26 February 2009 - 11:00
When three become one…
The Geneva motor show is nearly upon us, so it must be time for another kerrazy koncept from Swiss bizzarists at Rinspeed.
It’s called the iChange, a low-slung sports car powered by a lithium ion battery pack mated to an 201bhp electric motor. It’ll hit 60mph in just over four seconds and manage a top speed of about 130mph.
But – and there’s always a but with Rinspeed – here’s the kicker. It’s a one-seater… that’s also a three-seater! When you’re on your own in the car, the rear deck sits closed, but, says Rinspeed, “At the push of a button the rear end of the teardrop-shaped car "magically pops up to reveal two more seats."
Yes, they actually used the word ‘magically’. Doesn’t exactly inspire you with confidence, does it?
In fairness, the theory is a sound one: when you’re driving one-up, the iChange morphs into a more aerodynamic shape, saving fuel and energy.
Only problem is, Rinspeed doesn’t seem to be too clear on how it actually works: there’s lots of lovely information on how the interior functions can be controlled through your iPod, and how the alloys were inspired by classic Bugattis… but not a whole lot on how the clamshell roof changes form so magically.
And we can’t help noticing that, in the promotional video Rinspeed has released, the iChange sounds worryingly like a four-pot diesel. Hmm.
Perhaps all shall become clear in Geneva next week. It could be a work of genius. Hey, we laughed at that strange sQuba concept, and just look what happened to that. Er…
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I think the exterior design was a bit of an afterthought (they even had to nick a set of Insignia lights). As for the rest, it makes no sense
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I think the exterior design was a bit of an afterthought (they even had to nick a set of Insignia lights). As for the rest, it makes no sense. So, classic Rinspeed, then.
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well, maybe today i'm a bit venomous today...but in the video it clearly shows how do you get the 2 extra seats, please...a bit more attention because that is not a spoiler rising but the whole clamshell roof rising to make space for the back seats.
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Yes, It shows that the Camera Car was a diesel...
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the "four pop diesel" is the cameracar... should've noticed that lads
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Rinspeed, they do like their concepts and complicated solutions on things that wasn't a problem to begin with - they do make fun stuff. If only they would bother to edit the video; that only takes an editional couple of minutes, to crop out some 20-30 seconds of watching a piece of paved road. After all, they did go through the trouble of mounting the camera on a steady gimble/rig. That's my only explanation for missing the morphing and diesel - they did not edit the video so you are distracted and focus on the wrong things.
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Its like marmite you either love it or hate it. I love it.
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I would love to see the Stig drive this.
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i like this car but top speed needs to be increased i would love to havedriving lessons from the stigg
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First definitive evidence that Rinspeed have invented a time-machine - a car that appears to be based on concept drawings from the 1980s
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i like this car but the speed limit should be more
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Great design. For a kitchen appliance. Competes with Senseo and Nespresso coffee makers. Maybe, some day, Rinspeed will compete with La Pavoni.
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No........................er.... just NO!!!
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this looks like a car from the 2010 in the second flim of ''back to the future''
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I can't imagine anyone driving that in the future and yes it is clever if it works but its expensive to change a 1 seater to a 3 seater thats saying beats a toyota prius
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just noticed also the passengers arent looking at the car and looking at the horses probably wish they bought a horse (probably go further than the ichange) i wish it would change into something we want like i dont know a real car
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short of seeing the i-change in real life, no-one can actually make a objective opinion on the thing, the whole, cam-car-diesel issue: people i got so bored watching the road i was quite impressed that anyone managed to stay awake for long enough to pick that up!As for the changing and it being clear to see..."well, maybe today i'm a bit venomous today......etc." help me out here, but it was about as clear as the bottom of the thames to me, yes, its not a spoiler that lifts up, but still, a roof lifts up and there are seats underneath??at the very least if Rinspeed would release some design drawings we would be able to "see" better...but then again maybe they're scared that someone else steal their "magical" technology...and the next thing you know, we will have a car that magically transforms into a 20-seater single decker bus!!!
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Not for me... I'll stick with Lambos.
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Not for me... I'll stick with Lambos.
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It's not uninteresting, but it's typical Rinspeed lunacy, and my reaction to Rinspeed is much like my reaction to a fuzzled old lady trying to crochet a scale model of the temples at Ankor Wat... just pat her on the shoulder and let them get on with it, because it probably makes sense to her and although nobody in the world will want one, it'll be at least interesting to look at. What I am getting a bit cheesed off with is everyone calling everything the i-something. It seems to have become marketing shorthand for 'this is something cutting edge and future-proof and worldchanging.' Sorry, but it doesn't mean anything* other than your marketing department thought iMgonnahavesomeofthat so iMjumpingonthebandwagon. *Of course, it probably means different things to different people and different companies, but if you just see it in passing, it's just a letter tacked onto the beginning of something else.
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it not only looks like a 50s fireplace bellows, but it actually operates like one
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whitewings05 commented on this article
26 February 2009
They weren't driving too fast in that video of theirs. Top speed of 130? Maybe not. It's quite ghastly too at that.
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