A car wrapped in a superhero’s cape.
The Challenge
Former BMW Design Director Chris Bangle wanted to pursue his idea of a fabric-skinned car. He was seeking lighter, more flexible materials that required less production energy than traditional metal skins.
Inspired by a flexible skin architecture exhibit at Material ConneXion, Bangle started researching high-strength and tear-resistant textiles with our team of experts.
The Discovery
Their effort led to the GINA – a visionary shape-shifting sports car made from polyurethane-coated Lycra stretched over a wire-aluminum frame. The metallized fabric was sourced from the world of technical textiles, normally used to shield heat from processes.
The Material Solution
While only a concept car, the GINA’s innovative design is inspiring a new wave of automobiles.
We went [back] to Material ConneXion, who we used as a very valuable resource, to help us identify swatches that … would become the GINA.
Chris Bangle, Former VP Design, BMW
Service of Choice
Material Landscape provides select resources through material deliveries and focused project workshops on topics such as: Sustainability, Efficiency Evaluation, Competitive Analysis, Product Evaluation, Opportunities Analysis, and Material Trends.
We’re here to help you make smarter long-term material decisions. By monitoring 75+ trends and topics that influence industries and decision makers, we are poised to keep you ahead of the curve — and better prepared for the future. Let’s design a clear path forward. →
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