Photo: BMW
Back in 2008, BMW introduced a new concept, a new way of visualizing a car and its attributes, in the shape of the GINA Light Visionary Model. The car was designed to challenge the conventional approach that we’ve been getting used to and offer a possible alternative.
The goal was to test the water and see if any other manufacturer in the world would agree to try and change not only the way cars look and are used but also the manufacturing techniques. The fresh approach it suggested was supposed to adhere to the concept that “form follows function”. Therefore, emotion, humanism, natural aesthetics had to be combined and applied to new materials to create a unique car.
That’s what GINA is. The outer skin of the car is made of a flexible fabric material that stretches over a movable substructure. Inside, all the functions you need are only visible when you want to use them, when they are actually needed. For example, the headlights are hidden under the fabric when there’s no need for them and they pop out from behind ‘eyelids’ when they have to be used.
Almost the same story applies to the rear end where, depending on how the car is driven, the shape changes to add or reduce downforce, as needed.
The car will be available for your own viewing pleasure between May 21 and September 7, 2014, at the “Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas” exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. It will be joined by 17 other concept cars from Europe and the US, from the early 1930s to the 21st century.
Talking about the GINA concept, Ken Gross, Consulting Curator for “Dream Cars” had this to say: “Beyond its undeniable beauty, the GINA Light Visionary Model was an advanced, water-resistant, translucent textile-bodied concept car with a virtually seamless fabric exterior skin that could change elements of its shape on demand. And it wasn't just a fanciful exercise.”
“The GINA study helped BMW to develop rapid manufacturing, digital tooling techniques and a robot-guided steel embossing process to create the complex hoods for the production of the BMW Z4 M Roadster and the BMW Z4 M Coupé,” he added.
During the exhibition, the concepts will be paired with realized cars based on their design, to show how dreaming big can change the world.
That’s what GINA is. The outer skin of the car is made of a flexible fabric material that stretches over a movable substructure. Inside, all the functions you need are only visible when you want to use them, when they are actually needed. For example, the headlights are hidden under the fabric when there’s no need for them and they pop out from behind ‘eyelids’ when they have to be used.
Almost the same story applies to the rear end where, depending on how the car is driven, the shape changes to add or reduce downforce, as needed.
The car will be available for your own viewing pleasure between May 21 and September 7, 2014, at the “Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas” exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. It will be joined by 17 other concept cars from Europe and the US, from the early 1930s to the 21st century.
Talking about the GINA concept, Ken Gross, Consulting Curator for “Dream Cars” had this to say: “Beyond its undeniable beauty, the GINA Light Visionary Model was an advanced, water-resistant, translucent textile-bodied concept car with a virtually seamless fabric exterior skin that could change elements of its shape on demand. And it wasn't just a fanciful exercise.”
“The GINA study helped BMW to develop rapid manufacturing, digital tooling techniques and a robot-guided steel embossing process to create the complex hoods for the production of the BMW Z4 M Roadster and the BMW Z4 M Coupé,” he added.
During the exhibition, the concepts will be paired with realized cars based on their design, to show how dreaming big can change the world.
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