BMW GINA

MUNICH, Germany — The BMW GINA concept, a shape-shifting cloth car, begs a simple question: Is BMW's controversial designer Chris Bangle spending too much time at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts?

BMW's press release about the GINA contains the understatement of the year. The GINA is described as having "a flexible outer skin [that] breaks new ground in automotive engineering."

But not to worry. This isn't the type of cloth you'd find on the remnants table next to the needles and thread. BMW describes it as "industrially produced hybrid fabric made from a stabilizing mesh netting support and an outer layer that is both water-repellent and resistant to high and low temperatures." The textile cover stretches across a movable substructure, says the German automaker.

The GINA Light Visionary Model bypasses such automotive components as the airdam, hood, side panels, doors, wheel arches, roof, trunk lid and rear deck, says BMW Group Design. The shape of the outer skin shifts according to driving needs. For instance, when the headlights are not in use, they are hidden under a fabric cover. When the driver turns them on, "the contour of the front end changes," the company says.

GINA stands for "Geometry and functions in 'N' Adaptions." BMW is sketchy about the powertrain aspects of the concept, saying only that GINA has "the basic features of a roadster with its eight-cylinder combustion engine." Other details include 20-inch alloy wheels with a cross-spoke design, double tailpipes and an aluminum space frame.

The GINA apparently is not headed for production, since BMW calls it "an object of research."

What this means to you: Don't look for a cloth car from BMW in your driveway anytime soon.