What's this about?
One of the oddest and lightest cars at Geneva was this, the EDAG Light Cocoon, a concept car that shows off the potential for taking weight out of the structure of a car by using 3D printing and some exotic materials.
The Light Cocoon uses a load-bearing space frame structure that's actually 3D printed. Thanks to the way the 3D printing process works, it can be built up layer by layer so that it's strong where it needs to be and light everywhere else.
Covering that structure is a special waterproof material developed for EDAG by clothing company Jack Wolfskin. The material, which effectively makes up the exterior panels of the car, is strong and weather resistant, but weighs less for a given area than photocopier paper - 19 grams per square metre.
That skin and structure is then lit from within to emphasise its light weight and natural look. The whole car was said to be inspired by the structure of leaves and a bat's wings.
"We are pursuing the vision of sustainability - as demonstrated by nature: lightweight, efficient and without any waste," said EDAG's head designer Johannes Barckmann. "The EDAG Light Cocoon presents a stable, branch-like, load-bearing structure from the 3D printer, which uses material only where it is absolutely necessary."
Neil Briscoe - 4 Mar 2015