In previous installments of this series, we’ve covered a few examples of phone-car convergence such as the Land Rover LRX. We would be remiss if we did not report on the iChange, the latest concept car developed by Rinspeed that was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
Frank M. Rinderknecht, owner of Rinspeed Inc., says the iChange is a symbol for the fundamental changes the auto industry is undergoing worldwide.
Rinspeed is a Swiss automobile design firm and manufacturer established by Frank M. Rinderknect. In addition to restoring classic cars and modifying Porsches and Subarus, Rinspeed creates a concept car each year for the Geneva Motor Show. Automotive enthusiasts might recall some of Rinspeed’s previous concept cars, such as the sQuba — which was based on the Lotus Elise and doubled as a submarine — and the Splash, an amphibian vehicle with a top speed of 124 miles per hour on land and 45 knots on water.1
Now comes the iChange, a single-seat concept car that can adjust its shape to accommodate up to two passengers. The iChange is capable of reaching 62 mph in four seconds and a top speed of 137 mph.2 According to Rinderknect, “the iChange is a symbol for the fundamental changes the auto industry [is undergoing] worldwide.” From Rinderknect’s perspective, the automobile manufacturers that will make it through these turbulent times will be the ones focused on radical innovation in the industry.3
The Rinspeed iChange has a 0-100 kph (62 mph) speed of slightly over 4 seconds and a top speed of 136 mph.
The fundamental principle behind the iChange is that weight is the most important factor in determining the amount of energy required, therefore Rinspeed has designed an extremely lightweight vehicle that runs on a 150-watt electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries housed in the rear of the car. A push of a button can instantly transform the car from a three-passenger car back to a single-seater, maximizing aerodynamic efficiency.
The iChange, which does not have a key slot or a push-button starter, is controlled by the driver’s iPhone.
The iChange has no doors. Instead passengers enter in through the roof. Rather than a key, the driver uses her iPhone instead. The iPhone conveniently fits into a specially designed docking station. The driver can start the car via a native application on her iPhone. The iPhone can also be used to switch the headlights on and off.4
If that were not enough, the iChange has a killer entertainment system created by Harman/Kardon and powered by energy-efficient Intel processor technology. An eco-friendly navigation system displays route suggestions for minimal energy use in a 3D display. Furthermore, solar panels on the roof power cooling systems in hot temperatures.
Frank Rinderknecht may just be the Buckminster Fuller of today’s automotive world. The cars that he presents annually at the Geneva Motor Show are not simply meant to compete with the Ferraris and the Lamborghinis of the world. They are meant to solve the key issues of the day, and in the case of the iChange it’s about rethinking what a car should be in an era of increasing sensitivity to the ecological effects of over a billion cars on the road. Furthermore, the iChange suggests a progressive blurring of the boundaries between software and hardware design. Beyond the ability to start a car and control the entertainment system, the integration of a platform such as the iPhone OS opens the door for numerous opportunities for application developers, especially in the areas of social media, environmental consciousness and telematics. We’ve covered some examples on this blog already, such as Carticipate, Ecorio, and Gasbuddy. It will be interesting to watch how the mobile platform wars extend themselves to the automotive industry.
Related links:
- Official site of the Geneva Motor Show
- Rinspeed site
- Frank M Rinderknect; LinkedIn profile
- sQuba photo gallery; Rinspeed site
- Lotus Elise; Wikipedia
- Hughes Telematics working on downloadable apps for vehicles; Autoblog.com, 02,19.09
- Carticipate site
- Ecorio site
- Gasbuddy site
Sources:
- Rinspeed; Wikipedia
- Shape shifter: Electrified Rinspeed iChange hits 62 mph in 4 secs; Motor Trend, 02.17.09
- IPhone-controlled car to demo at Geneva Motor Show; Macworld, 02.23.09
- Rinspeed site
Image credits:
All Rinspeed iChange photos appear courtesy of Rinspeed Inc.
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