ZUMIKON, Switzerland — Swiss automaker Rinspeed will unveil another quirky concept at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show: an electric sports car that grows. At the push of a button, the rear end of the iChange pops up to expand from a one-seater to accommodate two additional passengers.
When configured for just one occupant, the driver sits in the center of the car, and the exterior canopy forms an aerodynamic teardrop shape. Expanding the rear for more passengers creates seats on either side behind the driver. In this mode, optimum aerodynamics are sacrificed for increased interior space.
Power for the iChange comes from an electric motor producing 201 horsepower and paired with a six-speed gearbox from the Subaru WRX. The sprint to 60 mph comes in just over 4 seconds, and top speed is 137 mph. The car's lithium-ion batteries are designed with two different configurations for long- and short-distance driving. To maximize range, weight is kept to just over 2,300 pounds.
There are no doors on the iChange. Instead, the entire roof canopy tilts forward using electric power. Solar panels on the roof drive fans that keep the interior comfortable in the summer and also charge the batteries. In place of the traditional car key, the iChange uses an Apple iPhone, which also controls many other vehicle functions. The navigation system also features the ability to calculate the route that requires the least energy.
Inside Line says: It may be more grounded than the sQuba, but the Rinspeed iChange is unlikely to revolutionize the automobile. — Eric Tingwall, Correspondent
Add A Comment »