BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car has skin, skeleton, blinking eyes

This angry-looking skinned beast is the BMW GINA Light Visionary Model. GINA, which stands for Geometry and Functions in 'N' Adaptations -- whatever that means -- is shelled in a textile fabric wrapped around a carbon fiber and metal frame. This means that the skin and skeleton can bend and contract like, well, real skin and skeleton. For instance, the doors bend up, the headlights are exposed like eyeballs under eyelids, and the hood opens from the center like some sort of gaping maw to expose the engine. Even the interior is skinned and modular: only the dash displays that you need at any item are available via openings. Don't get too excited, though -- this is purely a concept and nothing you'll see in a showroom any time soon. We can dream, though, right?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 8:16AM]

mmmm...exactly the same thoughts...i'm wet now

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 1:35AM]

Yeah i know what this is about... a whole new market for sunscreen.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 1:39AM]

What is the purpose of this? This looks like some totally random attempt at designing something random...yeah, thats sounds just about right.

[Adisah Posted Jun 11th 2008 1:41AM]

It's kinda like a bat if you think about it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 1:46AM]

Hey did they name that on the new crowdsourcing model too :) Bout time they paid us for ideas...especially because i would have named it something else...Skirt...the Suv Version could be called mini-skirt.

http://namethis.com/signup/referral/9123

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 1:56AM]

As Carnac might proffer,
something Bangle never gets....

Vehicle
Adapted for
Geometry and functions
In
'N'
Adaptations

[Twitchy Posted Jun 11th 2008 6:22AM]

Engadget, for the love of amusing posts, bring back 'Highest Ranked'. Please.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 2:05AM]

It comes with a chest separator to make you feel like a surgeon when you are performing the simplest oil change!

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 2:37AM]

so basically you will need to have your car dry cleaned every time you manage to get bird sh*t on it, or anything else that contains oils that stain. Can you imagine that dry cleaning bill. But hey on the upside i just found a new business model. Drive-Through Car dry cleaning!

[Twitchy Posted Jun 11th 2008 2:43AM]

Textile outer 'skin'? Great, I bet it is 'hand wash only'.

[Hellios Posted Jun 11th 2008 2:46AM]

This thing intrigues me, and at the same time grosses me out, especially when it opens the hood and displays the motor...

They should tone down the organic features, and make it more like T1000 from Terminator 2.

[retread Posted Jun 11th 2008 2:57AM]

Skinning an open frame is sort of an old concept in the aircraft industry, but nice to see it now being applied to cars. Saves a lot of weight for the aerodynamic advantages it returns, although as mentioned above, damage may be a bit of an issue. Either way, I appreciate BMW even thinking of this...

[john Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:20AM]

ASIMO is gonna look good pillaging the countryside in that

[IndiaTech Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:23AM]

Does it shrink after the first wash? I mean you buy the Coupe and bamn, it's a Sportster after going through the car wash.

[numlok Posted Jun 11th 2008 12:02PM]

Nice, now car and owner can have matching wrinkles.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:46AM]

Epic sexiness !!!!

[joebrech Posted Jun 11th 2008 4:17AM]

Seem like a viable idea, as im sure they can reduce the cost of bodywork repairs to under the current prices and make a profit from it also.

They could market it as easy to repair bodywork. Guess it could tempt slashers if they called it and easy fix system. but then again bmw drivers should keep their cars in a garage.

[Bash Posted Jun 11th 2008 5:22AM]

At first it looked like a new version of the Batmobile =|

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 6:51AM]

Strangely autoerotic.

[min0u Posted Jun 11th 2008 7:06AM]

GINA? shoulda called it JAWS.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 7:22AM]

GINA eh? it puts a new dimension to the phrase 'riding your car'

[kingu Posted Jun 11th 2008 8:37AM]

But does it have a vagina!?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 8:46AM]

http://bmw-web.tv/en/video/OOWelgb/BMW%20GINA%20Light%20Visionary%20Model%3A%20Design

[2late2die Posted Jun 11th 2008 9:29AM]

First, that car gives me wood.

Second, they should use this shape for one of their next models (instead of waiting for tech to allow the whole skeleton and skin thing) 'cause it's damn hot.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 10:54AM]

Wow...that's really cool BMW....useless, but cool. I can't wait to get one for the Bat Cave at home.

How 'bout investing those concept car dollars into Hybrid or Electric technology instead.

Gas prices in LA today are just over $5/gallon.

[RAMz Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:10PM]

Or working on that Hydrogen 7 thing....

[JohnS1111 Posted Jun 11th 2008 7:24PM]

Well, a car without a metal exterior, just a cage, will be lighter, so it will consume less fuel... combine all the technologies and you have a light fuel efficient car... somewhere in a couple of years...

[RAMz Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:10PM]

As if we are dreaming to have this?

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:46PM]

I demand that they produce them in Virginia. Then the SKU for that particular vehicle can be "VA-GINA"

Ok, you can vote me down now.

[whowhatme03 Posted Jun 11th 2008 5:08PM]

"man, i'm starving, i could seriously go for a shake and some fries."
"yeah, man, me, too, let's hop in my GINA and head over to sonic's"
"your what?!?"
"my GINA... it's my new car dude, get your mind out of the gutter."

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 6:03PM]

@Abuzar: I agree with you here. The post face lift E46's are much better looking than the E9n's

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 11th 2008 10:58PM]

Skin made of carbon nanotubes. Stronger than steel.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 12th 2008 1:18PM]

I have submitted your article to http://www.autocar-live.com which is a social site where users can submit car/auto articles and vote for already submitted articles.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 17th 2008 2:03PM]

that is the bat mobile