BMW – No More Dents and Dings - Yanko Design

BMW is actually thinking outside the proverbial box with their latest concept design exercise. If the previously featured M1 concept did not strike your fancy, perchance this GINA Calorie-free Visionary Model will do the trick. The GINA is a roadster concept wherein the apply of canvas metallic found on bodies of production vehicles has been replaced with a special, flexible, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric material that stretches across a metal structure.

Different traditional cars, various aspects of the bodies substructure are moveable and can be shifted by ways of electro-hydraulic controls, changing the shape of the outer pare and overall design. Ane interesting example of this feature, becomes credible in the headlight arrangement. When the headlights are non active they are hidden nether the special material encompass, as soon every bit the driver turns on the lights, the contour of the front ends changes revealing the headlights, looking a lot like a character out of the Pixar flick "Cars".

The whole point of this practise is to testify that rigid body panels (as they are today) are non a necessary design element and do not significantly better the overall rubber of the automobile. About crumple zones are 100% dependent on practiced frame design and materials.

This fabric blueprint besides enforces a more green and price constructive approach to auto design. I just look forrad to no more fender benders. Total press release afterwards the images.

[ Via: Carsoop ]

Press Release

The central to affecting the development of tomorrow's mobility lies in our readiness to challenge what is established and in the ability to nowadays new options. In lodge to meet these objectives, BMW Grouping Design taps into the potential of the GINA principle (Geometry and Functions In "N" Adaptions) which promotes innovative thinking past assuasive maximum liberty of inventiveness. GINA produces dramatically different solutions that affect the design and functionality of future cars. The GINA Light Visionary Model is an optical expression of selective, time to come-oriented concepts which provide an example of the fashion and extent of this transformation.

BMW Group Design is not just interested in answering the question of how the car of the future will look but primarily wishes to explore the creative freedom information technology has to offer. Both of these aspects are affected by the requirements that hereafter cars are expected to come across.

All ideas that the GINA Lite Visionary Model presents are therefore derived from the needs and demands of customers concerning the aesthetic and functional characteristics of their car and their want to express individuality and lifestyle. The GINA Low-cal Visionary Model has an almost seamless outer skin, a flexible textile cover that stretches across a moveable substructure. Individual functions are but revealed if and when they are needed. With this model, BMW Group Blueprint initiates a cardinal discourse about the characteristics that will affect the development of cars in future. Information technology is therefore fundamentally different from concept cars, which reflect what is expected of them by implementing equally many elements as possible in a future product model. In contrast, the GINA Light Visionary Model is a vision of future cars and serves as an object of enquiry.

The seamless car torso of the GINA Calorie-free Visionary Model.

Putting its visions of tomorrow's car into exercise, BMW Group Design has developed a two-seater roadster with the unique dynamic proportions that are typical of its brand. The GINA Light Visionary Model takes the sculptural blueprint that has already been established by a number of product cars to a new, unparalleled conclusion. The automobile's forepart and sides, including the doors, create one single uninterrupted, seamless whole that converges to form an optical besides as a structural unit.

In order to create this appearance, it was necessary to move across all previous conceptions of car body configuration, design and materials. Therefore, the GINA Light Visionary Model has dispensed with the usual torso elements establish on production vehicles such every bit front apron, bonnet, side panels, doors, wheel arches, roof, body lid and rear deck. Instead, a new structure with a minimum amount of components has taken their place. A special, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric fabric stretches across a metal construction. This new material offers designers a significantly college level of freedom of design and functionality.

The body consists of only four elements. The largest component extends from the front of the vehicle to the edge of the windscreen and down the sides to the rear border of the doors. The large side panels start at the forepart where the rocker panels emerge and run across the rear wheel arches into the rear. The 4th component is the cardinal rear deck element.

An innovation breaks new ground: auto with a flexible outer skin.

The innovation of a flexible outer skin breaks new ground in automotive engineering. This revolutionary solution opens upwardly new design, production and functionality potential. It has a major impact on the interaction betwixt driver and car and enhances it by offer a variety of entirely new options. Some elements of the substructure are moveable.

The driver can motion them by means of electro and electro-hydraulic controls. This will too alter the shape of the outer skin, which tin thus be adapted to suit the current situation, the driver's requirements and tin can also enhance the automobile's functional range. The most striking instance of this is the headlight design. In normal position, when the headlights are not active, i.e. when there is no necessity to illuminate the route, they are hidden nether the special fabric cover.

As soon as the driver turns on the lights, the profile of the front end terminate changes.

Activated by the metal structure that lies beneath it, the previously closed fabric comprehend opens to the right and left of the BMW kidney grille and reveals the BMW double head-lights. The rear and the rocker panels of the GINA Visionary Model can likewise accommodate both the shape and function to the driving situation in paw. Both tin can alter the shape of their outer peel to meet the driver'due south requirement for particularly dynamic motoring. This concept also takes into account a potential interaction with aerodynamic requirements.

