You've got to love Rinspeed. A press release from the Swiss tuning company can enliven even the dullest day, with the one introducing the new BMW i8-based Etos concept for January's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas setting new standards.
Drone - perfect for taking selfies while driving
Not that Rinspeed regards itself as being just a fettler of other people's products these days. Indeed, the first line of the announcement describes the company as a "Swiss idea smithy", and this is its take on what the tuned autonomous car of the future will look like, a technical showcase introduced by an official release that doesn't hold back from singing the praises of both the company and its boss Frank M. Riderknecht. Or, as the blurb puts it, "as always the Swiss mastermind approaches the mega topic of 'self-driving cars' primarily from the perspective of the driver and the occupants ... and as always, he garnishes his concept with a host of inspiring and emotionally appealing highlights."
Not enough madness? Okay, well how about the drone. That's right, the drone. The Etos carries its own autonomous remote flying vehicle that sits on a landing platform at the back of the car when not in use. The platform apparently includes 12,000 LEDs, allowing it to double up as an electronic message board or - it says here - a visual dancefloor, presumably for very small people. And what's the drone for? You need to hear this verbatim... "It can quickly pick up a bouquet of flowers for the significant other ordered on the way home. And the little flyer is a lot of fun when it acts like a UFO, shooting a selfies of the ride in the Etos on your local favourite route and streaming it live to friends. Heads up: that little thing has an extremely high addiction and envy factor!"
The Etos is a technology demonstrator rather than a purchasable model, although with Rinspeed you never know. It will be on show at CES in Las Vegas in January and then coming to the Geneva motor show in March.
Watch the promo video here.