Rinspeed iChange Concept Revealed
By Thami Masemola
December 12, 2008 6:34 PM
Filed Under: Concept Car
Rinspeed is attempting to transform the way cars behave, literally. Revealing an image of the 177hp (130kW) iChange concept, Rinspeed founder and CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht said: "Thinking about variability and the constantly changing energy demand, we have created an extremely flexible vehicle." And running on electricity means the car is also very clean.
What he means is that iChange literally changes from a 1 to a 2 to a 3-seater vehicle, depending on what is needed at the time. Its body structure adapts via "electronic trick-tail" as it's dubbed, to magically transform from a sporty teardrop one-seater to a more compact sports wagon after the car's rear end rises to accommodate two more passengers.
"If we want to preserve our individual mobility in the future, we have to re-think our conception of cars - above all we need to accommodate the ecological aspects," said Rinderknecht.
The iChange would be an ironic development in an auto industry trying by all means to create new niche segments all the time to satisfy different ever-growing needs of individuals. A 2009 Geneva International Motor Show debut for iChange will provide interesting viewing for all.
Press Release (Click to expand)
World premiere at the 79th International Motor Show in Geneva March 5th thru March 15th 2009
Swiss off-the-wall thinker Frank M. Rinderknecht constructs concept cars with fully variable body design.
Zumikon - World premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show (March 5th thru March 15th 2009): with the “iChange” the Swiss designers of Rinspeed present a “1-2-3-seater” powered by a 130kw-electric motor. The concept car’s striking body structure adapts via “electronic trick-tail” to the number of passengers: while the sporty and streamlined teardrop shape seats only the driver, two more passengers may join him once the car’s rear end has risen as if by magic. In the blink of an eye the full-blooded sports car turns into a compact sportsvan.
With the Rinspeed “iChange“ the automotive jack-of-all-trades Frank M. Rinderknecht and his partners aim to provide thought-provoking impulses for the automobile industry: “Thinking about variability and the constantly changing energy demand, we have created an extremely flexible vehicle.” The result is a zero-emission car featuring both extremely low weight and aerodynamic drag, thus further reducing the power consumption.
For Mr. Rinderknecht the car’s name “iChange” means more than a flowery phrase: “If we want to preserve our individual mobility in the future, we have to re-think our conception of cars - above all we need to accommodate the ecological aspects.” The best possible answer the big automakers could find for the “iChange” woud be a strong “Yes, we can!”
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Comments
Why bother making a car that can change to fit 1 to 3 passengers without changing its size? That would be useful - and I mean, cartoonishly useful - if you could travel with three on the weekend and then park a car half its size when on your own, on the way to work.
It seems to me that, even more difficult than making three people fit in that, is talking two other people to get into such an ugly thing along with Mr Rinderknecht.
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