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Rinspeed MicroMax Concept

The Geneva Motor Show never does lack for high-minded and/or wacky concept cars, and throughout the years Rinspeed has done more than its fair share to add to the inventive environs. With plucky iconoclasts like the BamBoo, iChange and (of course) the Lotus Elise that got turned into a submarine, what can we do but wait with baited breath for the next installment of Swiss madness? This year the outside-of-the-boxers at Rinspeed have brought along a microMAX concept that sees one giant box on wheels packed with concept-car goodness.

The basic idea behind the EV taxi/bus hybrid is that of smarter public transportation. The microMAX utilizes cloud-based software that can "talk" to other vehicles on the road, and find optimal routes for passenger pick-ups and efficient driving. The roomy interior has space for one driver, two passengers and a lot of stuff, ostensibly making it very convenient for family use or IKEA runs. Naturally the microMAX has a coffee machine (the Swiss love coffee), a refrigerator (the Swiss love snacks) and integrated WiFi (everyone loves the internet).

Look back at our original post for even more information regarding the microMAX concept, and peruse our gallery of live images to get your yearly Rinspeed fix.

Continue reading Rinspeed MicroMax Concept offers cheerfully wacky public transportation

Rinspeed MicroMax Concept offers cheerfully wacky public transportation originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few months ago Switzerland's relentless tinkerer Rinspeed clued us into the coming of the microMAX, its latest vision of the evolution of personal and public transport. The company has unleashed all the details and a refined set of images of the "swarm intelligence" rolling cubicle before its reveal at the Geneva Motor Show.

The microMAX is both a vehicle and a system of transportation like a city bus or subway system. An app allows members of the network to call for a ride. After entering their destinations, Harman's "urbanSWARM" cloud-based software gets the network of microMAX vehicles speaking to one another to find the best route to serve driver, current and future passengers, and allows the electric concept to dip a wheel into use as a taxi, as part of car-sharing and carpool services, and pure public transport.

An "invitingly modern interior" with a "homey lounge" atmosphere should repel unsavory associations with mass mobility. The maximum of three passengers taking their places in upright seats will have room for a shopping cart or stroller, wireless internet access, refrigerator and coffee maker and near-field communications.

The extensive press release below doesn't omit a single detail nor any one of the many partners involved in creating the microMAX. Grab a cup of coffee and dig in.

Continue reading Rinspeed bringing microMAX swarm car to Geneva

Rinspeed bringing microMAX swarm car to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rinspeed Micromax EV rendering - front three-quarter view

Switzerland's Rinspeed does its thing every year at the Geneva Motor Show, annually revealing another left-field solution for urban motoring. In 2010, it was the Fiat-500-esque UC?, 2011 saw the debut of the otherworldly BamBoo, and 2012 brought with it the Smart ForTwo-centric Dock+Go. In 2013, it will be the Micromax, which looks like it could be one of the individual cars in an amusement park people-hauler.

Billed as a revolution in short-distance transport and similar to the Ligier VIPA show at the 2011 Challenge Bibendum, the purpose of the all-electric Micromax appears to be a cross between Daimler's Car2Go program and an airport shuttle - an app-based way to gather a few more people who are going the same way. The same length as a Mini but more than seven feet tall, the Micromax has three upright seats for adults and one for a baby, plus room for a stroller or a cart. Enjoying yourself on the way to your stop won't be an issue with "unlimited connectivity," a coffeemaker and a refrigerator included in the vehicle plans.

We don't ever expect to see one on the roads, but we will look forward to seeing it in Switzerland next year. You can check out a couple of angles for yourself in the gallery, and get more info in the bubbly press release below.

Continue reading Rinspeed to unveil Micromax space pod EV concept in Geneva

Rinspeed to unveil Micromax space pod EV concept in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Translogic visits Rinspeed

Another week brings another action-packed episode of Translogic. Our sister site continues its tour of Europe with a trip to Switzerland's Rinspeed. If there's a car builder that more resembles a toy company for adults, we can't imagine it.

Host Bradley Hasemeyer got a full demonstration of several remarkable vehicles during his visit. The sQuba submarine car is straight out of James Bond, though it's based on a more modern Lotus than the famous Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me. The similarly amphibious Splash can operate as either a car, boat or hovercraft. The X-Trem is an oddly styled pickup that can load and unload - you guessed it - a hovercraft from its truck bed. Similarly, the Tatooo carries an underwater scooter.

