What is a car?
When you think of a car, you think of something that has a solid body (steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, fiber glass, etc). What makes a car, car-ish? BMW questioned that very basic assumption, and has created something really different – a car that doesn’t have a ’solid’ skin! They make the argument that tubular space frame cars (like many race cars) don’t really need a metal skin… so they applied that to a road car 
. But with a big twist – they use a fabric skin. And this fabric is wrapped over a structure that can change! My words do no justice to the GINA Light Visionary Model, so please check out their website. Would you buy a GINA? What colors would you get? How many skins would you have?
Here is a video of GINA:
Extreme customization
This BMW Gina concept takes the idea of customization to the next level . You can swap out the body color of your car at a whim, with minimum effort and cost! The car can actually change it’s shape to match your mood or taste! You will never get bored looking at the same car. So, for example, if you are feeling “mischievous” one day, you can throw on a bright yellow car skin and shape your car’s body to look like it is up to no good . And then of course, if you have a hot date, you can come up with a seductive setup . So you can see here… the possibilities are endless. You would have a lot more to worry about in the morning, other than just, “does my watch band match my shoes, etc.” Now, you will have to worry about whether your car’s skin and shape match your mood, apparel, watch, etc.his really is a big advancement in automotive technology. What do you think of these changes, are you for it, or skeptical about it?
Should this apply to watches?
Would you like to see watch companies question such fundamental assumptions about what a watch is? Which watch companies do you think would be the first to come out with such new technology?
Watches are a bit more difficult considering so much of what we pay for is the movement.
Regards,
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
Welcome to the DLG community
. With GINA, BMW is no longer trying to evolve car design. They are defenestrating all conventional thinking and wisdom. They are asking what a car is from a fresh perspective. If you apply this paradigm to watchmaking, then there are a couple of ways it could go as it relates to form and function.
Function
If you reinvent just the function, then what you said about the insides/the movement is relevant. In the sense that they might have to create a brand new type of movement, that’s not like anything we’ve seen so far. The Seiko Spring Drive comes to mind as such an innovation. Alternatively, they could go with a non mechanical movement that produces a lot of power, that can be used to perform other functions. This power source can be made to recharge with kinetic motion and/or heat and/or light. There are a new set of challenges then; no so much in the realm of how to keep accurate time (that’s already been solved). Now the question is how to make a big enough power source for the new functions that this will will have to perform. What new functions? Well, the watch should set itself via the atomic clock radio signal. It should be able to act as a transponder and receiver for basic remote control functions (perhaps wireless entry for home doors or car doors). It might one day have a build in micro projector to display lots of useful into a flat surface. Additionally, it could get weather forecasts, and display some simple alerts.
Form
If you take the form approach, then the challenge is to create a watch that is more adaptable to different environments (hot, humid, cold, dry, wet, etc). The form should be ergonomic and it should be comfortable to wear for long periods of time. People might re-think what the shape of a watch is, how it should sit on one’s wrist. We can use different materials to make the case, and the band/bracelet/strap (not just metal and leather). There might be some interesting new materials that can change size/shape to provide someone with the perfect fit. Imagine a case/strap that ‘molds’ to you. Imagine a shape/case that might vibrate or glow in certain places to give you alerts. Perhaps it can even reconfigure it’s shape depending on your preference.
Both
I’m a proponent of a company taking both form and function to the next level. In my mind, you can’t really break them apart. Two sides of the same coin. At the end we are limited by our own imagination. In the 21st century, so many things are possible that were only limited to the realm of imagination of earlier generations; now we have the ability to implement them
. No one seems to be spending any time doing this though? Maybe you know of some efforts of this underway that I’m not aware of? I sure hope so.
Thoughts?
Take care,
Nazmul.
Hi Jerry,
Welcome to the community!!
Thanks so much for leaving a comment.
I am on your site right now obsessing over everything!!! It is all amazing!!! Esp the coffee cups, i LOVE mugs and cups. I love this, and this, among many others!
.
I will have to try some of your coffee, I love coffee too. Right now i get mine from Whole Foods and occasionally from Dr Paulo’s Kona Coffee Farm.
