Would you have driven a BMW made of fabric?

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Ministry_Of_Talent@reddit

No. I won't even drive a BMW with fabric or pleather seats.

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DrSpaceman575@reddit

I would honestly love to see more experimentation with body panels. We’ve convinced ourselves that painted metal sheets is the only way. What if it didn’t cost thousands if you bumped into a shrub?

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

Also, the idea of a car that can change shape in response to user needs is very clever. Imagine if your car's front and rear ends could fold up and its doors could suck themselves in when parking. Think of the amount of land that would save.

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thefanciestcat@reddit

Is it 1/2 price?

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bonestamp@reddit

Very cool concept but birds shit on my cars at least a couple times/month so a car made of fabric would be a nightmare.

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

We already have partially fabric bodied cars, they're called convertibles.

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bonestamp@reddit

Fair enough, but that's a very different type of fabric. They don't look great after a few years either though.

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

Take it to the car wash

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bonestamp@reddit

Mine doesn't have a spin cycle.

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RiftHunter4@reddit

Imagine needing to dry clean your car lol

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bonestamp@reddit

lol ya, I'm imaging trying to explain this to my dry cleaner.

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iohh@reddit

BMW can make cars out of fabric, paper, or feathers, but they’ll still find a way to make it weigh over 4k lbs.

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Simon676@reddit

They have showed they were fully capable of it with the i3, lightest BMW while being fully electric.

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Bonerchill@reddit

I have eyes, so no.

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

You seriously think that's not an attractive car?

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Nicktyelor@reddit

This concept was deep into BMW’s Flame Surfacing era. A lot of (often too many) strong body creases. Some questionable proportions (especially at the rear).

I think it’s striking, but a bit overwrought.

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Bonerchill@reddit

I am 40ish.

That is about as attractive as an unshaven butthole.

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impossiblefork@reddit

Aircraft used to be be built like this.

I suspect that carbon fibre reinforced plastic skins are lighter and can take shapes that give better aerodynamics, but if the alternative is steel or aluminium sheet metal I think canvas can win.

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

"Aircraft used to be be built like this."

And for the same reason: the ability to change shape as desired

As for what material would be needed to make this practical, I'm thinking spider silk, which is as strong as steel, tough as kevlar, and offers the drapability of textile fabric. Of course first we need to figure out how to economically produce that. Spider farming won't work due to their habit of eating each other.

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MadMike32@reddit

Actually no, wing warping fell out of favor quickly, but fabric skin stuck around well into WWII because it was just the lightest way to make certain parts at the time.

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impossiblefork@reddit

Spider silk would probably get moldy or something though, if parked outdoors.

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

If it does, you just need to remove the old cloth and put on a new one.

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DreyfusBlue@reddit

Loved this concept

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

I think BMW should revisit this idea. With steer and brake by wire and wheel hub motors, the amount of flexibility you can get out of it is much higher. Imagine if your car could fold itself up for parking!

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hi_im_bored13@reddit

There is a reason wheel hub motors have never made it to a mass market car, especially a luxury one

Even ignoring the logistical/economic issues, the unsprung weight and lack of gearing would make for a terrible ride and drive.

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Advanced-Injury-7186@reddit (OP)

"Lack of gearing"? Electric motors don't need gears

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