But Rinspeed isn't just about wet and wild concept cars. The company has been pioneering alternative fuel vehicles, like the R One, a biofuel-powered roadster. It's also built the Presto, a frankly remarkable car in that it can transform from a compact two-seat roadster to a full four-place vehicle with the press of a button. The UC is a small electric car built out of a Fiat 500, controlled by a joystick and designed to be carried on a commuter train for urban use.

Click past the jump to watch the episode in its entirety.

Continue reading Translogic gets inside look at Rinspeed's concept shop

Translogic gets inside look at Rinspeed's concept shop originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last year, Rinspeed introduced its Dock+Go concept at the Geneva Motor Show, a Smart ForTwo Electric Drive with a wagon attachment whose wheels could recharge the battery. The Swiss tuner thought the idea so good that this year, instead of conjuring something just as wacky, they went even wackier: the new Dock+Go holds steady on the "go" but adds an extra dock in the form of what Rinspeed calls a wheeled backpack.

The modular system allows for the two attachments to be used at once, creating a four-axle ForTwo. The last backpack, though, is a "Variohybrid" that drives the wheels of the intermediary backpack and so charges the batteries it contains. The point is to provide the space and the range you need, but only when you need it.

Inside, it's as if the Smart had absorbed every vehicle used by every one of The Avengers. There are space-age threads and surfaces, Swiss clocks, electroluminescent lighting, flatscreen technology and a Takata-Petri steering wheel. And that isn't even the appetizer. You can peep it from numerous angles in the well stocked gallery, or click through to the jump for five videos and a press release that is three times the length of the car.

Continue reading Rinspeed Dock+Go concept returns with another tag-along ahead of Geneva debut [w/videos]

Rinspeed Dock+Go concept returns with another tag-along ahead of Geneva debut [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 smart fortwo electric drivedock+gofortwofrank rinderknechtgenevageneva 2012geneva motor showrinspeedrinspeed dock+gosmart fortwovariohybridThu, 23 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST

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Rinspeed Dock+Go

Carmakers are constantly coming up with new innovations to advance the automobile. But, let's face it: most of them are rather evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. That's why, every once in a while, the auto industry needs some creative out-of-the-box thinking. And that's where Frank M. Rinderknecht comes in.

The brain behind Rinspeed never fails to raise some eyebrows with his innovative twists on the automobile which he invariably unveils at the annual Geneva Motor Show. And here we have this year's debut.

Called the Dock+Go mobility concept, the Rinspeed design provides an interesting approach to a modern problem: While city cars (like the Smart ForTwo upon which this concept is based) may be a practical solution for those living in crowded cities, they don't offer the kind of capacity needed for longer trips. Rinspeed's solution isn't to make the city car bigger, but to make it expandable with a third set of wheels and an extended cargo box.

The resulting appendage not only gives drivers some extra space for hauling what they've got, it also offers extra battery capacity. Plus, the rear wheels recharge the battery pack, giving the industry more to think about when it comes to extending the range - and space - of electric vehicles.

Continue reading Rinspeed expands capacity with Smart ForTwo-based Dock+Go concept

Rinspeed expands capacity with Smart ForTwo-based Dock+Go concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nothing communicates the Miami Vice-era coke-dealer ethos like a slantnose Porsche 911 Turbo. Nothing, that is, except this 1986 Rinspeed Porsche 911 R69.

The loony Swiss outfit put its twist on the Flachbau by adding hot pink paint, color-matched wheels, the requisite body kit, and Testarossa-inspired side slats. Inside, Rinspeed installed power seats, the best hi-fi audio 1986 had to offer, and steering-wheel controls that would give Ray LaHood a nervous breakdown today.

True to the era that spawned it, this car's looks were dated almost before it left the factory floor.

