EDAG Engineering’s Light Cocoon Concept is one of those unconventional studies that make the Geneva Motor Show a great event to attend.

With the Light Cocoon study, the German company wants to show what is possible in terms of technological advancement within the next 10 years in the automotive industry.

The concept car focuses on lightweight construction and to this end takes inspiration from nature, more specifically from leaves and bats’ wings. Engineers reached the conclusion that there is no reason why a car body should be regarded as a closed surface.

Therefore, the Light Cocoon Concept only uses material in areas where it was necessary for function, safety and stiffness, which means a lot of weight was saved because the sheet metal surfaces that typically make up the outer skin of a vehicle were broken up.

EDAG says the study has the same kind of stable, branch-like load bearing structure that can be seen in nature. And despite the fact that less material has been used, all requirements imposed on structurally relevant components are met.

The vehicle’s skeleton vaguely resembles a spider’s web, with the difference that the web is replaced by a durable, weather-resistant fabric developed in cooperation with outdoor clothing specialists Jack Wolfskin. The flexible cover can weigh as little as 19 grams per square meter, making it four times lighter than standard paper.

The fabric has other advantages as well: it doesn’t require paint or costly repairs in case of damage, while offering designers absolute freedom for personalization.

Another striking feature of the Light Cocoon is the illuminating scheme which consists of LEDs that light up the car from the inside. It’s not just for show, it also serves to make the skeleton visible. The color of the outer skin can be changed at will, according to the driver’s taste.

While EDAG admits there is very little likelihood of fabric cars making it to production in the next few years, it predicts that various structure-providing vehicle parts “will very soon be based on the EDAG Light Cocoon findings.”

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