BMW's Shape-Shifting Fabric Car

 Coated FabricMore on yesterday's Bimmer philo essay , Wired has a great article on BMW's GINA Light Visionary Model concept car . The body is made from a seamless polyurethane-coated Lycra fabricstretched over a moveable aluminum frame allowing the owner tochange the car's shape. Purely conceptual, there is no intention ofthis technology ever going into production. Chris Bangle, head of design for BMW, says GINA allowed his team to"challenge existing principles and conventional processes." "It is in the nature of such visions that they do not necessarilyclaim to be suitable for series production," company officials saidin unveiling the car Tuesday. "Rather, they are intended to steercreativity and research into new directions." GINA (Geometry and functions In 'N' Adaptions) has been indevelopment for six years, the working model is built on a Z8chassis and has four panels which take about two hours to put on. Chris Bangle explaining the design process.