The pattern of the rear element allows for automated lifting of the rear spoiler when a certain speed is reached, thus creating extra downforce on the rear axle at college speeds. Due to the fact that the entire rear end, including the spoiler, is covered by a single sheet of material that reaches as far as the rear compartment of the interior, the homogeneous shape of the car'southward rear volition not be affected by changes to the spoiler position. The mechanical system that moves the elements remains concealed.

The turn indicators and the taillights function without changes to the shape of the outer peel. Their position, however, is but revealed upon activation. The emitted lite shines through the translucent fabric embrace, which is permeable to light simply not transparent.

The rocker panels demonstrate the formal versatility of the GINA Light Visionary Model with an every bit impressive performance. The air duct can be optimised if required. A respective movement of the metal construction results in an adjustment of the rocker panel profile to allow for better airflow. At the same fourth dimension, an additional protruding rocker panel line emerges. The aerodynamic optimization and the length of the line can be infinitely adjusted to the driving situation at hand.

Special cloth cover ensures authentic reproduction of material folds.

The fact that the body surface is designed by means of a flexible fabric embrace that stretches across a metal substructure means that the materials used must meet exacting requirements. Industrially produced hybrid material made from a stabilizing mesh netting support and an outer layer that is both water-repellent and resistant to loftier and depression temperatures is suitable for this application. Some other essential material property is a maximum level of dimensional stability. It must remain dimensionally stable irrespective of the temperature and air humidity information technology is exposed to even afterwards severe and constant expansion.

The dimensional stability helps retain the cover's surface tension for a long period of time. The movement of individual torso elements creates accurately reproducible folds in the material. In its option of material BMW Group Design was inspired by exterior and interior architecture. The expertise of seat design designers working for BMW Grouping Interior Pattern was successfully applied in order to cut the fabric webbing to size with maximum precision, make up one's mind the strategic position of attachment points and stretch the material. As a result, the surfaces are remarkably well balanced and due to the steady tension that is retained betwixt whatever two conspicuously defined points, the lines are extremely accurate.

The special material is supported past a metallic wire structure. At specific points, the high-force metal is enhanced by carbon struts with a higher flexibility. They are used predominantly for circular, moving contours with a specially narrow radius.

The use of large fabric areas and the possibility of changing the surface contours past moving individual parts of the metal mesh that lies beneath it create a new relationship between form and function.

If additional cooling air is required, the BMW kidney grille at the front of the vehicle can be opened. Because the overall surface of the special textile covering remains unchanged, the contraction at the front end of the vehicle, which is necessary for functional reasons, has to be compensated for past actress tension in other areas. The result is an optically bonny interaction between various body parts that introduces a new dimension to sculptural design. The widening of the kidney grille openings is activated by a motility of the metal mesh in the front surface area of the side panels. This creates more tension, which becomes visible by the emergence of an additional character line. The development of this new contour tenses the front of the vehicle: the kidney grille opens upwards.

Innovative trunk structure introduces new functional dimensions.

The high-precision fit of the fabric to the metal mesh as well allows surface changes without slackening the tension. In this instance, opening of the surface past moving the corresponding steel mesh struts creates precisely defined folds in the material. The GINA Light Visionary Model uses this selection to display a function that corresponds to the opening of the hood in conventional vehicles. The material opens at the eye of the engine encompass and can be folded to the far right and left forth an opening line that is approximately 0.5 meters long, to allow the driver or mechanic access to the service points in the engine. The filler caps of the engine oil, cooling and wiper water tanks are at present open for servicing. Opening and closing is similar to the machinery on a physician's traditional medical bag, where prune-lock fasteners are held together in the eye by a rail.

The effect of the authentic surface textile draping is fifty-fifty more than impressive when the doors are opened. They swing both outwards and upwards. The loftier number of attachment points for the textile cover positioned at the front of the machine too as at rear door edges creates a clearly defined and perfectly reproducible majority of material.

The draping is confined to the area between the front door border and the side panel. One time the doors are closed, the folds in material disappear completely, leaving a perfectly smooth, stretched textile surface.

The interior: discourse betwixt driver and vehicle.

In the interior, variability, form and office are united in an inseparable connexion. Whenever selected functions are accessed, the driver also changes the appearance of individual car elements. Again, the auto's variability is adapted to adapt the driver's needs. This creates a close interaction between driver and auto in various different situations.

When the machine is parked, the steering wheel and the round instruments – rev counter, speedometer and fuel gauge, which are vertically arranged on the middle console, are in idle position. This provides the commuter with maximum comfort upon entering the auto. Likewise, the seat only assumes its optimised functional position and shape if and when the commuter sits downward on it. At that point, the headrest, previously firmly integrated into the seat'southward backrest, rises up automatically. At the same fourth dimension, the steering wheel moves towards the driver and the musical instrument panel moves in the same management. The information on the best driver-specific position of both steering column and seat is stored in the transducer. The engine is started simply by pushing the offset/stop push.

