Monday 27th February 2017

Rinspeed Oasis

Rinspeed's creations often look inspired by wacky baccy; latest one gives you somewhere to grow it

---

Amid all the deeply earnest wealth measurement going on at Geneva light relief can typically be found over at the Rinspeed stand, the concept creations of 'Swiss automotive visionary' (his own press release's words) Frank M Rinderknecht always amusingly wacky.

We've had the Lotus-based sQuba submarine, Dock+Go Smart ForTwo and 'backpack' combo and the i8-based Etos complete with onboard drone for capturing your moments of motoring glory to share online. Now we have the Oasis, already shown Stateside with appearances at Detroit and CES but now joining the fray at the firm's home show.

Apparently inspired by R2D2, the self-driving Oasis then goes a little off-piste by boasting of an "integrated small garden plot behind the windshield" with space for "growing radishes or even little Bonsai trees". Or, if local legislation permits, perhaps something a little more recreational. One for residents of Colorado perhaps, though you might want to make use of the R2-inspired ability to turn round in "almost a zero radius" if you find yourself nearing the state line of somewhat less 'progressive' neighbours like Kansas.

It's not just a garden on wheels though. "Armchairs, sideboard and TV provide a modern living room ambience," the release continues. Inevitably it's also big on connection and social media, alerting you to destinations like restaurants your Facebook friends may have 'liked' and taking you straight there. Having reserved a table first, obviously. Suitably refreshed what if you fancy driving back yourself? You can but only if you stuck to the soft drinks, the Oasis conducting a slightly sinister sounding automatic "fitness and alertness test" before the foldaway wheel emerges.

A suitably free-thinking exercise then, Rinderknecht as ever spotting social trends as a way of pulling together a broad range of tech companies in the pursuit of identifying possible opportunities. And providing grow-your-own enthusiasts a way of getting about if they've got a bit high on their own supply.

[Rumblestripe]

Marvellously, inspiringly stupid.

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

The thing I don't really understand is - Rinspeed seem to have been around and been doing these things for ages. How does the company actually make any money ? Can't believe anyone actually buys these things.....

[cybersimon]

'How do we stop the journos being just rude about this?'
'Distract them with a window box.'

[Spaff]

I shot a brief commercial for him before Geneva 2014 with the Rinspeed Tesla. The man was present and I asked him the same question. All the sponsorship stickers you see on each vehicle, they pay for his work. He keeps the majority of his creations at his house wherever it is. Nice chap with a hint of mad scientist about him.

[sad61t]

How cars might look if we weren't obsessed by 0-100 in sub 10 seconds, while bouncing off humps in a 20 mph zone.

As the population continues to migrate to mega-cities this could be useful for shuttling to and from transport hubs, with the on-board connected system booking a ticket based on our ETA, dropping us off and then either shuffling off to a charge-point (exclusive use license), picking up associates (Facebook friends license) or touting for the next passengers (day points license).

[Dave Hedgehog]

sad61t said:

How cars might look if we weren't obsessed by 0-100 in sub 10 seconds, while bouncing off humps in a 20 mph zone.

what utterly crap, like the i3

thank gawd for elon musk who not only delivers future cars now but cars that also look good and not aimed at special needs people

[JohnT993]

My understanding is they're a b2b company who sell services into oems, the services require them to be seen as left field and visionary hence why they do such show cars, which aren't meant to appeal to Joe public.

[RBH58]

How do Rinspeed make money? Because everything they produce is ridiculous and/or a bit rubbish.