This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies
By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn More
This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Assembly Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Assembly Magazine logo
  • Home
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Digital Edition
    • Archives
    • Specs Book
    • How-To-Guide
    • Buyers Guide
  • Exclusives
    • Plant of the Year
      • About Plant of the Year
      • Nomination Form
    • Capital Spending
    • State of the Profession
  • Industries
    • Aerospace
    • Appliance
    • Automotive
    • Medical Devices
    • DFMA Assembly
    • Green Manufacturing
    • Lean Manufacturing
    • Electronics Assembly
    • Machinery Assembly
  • Technologies
    • Adhesives
    • Assembly Presses
    • Automated Assembly
    • Dispensing
    • Motion Control
    • Screwdriving and Riveting
    • Plastics Assembly
    • Robotics
    • Test and Inspection
    • Welding
    • Wire Processing
    • Workstations
  • Columns
    • Assembly in Action
    • Automation Profiles
    • Medical Device Assembly
    • On Campus
    • Shipulski on Design
    • The Editorial
    • XYZ
    • Moser on Manufacturing
    • 21st Century Assembly
    • Mind Your Ps and Qs
  • New Products
  • More
    • Web Exclusives
    • Classifieds
    • eNewsletter
    • Blog
    • Market Research
    • Store
    • Product Spotlight
    • White Papers
    • Integrated Showcase
    • Custom Content & Marketing Solutions
    • Monthly Quiz
    • Sponsored Insight
  • Multimedia
    • Assembly Radio
    • Assembly TV
    • Image Galleries
    • Webinars
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • eBooks
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • The Assembly Show
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
  • InfoCenters
    • Collaborative Robot Revolution
    • Factory of the Future
Home » The Ultimate Lightweight Driving Machine?

The Ultimate Lightweight Driving Machine?

August 13, 2008
Austin Weber
Reprints

Engineers at BMW Group (Munich, Germany) recently unveiled a shape-shifting concept car that takes the use of lightweight materials to a whole new level. Instead of using traditional metal, aluminum or plastic composites, the skin of the vehicle is made from a stretchy fabric that forms a wide variety of convex and concave surfaces.

The GINA (Geometry and Functions In ‘N’ Adaptions) vehicle is built on the aluminum spaceframe chassis of a Z8 roadster. It uses virtually seamless fabric that stretches across a movable wire mesh substructure. Metal wires attach the fabric to the body panels, while electro-hydraulic servos stretch the fabric in different directions.

According to Christopher Bangle, the head of BMW’s design team, the GINA Light Visionary Model allows individual customer requirements to become an integral part of car development, while challenging traditional manufacturing processes and material concepts. “The GINA philosophy offers designers, as well as development and production specialists, an opportunity to challenge existing principles and conventional processes,” he points out.

“Solutions that will benefit the car of the future are examined without predefined rules and from as many perspectives as possible,” claims Bangle. “This also involves questioning what is believed to be set in stone. Does a car roof really have to rest on pillars and be bordered by windows? Do all functions have to be visible at all times, even when they are not needed? How many personalization options does my car offer? Are there any possible alternatives to the rigid body shell made of steel or plastic?”

Both the interior and exterior of the two-seat vehicle can morph into new shapes and designs. For instance, a flexible, Neoprene-covered instrument panel allows the driver to adapt the car’s appearance to suit his personal wishes. “In this application, the intelligent deployment of flexible material dispenses with the need for complex mechanical features,” says Bangle. “At the same time, the versatile appearance has a natural aesthetic appeal.”

Even the engine cover has been replaced by fabric. A graphical display panel provides information on the particular arrangement of the service functions, while integrated zippers facilitate easy, hands-on access to the filler caps of the cooling water and wiper water tanks. “A number of functions-cover, orientation and access to service points-are integrated into one component in a logical and attractive manner,” Bangle points out. “This deliberately minimalist approach to the deployment of components is an active contribution to the protection of resources.

“The search for new materials and production technologies favors solutions that work with less raw material and energy,” adds Bangle. “A minimalist approach to the use of components and production stages yields ecological and economic benefits. As part of our endeavor to create social sustainability, we are looking for production methods that rely on the expertise of highly qualified specialists instead of expensive manufacturing tools.”

subscribe to assembly

Recent Articles by Austin Weber

Colorado develops grid-storage battery technology

Auto Industry Drives New Vision Technology

Electric vehicle makers rethink assembly processes

2019 Assembly Plant of the Year: Refrigerator Production Heats Up at GE Appliances

Omron sponsors University of Houston robotics lab

Weber200
Austin has been senior editor for ASSEMBLY Magazine since September 1999. He has more than 21 years of b-to-b publishing experience and has written about a wide variety of manufacturing and engineering topics. Austin is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Related Articles

Human-Powered Flight - The Ultimate Form of Green Aviation

The 5-Day Car Will Feature Lightweight Materials

Lotus Races to Tackle the Lightweight Challenge

Assembly Plant of the Year: A Lean, Green Printing Machine

Subscribe For Free!
  • Print & Digital Edition Subscriptions
  • Assembly eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Mobile App

More Videos

Popular Stories

lordstown motors

Electric Truck Manufacturer Buys GM’s Lordstown Assembly Plant

Auto Industry Drives New Vision Technology

Auto Industry Drives New Vision Technology

Bobcat manufacturing

Bobcat Announces Manufacturing and Assembly Facility Upgrades

Linear Motor Transport Systems

Linear Motor Transport Systems

Wearable Device 11-27

Wearable Lets Users Control IoT-Enabled Devices With Brain Waves

Upcoming Assembly Events and Webinars

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Cloud Computing

Are you using cloud computing at your assembly plant?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Welding: Principles & Practices

Welding: Principles & Practices

This text introduces students to a solid background in the basic principles and practices of welding.

See More Products
assembly buyers guide

Assembly Magazine

assembly dec 2019

2019 December

The 2019 December Assembly features our Capital Spending Report, plus much more. Check it out today!
View More Create Account
  • More
    • Assembly Plant of the Year
    • Manufacturing Group
    • List Rental
    • Organizations
    • Connect
    • Want More?
    • Polls
    • Privacy Policy
    • Subscribe
    • Survey And Sample

Copyright ©2019. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing