iChange idea easy as 1-2-3

Not satisfied with cars that drive underwater or have transporter bodies, Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht has done it again, developing a vehicle that is sure to catch the eye of just about anyone - car enthusiast or not - when it debuts at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

The Rinspeed iChange is a sports car that can change from being a one-seater to a three-seater in a few seconds. It's a simple process really - with the push of a button, the rear end of the car lifts up, allowing room for two people to sit in the back. The two rear seats are always present behind the driver, but only become sit-able when the rear section of the vehicle lifts up.

The reasoning behind the unique design of the iChange comes down to fuel efficiency. Rinderknecht says that too many vehicles are too large and 'bloated', but only ever being used for essentially one person. The aerodynamic shape of the iChange is meant to keep fuel consumption down. But if and when an extra person or two needs to be transported, the iChange is versatile enough to hold up to two more passengers as well. Once the passengers leave the car though, the vehicle can change right back to its aerodynamic, more fuel-efficient shape.

The iChange is also very light (1,050 kilograms) and runs on an electric motor, further proving this is meant to be a fuel-efficient one-seater first and foremost. That being said, the electric motor can propel the car to a top speed of 220 km/h and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 'slightly over four seconds' according to the company. The iChange uses a six-speed transmission used in the Subaru WRX.

Besides its unique '1-2-3' configuration, the iChange has some other interesting features. It doesn't use typical doors - the entire roof actually rises up electrically, allowing the driver and any passengers to get inside. In addition, the driver doesn't even use a typical key to start the iChange - that job is handled by an Apple iPhone.

While many vehicle interiors use mostly leather or other soft fabrics throughout, the iChange uses pure wool on much of its interior surfaces. Leather touches can be found in and around the inside, and even the anti-slip floor is diamond-coated.

The iChange is eco-friendly in more ways than simply being an electric vehicle. Solar panels on the top and sides of the roof provide electricity to the fan to keep the vehicle cool on hot days, while also providing additional charging of the batteries. Even the drivetrain is lubricated with eco-friendly lubricants from Motorex.

Further supporting its 'sports car' status, the iChange uses Pirelli P Zero tires (17-inch in front, 18-inch in the back), and the company says that the AEZ alloy wheels look like the wheels on a classic Bugatti.

Harman-Kardon provides the audio and entertainment system for the Rinspeed iChange - a system that was designed especially for the vehicle. It uses 'innovative Intel processor technology that guarantees minimized power consumption' while the sound system itself weighs less than ordinary systems and uses only a fraction of energy.

It may currently be nothing more than 'food for thought' for the automotive industry, but the Rinspeed iChange is a delectable idea nonetheless.