Geneva Preview: Rinspeed iChange Concept
By Andrew C., 30 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
Rinspeed, the Swiss tuning and engineering company famous for its impressively strange creations such as the James Bond esque underwater sQuba and eXasis glass car, just to name a few, is currently dabbling into 'shape-shifting' or 'adaptive' cars like their iChange concept, that has the ability to adapt to the number of passengers on board, and which is set to be shown next month at the Geneva Motor Show.
The fundamental concept of the iChange is the fact that a vehicle demands energy contingent on weight, type of engine and aerodynamics. Since weight and engines are fixed part of the equation, Rinspeed saw that a car's shape, and therefore its aerodynamic properties, can be transformed. This implies that Rinspeed has created a car that can change its shape to adapt to different conditions. More details and photos after the jump!
The Rinspeed model can change from a one-seater into a three-seater in a matter of seconds via a button that will pop up the rear end to increase cabin size in two phases. The concept car does not have a door instead passengers will board it via the roof, measuring 1.03m in height, by tilting it forward. Absent from the car is a key which was substituted by an Apple iPhone which works in tandem with a Harman Kardon infotainment system that seeks to save energy through a lightweight design and the use of solar power.
For the fixed parts of the car, the iChange will come with a highly-efficient 200hp (150kW) electric motor and lightweight composite infused manufacturing process resulting in only 1,050kg in curb weight. The car will be powered by a line of lithium-ion batteries which helps it sprint from 0-100km/h in a little over 4 seconds and attain a maximum speed of 220km/h. Energy is sent to the 18-inch rear wheels through a 6-speed gearbox derived from a Subaru WRX. No imminent plans for producing the iChange yet but be sure that its features will be found in many production cars very soon.
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