Munich - BMW has presented the GINA design concept with a seamless outer skin made of textile fabric instead of metal in line with the opening of its ultra-modern museum in the heart of Munich.

In what it calls a "challenge" to established design concepts, the visionary model has a skin that stretches across a moveable substructure such as the kidney-shaped air intakes of the front grille that open wider when more cooling is needed.

An additional rear spoiler emerges from the streamlined body without revealing its mechanics.

The GINA (Geometry and Functions In "N" Adaptions) principle grants more freedom for car design. It allows the creation of products with a design and functional range that express individuality and meet the wide variety of requirements of those who are using them, BMW said in a press statement.

"The limits of current material properties and manufacturing processes are projected far into the future," the car maker said.

Both the exterior and the interior are equipped with a variety of components that differ significantly from conventional solutions, not only by their appearance but also in terms of their basic properties.

Functions are only offered if and when they are actually required by the driver.

"Reducing the car to its essentials and adapting it to the driver's requirements enhances the car's emotional impact and achieves a crucial objective of the GINA philosophy, the company said.

Interior features included a Neoprene-covered instrument panel so that the driver's attention can focus on just the required functions. The cockpit adjusts to the driver's needs only by interaction with the seating, steering and instrumentation.

Integrated zip fasteners facilitate easy, hands-on access to the filler caps of the cooling water and wiper water tanks. A number of functions, such as access to service points, are integrated into one component in a deliberately minimalist approach. (dpa)