Not just a new way to skin a car

[Msterbeau]

I've seen the idea tackled by students and industry designers before... but this is the first time I can remember someone really pushing the envelope (so to speak) of material use and function for the exterior of a car.

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[freydis]

oh, wow!

thats freakin' weird!

[Rev.Reverence]

I don't even carry an interest in auto's...but this IS sweeet!

[ttogreh]

That's nice, but what is the material made of? Does it cost more than Steel? How durable is it? Is it lighter than steel?

If it is just a toy for the rich, meh.

[Msterbeau]

That's nice, but what is the material made of? Does it cost more than Steel? How durable is it? Is it lighter than steel?

If it is just a toy for the rich, meh.

Good questions. I didn't read the whole press release.. It's a BMW and a two-seat convertible. Kinda a toy for the well-off even if the materials and ideas are applicable to something more practical. Design innovations often start that way.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/bmw-gin...model-revealed/

[creatureofthenyte]

I think its cool.

I think if auto manufacturers can come up with safe ways to make cars and trucks lighter, that would be a great thing. As we all know, a vehicle that has its weight reduced, also helps with its fuel efficiency, amongst other things...

[industrial_girl_2000]

I've seen the idea tackled by students and industry designers before... but this is the first time I can remember someone really pushing the envelope (so to speak) of material use and function for the exterior of a car.

Whoa!! It's the batmobile come to life!

[ttogreh]

It's textile fabric. Now, textile rips, gets, stained, gets wet...

The substrate is carbon fiber and metal wires. If the skin could be made out of something like... I dunno, some form of industrial lycra...

[Guest GodfallenPromos]

wow...if it really is capable of what it shows...then I am all for it...yes...textiles rip, etc...but if it is cheaper to make the skin...then you can just re-skin your car..poof..done...wow...that woudl be sweet....maybe even send in a design when you order...get "custom" skins...lol...you can even get interactive skins...skins that have a visual/ video aspect to them!!!...that would be nuts....I want to see BMW really try and put this out there!!!....GO BMW!!!!

[Onyx]

Looks cool, would save on weight thus gas, but I wonder how secure it would be.

Seems like you could just take a knife and get right into the car.

[creatureofthenyte]

ooo a car with black latex skin.....soo gawth

[Bernadette]

And with the CAFE requirements tightening up ALOT in the next few years -- ALOT of weight has to come off cars to achieve it.

[Msterbeau]

And with the CAFE requirements tightening up ALOT in the next few years -- ALOT of weight has to come off cars to achieve it.

Smack the marketing people around for that.. They're the ones who keep insisting we need car to have everything in the world to attract customers...

[Bernadette]

It's the Gov't too ... but chicken or the egg?

[ttogreh]

Carbon fiber. It's lighter than steel, and just as strong. Every car that wants to be in the North American market in twenty or so years is going to be made out of the stuff, I bet.

That coupled with lithium-polymer batteries and electric motors, those mechanical flywheels of yours msterbeau...

Yeah, oil is on the way out.

Well, sort of... I am pretty sure carbon fiber is made out of oil...

Still, better to build with it that to burn it.

[Msterbeau]

Until carbon is significantly cheaper, it's stuck in small volume, high-buck applications.

What it's made of: http://www.answers.com/topic/carbon-fiber?cat=technology

[Homicidalheathen]

ditto that cool but weird

oh, wow!

thats freakin' weird!