What coffee would you recommend for me? I like mild coffee, i dont like acidic or really strong coffees like French Roast or Colombian…or at least i haven’t ever tasted one i have liked so far. I like Kona coffee and tend to like milder African coffees but i am open to new things. Can you suggest something for me?
Many members of our community are obsessed with high end espresso and I think they would love your products. Here is a conversation thread over espresso.
Izabel
Jerry,
I left this question for you on LinkedIn too but i wanted to know what coffee mug should i get for my car. Something that wont spill but will fit in those little cupholders. Can you send me a link from your site of which you recommend? I need one very badly.
This question is an easy one… I wholeheartedly recommend the Stelton “To Go” Thermal cup. I have one and it fits in the Porsche cup holders. The design is remarkable in that it allows you to drink from any side (no more looking for the sip area) and it is made by Stelton a truly great manufacturer. See it at this link.
Regards,
Jerry Delince
I want a GINA!!!
Ok, I am a bit biased, since I am a BMW man at heart but the GINA concept is seriously a good way to look at car-evolution. Honestly this may just be a turning point for Mr. Bangle ever since he decided to fugly-fy the BMW 7 series with the new lines.
In the meantime (nearly) everyone has come to terms with the new design-strategy but when it first came out I swear there were people ready to kick this man all the way to Bavaria for taking a perfect 7 series (the E38, as seen here) and murdering it.
But with this GINA concept, I think he’s on to something.
Now, on the watch front, I think it is slightly different but maybe even possible. A watch that can be adapted in shape to your mood/desires? hmmm, Let me try one on for a while and I’ll get back to you…….or not
Hi Vincent
I want a GINA too
. I love the idea of loading up a “theme” for your car, personalizing to your tastes! Imagine the car responding to your mood. If you’re aggressive, based on your mood, it can change the external and internal appearance of your car. It can sense your mood based on reading your facial expressions and/or the playlist that you have in your media player 
.
I too underestimated and ridiculed Mr Bangle… I thought he just was just blind or something
. But turns out he is quite the visionary 
. I hope the execution of the GINA concept doesn’t get messed up. I don’t think that BMW is evolving car design. This is not an evolutionary step. It’s a revolution. A paradigm shift… it will change the automobile forever.
With regards to watches, I totally believe that it will be possible to create interesting machines that will challenge what we think of as a watch today (basically a small pocket watch strapped to the wrist). I’m glad that you like the idea of a revolutionary watch
.
By the way, I too think that the E38 is stunning. The new 7’s look like some kind of sea cow.
Take care
Nazmul.
The GINA looks amazing. I can hardly imagine what it would be like without seeing it
. What colors would you get for the cover? I would get a bunch of them for different days of the week, I guess that depends on how easy it is to change it and if I can do it by myself with no help. Definitely yellow, red, and a white one. Those are my favorite car colors 
.
I hated Bangle before I saw this…after what he did to the Z4, the 5, and 7…and man I can’t stand the new X6. It looks more like a sea cow than the 7 IMHO. I mean the X6 is all over the place, I can’t tell which end is the front and which is the back…the car doesn’t know if it’s coming or going. I am sure it drives great and is an awesome “car” but to me it is still an eye sore
.
I totally would love a watch like the GINA, or better yet a real GINA watch that matches with the car
.
The Gina is really incredible to see up close. The skin looks like metal and the lines on the car are beautiful. Here is a link to some pictures I took at the BMW Museum in Munich this past summer. There are some pics of the Gina. That video really does not do the car justice.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pac1185/sets/72157605967400896/
Hi Paul
Thanks for sharing the pictures. I’m really excited at the radical departure the GINA concept represents from conventional “wisdom” and design
. I create software and am constantly looking for ways to cover new ground, and I could do some incredible things with a car like the GINA 
. The possibilities are endless, limited only by imagination.
That’s awesome that you went to the BMW museum!
. I’ve always wanted to go… haven’t had the chance yet… maybe next year 
.
Take care
Nazmul.