Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 Comfortline
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VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Manual, RWC on Delivery, Inc VAT Purchase with Confidence www.cittoncars.co.za Purchase with Confidence www.cittoncars.co.za Price: R 149999 Contact: Citton Cars 012 335 6740

Renault Scenic 1.9 DCi
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RENAULT SCENIC A/C, R/Cd, P/S, C/L, ABS, A/Bags A/C, R/Cd, P/S, C/L, ABS, A/Bags Price: R 149995 Contact: Renault Northcliff 011 219-8000

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Today, 08 November 2009

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Werewolves do it. Mermaids do it. Now BMW have revealed a shape-shifting car. They're throwing out the rule book with their GINA (Geometry and Functions In "N" Adaptions) design principle.

The philosophy offers designers as well as development and production specialists an opportunity to challenge existing principles and conventional processes. Solutions that will benefit the car of the future are examined without predefined rules and from as many perspectives as possible. 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 personalisation options does my car offer? Are there any possible alternatives to the rigid body shell made of steel or plastic?

An essential principle of the GINA philosophy is to integrate new materials and innovative constructions into the creative design process. But it is in the nature of such visions that they don't necessarily claim to be suitable for series production. Rather, they're intended to steer creativity and research into new directions.

Some of those ideas come to the fore in the Z4-like GINA Light Visionary Model. It features a virtually seamless outer skin made of a textile fabric that stretches across a moveable substructure made of metal and carbon fibre wires.

Elector-hydraulic devices control this skeleton which can change shape or move beneath the fabric skin. As a result functions are only offered if and when they're actually required, reducing the car to its essentials and adapting it to the driver's requirements.

The bonnet for example opens from the centre with the car's skin pulling open like curtains to reveal the engine, while headlights work like an eye, with the fabric parts exposing or hiding them.

But most dramatic are the doors: they lift up in a scissor-like movement with the fabric binding up as they do so. There are no outer hinges, remember.

Inside, instruments are only visible when needed at a certain time; otherwise the interior fabric covers them up.

At this point it's all just an idea, so don't rush out to your dealer in search of a shape-shifting car. But you can look at it right here...