In a strange way, though, that's part of its appeal. If you've got $79,000 to pony up, this Rinspeed R69, claimed to be the only one in the U.S., can be yours. Check out the entire eBay listing, or eyeball the photo gallery above for the whole plasticky package.

eBay Find of the Day: Rinspeed Porsche 911 R69 is spectacularly Eighties originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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20076959 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/rinspeed-r69lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/rinspeed-r69lead.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva 2011: Rinspeed BamBoo is a grown-up golf cart for the jet set]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/01/geneva-2011-rinspeed-bamboo-is-a-grown-up-golf-cart-for-the-jet/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/01/geneva-2011-rinspeed-bamboo-is-a-grown-up-golf-cart-for-the-jet/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/01/geneva-2011-rinspeed-bamboo-is-a-grown-up-golf-cart-for-the-jet/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Design/Style, Electric

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rinspeed brings a touch of the Mediterranean life to the Geneva Motor Show floor with the BamBoo. The four-passenger electric golf-cart for grown-ups is able to run up to 75 miles per hour and has a range of 65 miles thanks to a 54-kW motor. That should be plenty to get you from the dock where your yacht is berthed, to the clubs of Monaco and back again.

If partying all night has you feeling a little groggy the next day, just hop in the BamBoo and head to the beach. Once there, you can use the inflatable roof as a beach blanket(!). Don't forget to bring the included tablet PC with you, to keep in touch with friends. Once back on the road, the BamBoo will still allow you to stay in touch by providing the ability to display messages in the front grille.

It might be just us, but we can't help but think that the color scheme makes the BamBoo look more than a little like a cocktail-sized version of the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile - mustard and all. Check out our high-res gallery below and let us know what you think.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo: Geneva 2011

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

Geneva 2011: Rinspeed BamBoo is a grown-up golf cart for the jet set originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19863148 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/01-rinspeed-bamboo-geneva-2011630opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/01-rinspeed-bamboo-geneva-2011630opt.jpg <![CDATA[Videos: Rinspeed BamBoo takes us on vacation from Geneva to Saint-Tropez]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/videos-rinspeed-bamboo-takes-us-on-vacation-from-geneva-to-sain/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/videos-rinspeed-bamboo-takes-us-on-vacation-from-geneva-to-sain/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/videos-rinspeed-bamboo-takes-us-on-vacation-from-geneva-to-sain/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Videos

Rinspeed BamBoo concept at the Geneva Motor Show

Rinspeed BamBoo - Click above to watch the videos after the jump

Rinspeed's oddball creations are as much rare birds as they are strange ones. Every year we arrive in Geneva and take a good long look at the latest one before moving on, and then the cars are never to be seen again. And we wouldn't expect any different from this year's bizarre concept car.

Called the BamBoo, it's the Swiss firm's vision of a modern-day, all-electric, open-air beach buggy of sorts, and, like its predecessors, bears little in the way of resemblance to any other car on the road today. Well, maybe the old Fiat Jolly, Mini Moke and any number of fiberglass-bodied dune buggies...

So if you want to take a closer look at the BamBoo in its intended natural habitat - Saint-Tropez - check out the quartet of videos after the jump. Because the show will soon be over, and so will the car that Rinspeed built for it. Oh, and guys: looks like the driver above is single... says so right at the front of the car.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

[Source: Caradisiac]

Continue reading Videos: Rinspeed BamBoo takes us on vacation from Geneva to Saint-Tropez

Videos: Rinspeed BamBoo takes us on vacation from Geneva to Saint-Tropez originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19853910 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/bamboo-vidcap7_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/bamboo-vidcap7.jpg <![CDATA[Rinspeed BamBoo frolics in the sunshine ahead of Geneva]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/16/rinspeed-bamboo-frolics-in-the-sunshine-ahead-of-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/16/rinspeed-bamboo-frolics-in-the-sunshine-ahead-of-geneva/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/16/rinspeed-bamboo-frolics-in-the-sunshine-ahead-of-geneva/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Specialty, Design/Style, Electric

Rinspeed Bamboo concept

The Rinspeed BamBoo enjoys the summer sun - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed has unleashed a mammoth collection of photos featuring its upcoming BamBoo. We eagerly await spying this grown-up golf-cart (their words) in person at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The photos are heavy on the stylized portrayal of wealthy youth enjoying a summer in Saint-Tropez, yet they reveal little of what's under the BamBoo's skin.

