Rinspeed Commands the Concept Crown

What do a tiny 60 hp Fiat 500 clone, a concept chameleon that top-loads one to three passengers at will, and an electric sportster that doubles as a submersible have in common? They’re all the futuristic creation of one Swiss automaker that refuses to do anything “by the book.”

This trilogy of singular vehicles each bears the stamp of forward-thinking Rinspeed CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht, who orchestrates the firm’s evolution from the helm of company headquarters in Zumikon, Switzerland. Since 1977, Rinderknecht, when chasing the dreamy details of his latest concept car, has continually asked the question, “Why not?”

In the process, Rinspeed continues to earn the respect and admiration of car buffs and manufacturers with one-of-a-kind models like the sQuba, a giant leap in automotive engineering. Its most impressive features include zero emissions due to its Lithium battery power source, equipped diving regulators to supply oxygen underwater, and a laser control system that provides autonomous driving on land. Two propellers in the rear taillight section give the car its locomotion underwater.

The other two modern marvels, the E² and the iChange, each have their own impressive characteristics.

The E² provides interchangeable power to switch from 60 hp inner-city driving – with a fuel efficiency equivalent of more than 60 miles per gallon – to a highway mode that utilizes 160 hp at the push of a button.

The iChange is Rinspeed’s latest innovation, another electric-powered sleek sports car with a main cockpit and two opposing bucket seats in back. It reaches a top speed of 136 mph and achieves 62 mph from a standstill in just 4.2 seconds.