Rinspeed XchangE Concept is Everything Bad About Driverless Cars

I’m really starting to worry about Frank Rinderknecht. My encounters with Frank in South Florida centered, primarily, around the Rinspeed Yello Talbo and Mono Ego concepts from the late 90s, but we crossed paths a few times, again, while I was at RENNtech and he wanted to revive the old James Bond Lotus concept with a submersible Elise. All those cars were chock-full of epic badassery, but Frank’s latest concept (a stand up bus that would supposedly appeal to millenials) was so cynical and jaded that I started to think he was losing touch. Now, Frank is releasing some details on his upcoming Rinspeed XchangE driverless car, and it ain’t lookin’ good.

The new Rinspeed XchangE looks, from the drawings provided, like a modified Tesla Model S that’s been outfitted with reclining and revolving seats, à la Westfalia camper. In addition, Rinspeed’s concept is fitted with a steering wheel that seems to “swing away” from the driver, leaving them free to kick up their feet, take a nap, or drink espresso from what seems to be the dashboard-mounted espresso machine.

What concerns me here isn’t the idea or the layout- this is Frank’s best work in years!- it’s that everything about the car is ignoring the fact that most of the proposed legislation surrounding so-called “autonomous” cars requires an alert and present driver to act as a “backup system” for the car. In other words, it’s a utopian version of what a driverless car could be, rather than what it will be. Because of that, I think, it’s doing nothing but pushing the first generation of driverless cars further down the road, and delaying a partial solution to fuel-wasting problems like rubbernecking, brake checking, and generally bad driving.

That said, I’d love to kick my feet up and sip espresso all the way from Chicago to Ohio … maybe I’m thinking about this the wrong way? Maybe I should just say, “Siri, wake me up when we get there,” and hope for the best. What do you think? Is Rinspeed’s latest a good way to advance the cause of the driverless car, or is it time for Frank to pack it in? Let us know what you think in the comments, below.

Source | Photos: Rinspeed, via AutoExpress UK.

Rinspeed “MicroMax” EV Is Small But Tall

Electric vehicles allow car designers a lot more freedom when it comes to far-out concepts. Switzerland’s Rinspeed is no stranger to weird and wacky car designs, and their latest concept is the most bizzare yet. The Rinspeed “MicroMax” EV will debut at the Geneva Auto Show in 2013, and its unique design will make the most use of the limited on-board space.

Because EVs don’t require exhaust systems or transmission tunnels, designers can come up with unique concepts like Rinspeed’s MicroMax, which has a flat floor and rear-facing stand-up seats. Yup, there won’t be any sitting in this car; the “seats” let you take some, but not all of the weight off of your feet.

For its stated purpose as a short-distance airport shuttle or taxi though, the Rinspeed MicroMax could be a perfect solution. At the length of a Mini Cooper, but standing seven feet tall, the MicroMax will be small and easy to maneuver while still providing enough room for three full-sized adult passengers, a baby, and a driver. There are even plans to add a coffee maker or fridge for on-board refreshments.

Rinspeed has come up with some interesting concepts before, among them a Smart ForTwo ED with a range-extending battery “backpack” and agolfcart made from bamboo. But the practical applications of this flat-floored EV seem wider than either of those. Might Rinspeed find success with this box-shaped electric taxi?

Source: Autoblog

A Marketing Look at the Rinspeed Bamboo EV

This has to be one of the goofiest cars ever but at least it derives its power from alternate energy forms.