We do know that its German-made 54-kW electric motor will allow speeds of up to 75 miles per hour and that its battery (unknown chemistry) offers 65 miles of range. What's more, it appears that there may be a bicycle or two taking up residence in the rear cargo area. Tech junkies will surely appreciate the included seven-inch (Android-powered?) tablet computer.

The photos are fun to look at (get a load of the inflatable roof that also serves as a beach blanket) and help give us an idea of what to expect when we finally train our own lenses on the real-life version of the BamBoo. In the meantime, feel free to check out the press release after the break.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Rinspeed BamBoo frolics in the sunshine ahead of Geneva

Rinspeed BamBoo frolics in the sunshine ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rinspeed BamBoo - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's a lot of adjectives you could ascribe to Rinspeed's wild creations. After all, each one is as different from the one that came before as it is from any other car on the road or the show stand. So if we had to pick one, it would be "unique." And the latest Geneva-bound BamBoo concept car is no exception.

Initially released about a month back, the BamBoo is an off-beat concept for an easy-going car-about-town designed for vacation homes and resort destinations. A grown-up golf cart is what the quirky Swiss designer itself calls the vehicle. But in case it wasn't unique enough, Rinspeed has now taken measures to make it even more so.

Teaming up with pop artist James Rizzi, the BamBoo has been turned into the kind of rolling canvas we know as an Art Car. But despite the image above, as well as the usual formula that calls for an all-enveloping design, by the time the veil lifts at the Geneva Palexpo in March, Rizzi will have applied his - there's that word again - unique talents only to the vehicle's inflatable roof surface. There will also be a little bird on the B pillar that, like a mood ring, is supposed to convey the occupants' disposition to the world passing them by. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Rinspeed BamBoo concept pops its top with artist Jamez Rizzi

Rinspeed BamBoo concept pops its top with artist Jamez Rizzi originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19784124 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/web630-dwnbamboo5_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/web630-dwnbamboo5.jpg <![CDATA[Rinspeed previews BamBoo well ahead of Geneva debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/rinspeed-previews-bamboo-well-ahead-of-geneva-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/rinspeed-previews-bamboo-well-ahead-of-geneva-debut/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/rinspeed-previews-bamboo-well-ahead-of-geneva-debut/#commentsFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Off-Road

Rinspeed BamBoo

Rinspeed BamBoo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Ah, Rinspeed. The crafty Swiss design house that has brought us funky creations like the UC?, iChange and sQuba has just given us a preview of its latest creation, the BamBoo. Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year, the BamBoo is a sort of "grown up golf cart" (Rinspeed's words, not ours), and as its name would suggest, many of the interior components have been constructed from bamboo fibers.

So, what's the purpose of the BamBoo? Beach assault vehicle? Tropical resort cruiser? Rinspeed offers this as an explanation:

"This open-top vehicle awakens the longing for sun, summer, for lightness and easiness, the desire to be at the beach. It is a reminiscence of the Seventies, of the south of France and St. Tropez. And one would expect to find Brigitte Bardot behind the wheel with playboy Gunther Sachs at her side heading towards Tahiti beach."

Sounds lovely, but the Swiss designers have left out practically all of the nitty-gritty details about the BamBoo, including powertrain, interior accommodations and plans for production (if any). Nevertheless, we'll get the full scoop at the Geneva show in March. In the meantime, check out Rinspeed's latter-day Fiat Jolly/Volkswagen Thing Acapulco in our gallery below, then follow the jump for the press release.

Gallery: Rinspeed BamBoo

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Rinspeed previews BamBoo well ahead of Geneva debut

Rinspeed previews BamBoo well ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19740056 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/bamboo630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/bamboo630.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva 2010: Rinspeed UC? asks a lot of questions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-rinspeed-uc-asks-a-lot-of-questions/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-rinspeed-uc-asks-a-lot-of-questions/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/03/geneva-2010-rinspeed-uc-asks-a-lot-of-questions/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Electric

Rinspeed UC? - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite what your eyes may be telling you, the car you see above is not a Pygmy Fiat 500. It is, in fact, the questionably named Rinspeed UC? (pun intended - get it, questionably named... ha!), which the company says is short for both Urban Commuter and the phrase, "You See?". In person, the latest concept from the quirky design house appears much more green and iridescent than it does in the press photos, as you can see from our live image gallery below.

