Swiss tuner and concept car specialist Rinspeed will unveil the BamBoo concept electric car at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March.
The Rinspeed BamBoo concept has been jointly developed and built by Swiss engineering firms 4erC and Esoro, with color schemes applied by AkzoNobel, awhile the inside has been refined by Schoeller.
Rinspeed says the BamBoo concept is meant to be a grown-up golf cart; and its design language “pushes the reset button” and “clears the mind for a new way of thinking”.
The Rinspeed BamBoo is a four-seat electric car. The front-wheel drive vehicle is driven by an electric motor providing a maximum power output of 54kW (72hp) and 140Nm of torque at 4500 rpm.
As we reported in December, the BamBoo can accelerate from 0–50 km/h (31 mph) in 4.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) and its lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack provides a range of around 105 km (65 miles) at 90 km/h.
The puristic dashboard is in the shape of a giant breadbox – and the fine cover made from braided plastics supplied by polymer manufacturer Ticona – opens in breadbox fashion to reveal the control elements and the futuristic VDO display.
The far right of the glove box houses a seven-inch HTC tablet PC “Flyer” with docking station. In keeping with the times the tablet PC and the occupants’ smartphones guarantee that the BamBoo and its passengers are always connected everywhere.
In addition, personal messages for the people in the vicinity of the car are displayed on the innovative “Identiface.” This screen-based section, developed by Daimler subsidiary MBtech in Stuttgart, replaces the radiator grille. Thanks to its Internet connectivity “Identiface” can display the occupants’ Facebook pages, news from around the world, the manufacturer’s logo or an offer for a ride from A to B.
The elongated “bread bin” is flanked by Harman JBL GreenEdge speakers in an avant-garde design. The world’s leading provider of premium sound and infotainment systems is focusing on connectivity with its scalable entertainment system and the “Aha Radio” application. And in the center thrones the vent of the electric high-voltage heater from German supplier Eberspächer catem.
The canopylike roof inflates to protect the interior. It was developed by Tectonex, another Swiss company.
By the way the BamBoo is started with an army knife. Typically Swiss.
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