Rinspeed's given us an underwater Lotus and trash-power cars. iChange continues the madness.
Set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 it's the world's first car whose body adapts to the number of passengers on board. In seconds a streamlined one-seater sports car transforms into a comfortable car with room for three. The trick: at the push of a button the rear end of the teardrop-shaped car magically pops up.
The basic idea behind iChange is that a vehicle's energy demand depends mostly on its weight, the type of engine it uses, and its aerodynamic properties. So the zero-emissions car weighs in at 1050kg, is powered by an electric motor, and the idea of the pop-up rear end was conceived to account for the sizeable effect aerodynamics play in fuel consumption.
While other cars always have to ferry around exteriors that can accommodate up to 11 passengers even if they're just transporting one person, with the iChange the sole driver is conveyed in a teardrop-shaped car that offers optimal aerodynamic properties and thus minimized energy consumption. If more than one person need to be transported the expanding rear provides room for two passengers. As a result of the increased weight and no longer optimal aerodynamics, the energy consumption increases for the time passengers are actually on board.
The energy for the electric motor comes from lithium-ion batteries that are available in two different stack configurations for short- and long-distance driving. The electric motor produces 150kW, capable of propelling the car to a top speed of 220km/h. The sprint from rest to 100 km/h takes slightly over four seconds.
An initial walk-around reveals that the concept car has no doors. The entire electrically powered roof section of the car measuring 1.03m in height tilts forward to allow passengers to board. Also out of place here are such mundane things as a key. Its role is filled by an Apple iPhone, which also controls the most important vehicle functions.
Now all Rinspeed need is someone crazy enough to actually want the car?
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