rinspeed

The Rinspeed Dock+Go debuts at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show in March.

The biggest problem with current electric car technology is limited range. People want more than the 80 miles most electric cars can realistically achieve. Rinspeed, a Swiss automotive modifier that previously showed off such concepts as the submersible sQuba and the polymorphic iChange, offers a solution.

Its Dock+Go concept starts as a simple Smart Electric Drive, the electric version of the Smart car, and adds what Rinspeed calls a Backpack. This second piece, supported by its own axle, attaches to the rear of the Smart. Frank … Read more

The Geneva auto show is known for having a lot of custom cars and strange avant garde concepts. The Rinspeed BamBoo did not disappoint in this regard. Brian Cooley isn't even quite sure where to start with this one.

(CNET's full coverage of the 2011 Geneva auto show)

At next year's Geneva auto show, tuner and concept builder Rinspeed will show off an environmentally friendly concept car designed to evoke bronzed bodies soaking up the sun at St. Tropez. Although Rinspeed highlights bamboo in the car's name, only interior components are made from bamboo fibers, with a more conventional metal shell for the body.

In the past, Rinspeed has given us such wild concepts as the submersible sQuba and the iChange. In comparison, the BamBoo seems less ambitious, and even Rinspeed describes it as a "grown-up golf cart." Bamboo has become a favorite material … Read more

Bentley takes the top off its Continental Supersports, and adds a rear seat. Rinspeed makes an electric car/train hybrid. EnerDel tests plan to have utilities pay for part of electric car batteries. And we take a drive in one of the most luxurious hybrids available.

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• Rinspeed UC electric car

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Custom carmaker Rinspeed has a history of bringing designing outlandish concept cars for the Geneva auto show. Past efforts include the transparent eXasis, the submersible sQuba, and the mutable iChange. But this year Rinspeed announced something almost pedestrian, an electric city car.

The UC, which stands for Urban Commuter, is a custom built electric car. From the outside, it looks similar in form to other two seat city cars. Its performance stats aren't particularly impressive either, with a top speed of 75 mph, torque at 96 pound-feet, and a range of only 65 miles.

But the car is only … Read more

Rinspeed brings yet another crazy concept to the 2009 Geneva auto show.

This time it's the mighty morphin' Rinspeed iChange concept, which can change from a single-seater to a three-seater at the touch of a button. Also check out the iPhone-centric dash.

First car built around an iPhone, Audi's TT grows some bigger ones, Cadillac's V cars are safe for now, and where to find Bluetooth that sounds great.

• Rinspeed iChange

• Cadillac CTS-V review & video

• Audi TT RS debuts soon in Geneva

• Alpine PND-K3 goes for a lot less money now

• Best car stereos for digital sources

We covered details of Rinspeed's iChange concept previously, and now have photos to add. The iChange is a new concept for the 2009 Geneva auto show. Electric powered, it sports a different profile depending on whether it is carrying one or three people.

Swiss automaker Rinspeed will debut at the 2009 Geneva auto show an electric concept car that changes shape to conform to the number of passengers on board.

The iChange is a lightweight, 4,280mm (approximately 14 feet) EV sports car with a teardrop-like silhouette designed to maximize fuel efficiency for the single passenger. But with the push of a button, the sloped rear of the car pops up to accommodate two additional passengers, if needed.

The concept sports car forgoes doors, opting for a very ADA-unfriendly clamshell roof. Rinspeed is obviously assuming that in the future, women will no longer wear skirts. … Read more