Buried underneath that flashy clothing you'll find a lithium ion battery pack from LiTec that sends power to an electric motor with 95 pound-feet of torque, which pushes the little urban runabout to a top speed of 68 miles per hour. A full charge is said to be sufficient for a range of about 75 miles.

Also take note that there's not a single scratch on the UC?, though that wouldn't really be a problem since the car comes with StickerFix, "a modern, high quality adhesive DIY repair system that uses patented AkzoNobel paint technology in combination with a specially developed vinyl sticker." Clever, no?

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Rinspeed UC?

Gallery: Rinspeed UC?

Geneva 2010: Rinspeed UC? asks a lot of questions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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19381810 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/geneva-rinspeed-live_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/geneva-rinspeed-live.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Rinspeed shows off the future of motoring with the UC?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/18/video-rinspeed-shows-off-the-future-of-motoring-with-the-uc/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/18/video-rinspeed-shows-off-the-future-of-motoring-with-the-uc/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/18/video-rinspeed-shows-off-the-future-of-motoring-with-the-uc/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Electric

Rinspeed UC? Concept - Click above to watch the video after the break

The future of automotive transportation, huh? Many so-called futurists have attempted to predict what we'll all be driving five, 10 or even 15 years from now, but there seem to be more questions than answers. Will we even be driving at all? It would seem that Swiss design studio Rinspeed sees us piloting tiny little electrically operated vehicles from point A to point B, alongside teenagers that like to hang out in urban areas riding skateboards and jumping over obstacles. At least that latter part doesn't sound all that different from today, right?

Moving on to more interesting things, namely Rinspeed's awkwardly named and Geneva-bound UC? Concept, we see plenty of in-car communications and entertainment systems that apparently work along with the mobile phone in your pocket. Wait a second, is that a scratch? No worries! Just take out the handy-dandy color-matched BandAid in your pocket and you're good to go!

Need to go farther than the UC?s (ugh, that name!) 65-mile range will allow? Simply pull into your special parking space in the city-to-city electric train, plug your car in for good measure, and you're off with nary a care in the world. All that's left is to tell all your BFFs about your day via the in-car Twitter interface. Isn't technology grand? Click past the break to see for yourself.

Gallery: Rinspeed UC?

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Rinspeed shows off the future of motoring with the UC?

Video: Rinspeed shows off the future of motoring with the UC? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car of the futureCarOfTheFutureelectric carElectricCarfuture carfuture car designFuture CarsFutureCarFutureCarDesignFutureCarsrinspeedRinspeed UCRinspeed UC EV ConceptRinspeedUcRinspeedUcEvConceptucThu, 18 Feb 2010 19:56:00 EST

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19363791 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/rinspeed-uc-vid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/rinspeed-uc-vid.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Rinspeed drops pics galore of the UC? electric commuter]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/14/geneva-preview-rinspeed-drops-pics-galore-of-the-uc-electric-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/14/geneva-preview-rinspeed-drops-pics-galore-of-the-uc-electric-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/14/geneva-preview-rinspeed-drops-pics-galore-of-the-uc-electric-c/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Electric

Rinspeed UC? - Click above for high-res image gallery

Swiss design studio Rinspeed has released the details on its annual Geneva Motor Show concept and in keeping with tradition, it's an electrically-powered vehicle. Unlike the Lotus Elise based amphibious Squba from two years ago, this one is a fresh design mixing elements of the Fiat 500 and the Smart ForTwo. The diminutive battery-powered "urban commuter" dubbed UC? (that's Rinspeed's questionable question mark, for the record) is designed to provide drivers with a range of flexible transportation options.

Rinspeed has procured a lithium ion battery pack from LiTec, the German joint venture between Evonik and Daimler AG, which will propel the urban runabout 65 miles before requiring a recharge. The UC? adapts the perpendicular parking concept pioneered by the Smart to help extend its usefulness in congested cities, and while Smarts are sometimes parked bumper to the curb, Rinspeed has developed a train car loading system that allows UC? drivers to roll on and off and then relax as they travel between cities. Since most European trains are electrically powered, even inter-city travel remains zero emissions (at least directly).