The smooth transition of interior and exterior that is typical of BMW convertibles is reinterpreted by the GINA Calorie-free Visionary Model. The fabric that covers the rear deck runs into the interior and stretches across the driver and front passenger seats. The same textile is too used for the surface design of the door trim and armrests. The shift lever in the centre console protrudes from tightly stretched material bellows.

Driver and front seat passenger look out through a steeply inclined windscreen with the inside rear view mirror integrated into its frame.

The side view mirrors are connected to the window frame. A narrow vertical dividing bar located at the center of the windscreen harks back to the typical windscreen partition of traditional roadsters.

Innovative thinking put into practice: the GINA Light Visionary Model.

With the GINA Light Visionary Model, BMW Group Design focuses on a wide variety of bug that will determine the futurity conception of mobility. Information technology demonstrates the results of intense enquiry into design, functionality, material and production. All ideas that have been put into practice in the GINA Calorie-free Visionary Model are derived from the same motivation: to challenge conventional and previously pursued solutions. The quest for alternative options has generated a wide multifariousness of different requirements that potential solutions are expected to meet. The chief focus is on providing general versatility and catering to customer requirements with sophisticated solutions. In accordance with the GINA principle, every functionality enhancement helps to create an emotional bail betwixt the driver and their automobile.

The new solutions as well let for the option of fast, flexible and price-efficient product.

Every innovation demonstrated by the GINA Light Visionary Model also contributes to a clearly optimised resource direction. Equally the quest for sustainability is i of the central issues of the GINA philosophy, new materials and manufacturing processes are expected to consume less resources and energy than previous solutions.

Appropriately, the infrastructure used for manufacturing cars that are congenital in compliance with the GINA principle, has too changed. The manufacturing procedure requires fewer model-specific tools, and more highly-qualified skilled specialists. In all the areas referred to above, the GINA Calorie-free Visionary Model has provided inspiration for more intense research into ideas conceived as a issue of maximum creative liberty.

Emotional appeal of roadster models and visionary prospect of time to come cars.

The solutions conceived equally part of this philosophy are not considered separately, but take been pooled in an integrating vision – a vision that is expressed in the context of an outstanding, fascinating car.

The basic features of a roadster with its eight-cylinder combustion engine below a stretched front end that applies motive power to the rear wheels in order to move the car along the road defines this context.

The synthesis of elementary visions and sheer driving pleasure expressed by the appearance of the GINA Calorie-free Visionary Model has a particularly striking emotional touch. Just the particular appearance of a fascinating car with its authentic pattern that creates a natural aesthetic look can bring to light the significance of the presented innovations.

The GINA Light Visionary Model builds a bridge betwixt vision and reality by presenting a number of features with a hitting similarity with those found on production vehicles. The Roadster rests on 20″ alloy wheels in a cross-spoke blueprint with a matt silver end. The car body is comprised of an exceptionally light aluminum space frame.

Two double tailpipes for the rear exhaust system, a third restriction light integrated into the height-adjustable rear spoiler, an air splitter at the front and a rear-cease diffuser in a carbon blueprint likewise meet the standards of a production vehicle.

Nevertheless, the GINA Light Visionary Model retains its character every bit an object of enquiry. Information technology demonstrates the innovative force of BMW Grouping Design and its ability to claiming what is established, to find new solutions and to translate these in the context of the car of the time to come at a high aesthetic level. This motorcar is the logical continuation of the GINA principle in action. The GINA principle has already led to a variety of innovative concepts and has production vehicles in means that are completely new and unprecedented by whatever other car manufacturer.

BMW Group Design uses concept cars such equally the BMW concept car CS1 of 2002 as a step on the mode towards putting a particular vision into practise. The CS1 was the first to present features such as the basic principle of the innovative command system – the BMW iDrive.

Independently from all other innovative features shown by this concept car, the iDrive has become a serial production feature. Similarly, the GINA principle gave rise to an innovative manufacturing method that allows the manufacturers to decorate outer peel components that have been preformed past conventional methods with individually configured, high-precision contour lines prior to their reintegration into the manufacturing process. The Rapid Manufacturing method utilized for this procedure was showtime used during the production of hoods for the BMW Z4 Thousand Roadster and the BMW Z4 M Coupé. In these models, the finished hood has received two distinctive contour lines prior to painting.

These are not produced past a pressing tool but embossed into the metal with pin-point precision past a robot-guided steel pin.

Both examples illustrate the challenging route from a vision to a concept and to terminal series production that is not always straight and direct. With the GINA Light Visionary Model, BMW Group Design shows where this route begins. Not all innovations shown past the GINA Light Visionary Model will go along to the next stages. In its entirety, all the same, the visionary look into the future shows the extent to which the BMW Grouping employs creative potential in its try to respond to the challenges of tomorrow's mobility.

eganburnournswes.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.yankodesign.com/2008/06/10/bmw-no-more-dents-and-dings/