The fabric skin itself is interesting in that it is not transparent, but it is permeable to light. This allows the rear taillights to be housed underneath the skin -- unnoticeable unless lit, allowing their light to shine through the fabric. The fabric is comprised of a mesh netting support and a separate outer layer. Combined, the material is resistant to heat and cold and even repels water. According to BMW, the material is extremely form-fitting and able to conform to various shapes and positions with a high level of precision. Changes to the underlying metal structure are made without slackening the tension of the material or damaging it in any way.
Servicing the engine is made possible by an opening in the material in the center of where a conventional engine hood would be found. The material opens to either side of the engine and closes through a series of cliplock fasteners on a central rail. Opening the doors requires the fabric to swing up and out, folding out of the way. When closed, the doors show no folds in the material whatsoever, appearing as a smooth, stretched surface. Sporty touches round out the exterior design, with a production-ready rear carbon diffuser, 20-inch alloy wheels, quad exhaust tips, and windshield frame mounted side view mirrors.
The interior of the GINA Light Visionary Model is as innovative as the outside. When without occupants, the steering wheel and instruments are positioned vertically on the center stack so as not to hinder ingress to the vehicle. As soon as the driver sits down, the wheel and gauges move to their functional positions in front of the driver, while the headrest, previously integrated into the seat, rises automatically. The seat itself and steering column move into the ideal position for the driver, the information of which is stored in the vehicle's computer. Inside, the same stretched fabric runs from the rear deck over the seats, while the door panels and center console are comprised of the same material.
BMW stresses that its GINA Light Visionary Model is simply an exercise in design and technology and not a pre-production vehicle. Still, if history is any indication, BMW rarely allows its most exciting technology to stay in concept form for long. While GINA may not be viable for production in whole, individual elements may find their way to production sooner than one may imagine.