Rinspeed has worked with suppliers to address the shortcomings of EVs, specifically with cold weather heating. Eberspacher has developed an innovative high-voltage, high-efficiency heating system that can crank up to 60 degrees celsius (140 degrees fahrenheit) in just 30 seconds. The UC? has been designed with series production in mind and Rinspeed is apparently looking for partners. Make the jump for all the details in the lengthy press release.

Gallery: Rinspeed UC?

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Rinspeed drops pics galore of the UC? electric commuter

Geneva Preview: Rinspeed drops pics galore of the UC? electric commuter originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genevageneva 2010geneva auto showGeneva Motor ShowGeneva-Motor-ShowGeneva2010GenevaAutoShowGenevaMotorShowrinspeedRinspeed UCRinspeed UC EV ConceptRinspeedUcRinspeedUcEvConceptSun, 14 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST

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19357708 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/uc22-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/uc22-630.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Rinspeed to unveil the UC? electric city car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/geneva-preview-rinspeed-to-unveil-the-uc-electric-city-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/geneva-preview-rinspeed-to-unveil-the-uc-electric-city-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/geneva-preview-rinspeed-to-unveil-the-uc-electric-city-car/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Electric

Rinspeed UC? - click above for high-res image gallery

When we get to Geneva next March, eccentric Swiss design house Rinspeed will be showing off a design for a new electric commuter vehicle called the "UC?" The design of the car itself doesn't appear to be particularly novel with styling that looks like a cross between the Smart ForTwo and Fiat 500 (not to mention the Aston Martin Cygnet from earlier today).

However, Rinspeed is proposing an interesting approach to extending the range of the EV. Because the UC? is only 2.5 meters long, it could theoretically take advantage of the same kind of perpendicular parking that many Smart drivers use. With that in mind, Rinspeed is proposing that railroads build special train cars that would allow the UC? to be driven straight on and off for travel between cities where the 75 mile nominal plug range would make travel impractical. Since most European trains are electric, it's even conceivable that drivers could plug in their UC? models during the train trip. Rinspeed hopes to offer up the UC? to outside manufacturers who may want to build it.

Gallery: Rinspeed UC?

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Rinspeed to unveil the UC? electric city car

Geneva Preview: Rinspeed to unveil the UC? electric city car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city carCityCarelectricElectric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric-carElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehiclegenevageneva 2010geneva auto showGeneva Motor ShowGeneva-Motor-ShowGeneva2010GenevaAutoShowGenevaMotorShowmicrocarrinspeedRinspeed UCRinspeedUcucWed, 16 Dec 2009 10:58:00 EST

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Rinspeed Official Fine Graphic Art Collection - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Swiss coachbuilder Rinspeed never ceases to amaze with its far-out concept cars, so our interest was naturally piqued when we heard that the quirky company had plans to launch a new series of limited-edition print artwork using its own vehicles, such as the E2 Fiat 500, iChange, sQuba and eXasis concepts, as subject matter.

Prints from Rinspeed's Official Fine Graphic Art Collection are now available for order from Rinspeedart.com on the buyer's choice of canvas, art paper or plexiglass, making them perfect for automotive gearheads looking to decorate their favorite hangout or workstation. There's also a series of five Futurist prints that are limited to runs of 20 pieces each.

Just like the coachbuilder's own concepts cars, each print will be crafted in Sweden. Each will be available in multiple sizes and, therefore, prices, starting at 115 Euros ($160) for artwork printed on paper, though that amount rises rapidly as the size increases and the media changes to canvas or plexiglass. See Rinspeed's typically breathless press release after the break ("We want to sing the man at the wheel, the ideal axis of which crosses the earth, itself hurled along its orbit") and be sure to check out some of the unique pieces in our gallery below.

