Have you heard about this revolutionary new car idea? BMW has a new concept car, called the Gina, with an exterior made of flexible cloth. Doors can be opened seamlessly along with the lights and it’s a car that weighs significantly less. This crazy idea isn’t even brand new as it was originally built six years ago It is finally seeing the light of day as the concept car, which actually drives, is being moved to the BMW Museum in Munich. I would guess watching the video one would come to one of two completely different mindsets; that is really weird and it can’t be safe or wow really cool.

Stay Opened Minded

The Gina is an excellent example of staying open minded and thinking out of the box. Because cars have always been made of metal or now plastic skins why couldn’t they be made of something else? I don’t know how far this concept is away from production or all the details around it (Update: there are no plans to put this car into production or even make any more), but it definitely is a completely different way of attacking a problem. With the every growing costs of energy and demand for oil a car that is significantly lighter would require much less power to move.

Wired has an interesting article about the car, BMW Builds a Shape-Shifting Car Out of Cloth, and a quote from that piece really sticks.

“It is in the nature of such visions that they do not necessarily claim to be suitable for series production,” company officials said in unveiling the car Tuesday. “Rather, they are intended to steer creativity and research into new directions.”

I believe that’s an important take away for anyone. Just because you have a wild and new marketing idea doesn’t mean that continuing to explore it is a complete waste. Ultimately creative new and innovate solutions would never happen without looking completely outside the box.

Besides it’s just a gorgeous looking concept car!

If your interested in furthering the conversation about this car there is plenty of interesting insight in the comments of the Wired article.