Rinspeed E2
Rinspeed stelt de Rinspeed E2 voor op het autosalon van Genève, een Fiat 500 met twee vermogensniveaus.

De baas van Rinspeed, Frank M. Rinderknecht, is afkomstig uit de tuningwereld en zoekt graag naar nieuwe manieren om brandstof te besparen zonder de prestaties aan te tasten. Met de E2 heeft Rinspeed een nieuwe interpretatie van de toekomst beet. Met een druk op de knop kan de vermogensoutput gewisseld worden tussen 60 en 160 pk. 

De Rinspeed E2 is gebaseerd op de Fiat 500 Abarth. E2 staat voor de twee vermogensniveaus die beschikbaar zijn: er is de vermogensoutput van 60 pk die gebruikt kan worden om in de stad te rijden en de ‘autostrade’-modus waarbij 160 pk vrijkomt. Met een druk op de knop kan tussen beide gekozen worden. Het verbruik verschilt dan ook naar vermogenskeuze, 4 liter per 100 kilometer bij 60 pk en 7 liter per 100 kilometer bij 160 pk.

Waarom Rinderknecht niet aan eco-tuning doet? “I don’t believe too much in eco tuning. Many drivers are not willing to miss out on driving fun and don’t want to drive a something that announces to the world that they do without. But the number of people who want to use our energy supply responsibly not in the least because they want to protect our environment will grow quickly.” Gelijk heeft hij.

Rinspeed zal de E2 samen met de iChange Concept voorstellen op het autosalon van Genève.

Rinspeed E2

Rinspeed E2

Rinspeed E2

„E2“ – 60 or 160 hp at the Push of a Button from Swiss Automotive Powerhouse Rinspeed

Zumikon, Switzerland – What is this? It is round, small and cuddly, has eyes to fall in love with, a sexy behind – and on demand 60 or 160 hp as necessary. It is Rinspeed’s answer to the fast changing requirements of the market and sociopolitical perception about the tuning industry.’ Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht hits the nail on the head: “Just like the auto industry has to adjust to the demands of a new era, tuners have to look for new ways to do business as well.” The Swiss automobile visionary Rinderknecht, who has his roots in the tuning business, observes a change in people’s attitude, at least in the western world: “We need an intelligent use of our fossil resources, especially of our energy”.

Rinspeed’s creation is based on the Abarth version of the Fiat 500. Its name ‘E2’ signals the fact that the nimble little Italian car is equipped with two different power levels: The 60-hp ‘Commuting’ level is more than sufficient to move along with city traffic while saving energy. In this mode the ‘E2’ consumes just some four liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. Outside the city, the ‘Highway’ mode provides driving fun and added power for fast and safe passing. In ‘Highway’ mode the engine produces 160 lively horsepower and transforms the Italian flea into a venerable hornet. Fuel consumption in ‘Highway’ mode is in the neighborhood of seven liters per 100 kilometers. The energy management system of the ‘E2’ is controlled by a small button in the cockpit that affects the engine electronics.

Rinderknecht believes he is on the right path with his new interpretation of automobile customizing. With the ‘E2’ and his concept car ‘iChange,’ which is much further removed from production, he wants to nudge the automotive as well as the tuning industries in a new direction, to leave well trodden paths and creatively look for new ones: “I don’t believe too much in eco tuning. Many drivers are not willing to miss out on driving fun and don’t want to drive a something that announces to the world that they do without. But the number of people who want to use our energy supply responsibly not in the least because they want to protect our environment will grow quickly.”