2007 Rinspeed eXasis Concept Preview
(from Rinspeed Press
Release) World premiere at the Geneva Motor Show 2007
Rinspeed Presents Ethereally Transparent Concept Car “eXasis”
A “Glass Car” Made from Plastic
World premiere at the Geneva Auto Show 2007 for the Company’s
30th Anniversary
Is it just a clever 3-D projection or maybe a mirage of a four-wheel
art objectogon; Or is it actually a real car sitting thereogon; Some
visitors to this year’s Geneva Auto Show (March 8th thru 18th) will
ask themselves just these questions when faced with the new fully
transparent Rinspeed creation “eXasis.” The insect-like body and
even the floor pan of the seemingly “glass” concept car from the
renowned Swiss powerhouse for new designs and ideas actually consist
of a transparent high-tech plastic with a tinge of pale yellow.
The “eXasis” has open wheels, a cigar-shaped body with fore and aft
tandem seating, and has elements of the legendary Auto Union race
cars from the first half of the last century combined with a modern
Baja-1000 off-road vehicle.
The transparency “dematerializes” the car to a large extent. Behind
the seemingly fading matter the spirit of the “eXasis” reveals
itself: The ideas, thoughts and imagination that were the basis of
its development. For Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht the
“eXasis” symbolizes this development process, a process that takes
immaterial spirit and turns it into matter, transforms a mere vision
into a concrete car: “And in all its transparency the “eXasis” still
seems as if it hadn’t arrived fully yet in the material world.”
Definitely part of the material world is the engine of the concept
car: A compact and powerful two-cylinder 750-cc engine provides some
150 environmentally friendly horsepower for swift conveyance.
Bioethanol that reduces CO2 emissions powers the tiny supercharged
engine. With a projected vehicle weight of just 750 kilograms thanks
to plastic lightweight construction each horsepower has to account
for just five kilograms - on a level with a Porsche.
Altogether these figures give plenty of reasons to expect of loads
of driving fun and numerous visionary technologies and innovations
from Rinspeed’s “eXasis.” A very special thrill will be the view
through the transparent floor pan - it will be an absolutely unique
anniversary ride.