the automobile’s pores and skin to truly change at will (by way of BMW).

As an illustration, the headlights remained hidden below the pores and skin when not in use, however tiny slits would “open” to disclose them when flipped on — identical to eyes. Flip indicators and tail lights labored in a different way in that they may very well be seen by means of the translucent materials with out altering the physique. A gap on the hood referred to as a “kidney grille” allowed entry to the engine for servicing. Even components of the automobile’s aerodynamics may very well be modified on the fly. A rear spoiler would increase however nonetheless stay hidden at a set pace, and the rocker panels’ contours may very well be altered and optimized given the driving situation (by way of BMW).

GINA was, actually, a revolutionary idea automobile that steered the German automaker down a special path with an strategy that has been carried on in different BMW automobiles. GINA is presently on show at BMW’s museum in Munich (by way of Prime Gear).