Gallery: Rinspeed Official Fine Graphic Art Collection

[Source: Rinspeedart]

Continue reading Rinspeed gets artsy with limited-edition prints

Rinspeed gets artsy with limited-edition prints originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 May 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>rinderknechtrinspeedrinspeed artrinspeed e2rinspeed e2 conceptrinspeed exasisrinspeed ichangerinspeed ichange conceptrinspeed squbarinspeed squba conceptRinspeedArtRinspeedE2RinspeedE2ConceptRinspeedExasisRinspeedIchangeRinspeedIchangeConceptRinspeedSqubaRinspeedSqubaConceptWed, 27 May 2009 11:29:00 EST

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Click above for a high-res gallery of the Rinspeed iChange

With automakers pouring into Geneva from around the world, it's largely up to Rinspeed to hold down the home fort here in Switzerland, and the quirkiest of niche automakers never disappoints. So this year we made sure to swing by Rinspeed's show stand right away to take in its latest concoction. Called the iChange, we've already brought you the details and factory photos of this innovative electric vehicle, and it looks no less unique in person. Its low-slung body is punctuated by a forward-hinged canopy, which can be expanded to accommodate a third passenger as needed.

Stay tuned as well for live shots of the E2, a split-personality Fiat 500 that joined the iChange on Rinspeed's show stand here at the Geneva Palexpo.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Rinspeed iChange

Gallery: Geneva Preview: Rinspeed iChange concept

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Geneva 2009: Rinspeed iChange in the flesh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1476644 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/02-rinspeed-ichange-live_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/02-rinspeed-ichange-live_580op.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva 2009: Rinspeed's Abarth-based E2 concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-rinspeeds-abarth-based-e2-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-rinspeeds-abarth-based-e2-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-rinspeeds-abarth-based-e2-concept/#commentsFiled under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Green, Hatchback, Fiat

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Rinspeed E2

Usually one concept is enough to put Rinspeed on the map here at its home-turf Geneva Motor Show, but this year the quirky Swiss coachbuilder doubled down with a modified Fiat 500 that hugs the road and the planet at the same time. Joining the innovative iChange on its show stand, the Rinspeed E2 starts with the hot Abarth version instead of the standard Cinquecento, tuned it to squeeze out both extra power and extra economy thanks to a dual-mode engine management system. Painted the same shade of metallic orange as the iChange concepet, the E2 may not be quite as attention-grabbing, but extra power without the penalty is a trend we could get used to all too easily. Check it out in the galleries below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Rinspeed E2

Gallery: Rinspeed E2

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Geneva 2009: Rinspeed's Abarth-based E2 concept

Geneva 2009: Rinspeed's Abarth-based E2 concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500abarthbreakingcinquocentee2fiat 500fiat 500 abarthFiat500Fiat500Abarthgenevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowrinspeedrinspeed abarthrinspeed e2rinspeed fiatrinspeed genevaRinspeedAbarthRinspeedE2RinspeedFiatRinspeedGenevaTue, 03 Mar 2009 03:50:00 EST

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1476653 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/03-rinspeed-e2-live_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/03-rinspeed-e2-live_580op.jpg <![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Rinspeed's E2 delivers a Fiat 500 with a split personality]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/geneva-preview-the-rinspeed-e2/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/geneva-preview-the-rinspeed-e2/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/geneva-preview-the-rinspeed-e2/#commentsFiled under: Coupe, Budget, Geneva Motor Show, Green, Hatchback, Fiat

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Rinspeed E2

The mad Wissenschaftlers at Rinspeed have come up with a dual-mode Fiat 500 Abarth that gets you more power and better gas mileage - just not at the same time. Rinspeed started with the 500 Abarth that has a standard 135 horsepower, and they've given it a new engine management system that has one mode for the city and one for the highway.

In "Commuting" mode the has use of up to 60 hp, which is forty fewer horses than the bog standard petrol 500, but you'll be rewarded with almost 59 miles-per-gallon. Press a button on the console to go to "Highway" mode and you get 160 hp, which is the same hp number for the 500 Abarth SS, but it costs you a tad of frugality at 33 mpg. There aren't many ways we could think of to make the 500 better, but this trick could be one of them. You can read the press release after the jump, and check out the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Rinspeed E2

[Source: Rinspeed]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Rinspeed's E2 delivers a Fiat 500 with a split personality

Geneva Preview: Rinspeed's E2 delivers a Fiat 500 with a split personality originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abarthcoupee2economyfiatfiat 500fiat 500 abarthfiat 500 abarth ssFiat500Fiat500AbarthFiat500AbarthSsgeneva motor showGenevaMotorShowgreenhatchbackrinspeedrinspeed e2RinspeedE2Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:28:00 EST

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