Rinspeed iChange displays genuine foresight
In its own unique way a giant of the automotive industry, Rinspeed did it again at this year’s automotive show by highlighting a vehicle entirely of its own design which at first appears downright loony, but upon closer inspection includes a host of details which speak volumes of the company’s forward-thinking mentality.
Called the iChange, it’s a world-first in multiple ways. The most obvious indicator of the relevance of its name is the morphling nature of the bodywork, which transforms upon command from a superbly streamlined single-seater sporty commuter, to a more aerodynamically compromised three-seat design. But the change that the moniker refers to goes far, far deeper than this revolutionary superficial element.
The iChange represents an energy-efficient, zero-emissions future and the concept is utterly holistic in striving for this goal. Naturally it’s powered by a 150kW electric motor, apparently capable of propelling the vehicle from rest to 100km/h in around the four second mark, and topping out at an altogether respectable 220km/h, presumably in its slippery single-seater teardrop shape. No mention is made of range however, which is sensible as this depends entirely on battery capacity, the limits of which are being pushed every day, but which remain the major limiting factor of electric vehicle (EV) feasibility. Interestingly, the gearbox employed by the concept is a six-speed unit borrowed from Subaru, and adapted for use with an electric motor by Siemens AG.
Beyond the powerplant however, the advanced next-gen Harman/Kardon infotainment system has been built from the ground up with energy efficiency as the goal, without compromising on audio quality. It employs an innovative Intel Atom CPU at its core, and draws a fraction of the energy of conventional systems, while providing unique features such as the calculation of the most energy-efficient route to your destination by the built-in GPS, the route displayed in 3D.
Even the interior heating system has come in for significant revisions. It employs a highly-efficient electric heating element for shorter journeys, while longer sojourns see it switching to a fuel-powered system, with a 3.5-litre bioethanol (E 85) tank providing the heating energy.
This slavish approach to efficiency extends to the key itself, which in the iChange is no longer a plastic-and-metal waste of resources, but the multi-faceted communications device, the iPhone. Drivers of the iChange use this mobile device to control every facet of the vehicle, from security and ignition duties through to infotainment, climate control, and of course that intriguing morphing cabin area.
In all, the iChange, although but a concept, beautifully embodies the stated aim of the company’s founder, and Rinspeed boss Frank M Rinderknecht concludes perfectly; “The iChange is a signal for the coming global changes to individual mobility. We need to be ready to meet these challenges with new ideas.” Although on its surface even wackier than the loopy submarine-convertible which Rinspeed put on its stand as the highlight of last year’s Geneva auto salon, the iChange is actually insanely clever.
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