Gizmodo: rinspeed

This Electric Car (Concept) Is Controlled by an iPhone

Mark Wilson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:10:00 EST

The Rinspeed iChange is an electric car concept promising 0-60 in four seconds along with a transforming rear end that can create two extra seats. And an iPhone controls everything but the driving parts.

The dash features an iPhone dock, and as you can see, there really aren't many other buttons—heck, there's not even a slot for the key. So the iPhone is used to turn on the car, control the Harman/Kardon infotainment system with GPS navigation, and, we believe, even handle the air conditioning complete with vents.

And as ridiculous as the idea seems, I can't help but appreciate the idea of owning one wondrous device that manages every aspect of my life/identity...I'd just rather not hit up the App Store every time I need an oil change. [Jalopnik]

Rinspeed Splash Sports Car Walks On Water

Mark Wilson — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:51:13 EST

The Rinspeed Splash is a peppy sports car, going from 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and hitting top speeds of a modest 125mph. However, getting to a destination is not just about the speed at which you travel, but the route you take getting there. And the natural gas powered Rinspeed Splash, with the touch of a button, uses hydraulics to transform the car into a boat.

When cruising the water, a hydrofoil system—a mechanism generally reserved to lift hulls from the water to increase boat speed—allows the car to hover a few feet over the water while it uses a propeller to hit speeds of 45 knots (that's a respectable 52 miles per hour).

We're not sure how much the Splash costs, but needless to say, it's probably more than a car or a boat. [dailymail via newlaunches]

Sensosphere, Airline Cabin Chic

kthompson — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:20:00 EDT

People spend gobs of money paying designers and decorators to gussy up their bedrooms, offices and living spaces, and make them more comfortable, but why should they stop there? After all, even on a blogger's schedule you only spend 80% of your day in your room—why should the outside world be dull and boring? Enter Swiss automaker Rinspeed and the new Sensosphere, a concept airliner cabin that turns boring white walls into relaxing moonlight vistas or calming oceanic sunsets.

Sure, you may need a few extra Valium to get you through a 14 hour transatlantic flight in a tube that makes walls pseudo-invisible, but dealing with your neuroses keeps flight attendants at the top of their game. It's still classier than sticking those glow-in-the-dark stars you used to have on your bedroom ceiling all over the cabin. – Karson Thompson

The Sensosphere Airplane Cabin [Via Luxury Launches]

eXasis Transparent Car: Clearly Awesome

Mark Wilson — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 22:20:28 EDT

Rinspeed's eXasis looks cool enough for us to forgive their horrid use of capitalization. The car is constructed from aluminum and plastic, and most of the control panel is touch sensitive. As I understand it, the use of clear, conductive Baytron allows the elimination of most simple wiring.

But is there a practical application? You tell me. How many times have we all wondered whether that was a person-or just a scarecrow-that we just ran over?

– Mark Wilson

Product Page [via thecoolhunter]