2006 Rinspeed zaZen Concept
02-17-2006, 10:36 AM
#1
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
2006 Rinspeed zaZen Concept
Hmmm...interesting.
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Rinspeed zaZen: A New Way to Automotive Enlightenment
February 28, 2006, will mark the world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show of the Rinspeed concept car, “zaZen", created by the Swiss designer Frank M. Rinderknecht. It represents his vision of the car of the future and will be showcased as a kind of “automotive enlightenment” on four wheels. It also embraces a technical revolution in car manufacture, with the transparent backlite being turned into a luminous holographic area. As if from nowhere, the third brake light shines out of what looks like a floating transparent hardtop.
The Car of the Future
The world premiere of the “zaZen”, with its holographic brake lamp and smoothly contoured, transparent, one-piece roof dome made of high-tech Makrolon, marks the beginning of a new era in lighting technology in vehicle design. For Ian Paterson, who is responsible for innovation on the Board of Bayer MaterialScience, this novel lighting system represents a small step on the way to building the car of tomorrow: “Together with Rinspeed, our goal is to get people thinking about the car of the future. We contribute our high-quality materials and the combined creative know-how of our engineers."
The breathtakingly designed vehicle concept was born at the Swiss engineering specialists, Esoro, from one single vision and many imaginative ideas. The entire roof dome down to the belt line is made of Bayer's transparent Makrolon polycarbonate. A glass-clear elastic sealant from Revoflex AG has been used to achieve an optimum joint with the body. The striking hardtop is light in both senses of the word. Not only does it appear to float airily above the rather chunky body, it is also weighs less than glass – not that it would be possible to make it from glass in the first place.
The Roof Construction
The lightness of the roof construction ties in with the surface coating of the “zaZen” – a white mineral shade based on the Bayer raw materials, Desmodur and Desmophen. It is certainly not gaudy, but unassumingly beautiful through the millions of tiny precious Swarovski crystals protected by a self-healing polyurethane clear coat. This so-called “crystal skin” finish was developed and applied by the Austrian surface coating specialists, Karl Seelos. The Lesonal company was responsible for producing a perfect substrate. In a nutshell, the future driver can expect to find a muscular body in a sophisticated, tailored suit – a suit that has been given an exclusive touch though Swarovski trimmings on the front, side and rear lamps and the wheel rims. But the crystal manufacturer came up with a real masterpiece in the design of the seemingly never-ending 3D rear decorative panel.
The Interior
The interior fittings of the “zaZen” are also dominated by this ethos of transparency and reduction to essentials, cleverly combined with strategically placed highlights. The transparent plastic seat shells of Makrolon fitted with Technogel upholstery were produced in cooperation with Recaro. A bright, friendly mango-orange color has been chosen for the rest of the leather/fabric interior trim. It was made by hand by Strahle & Hess, SC Schafer, OesterleSLR and Sellner. Together with the Luoro Faia plantation wood – also in the dashboard area - it creates an interior that radiates warmth and relaxation.
Powered by a 6-cylinder from the Porsche Carrera S
The “zaZen”, which weighs 3295 lb, is powered by a 355 bhp 6-cylinder boxer engine from the Porsche 997 Carrera S. It has a top speed of 182 mph and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in exactly 4.5 sec. Should the “zaZen” be built in a small series at some time in the future, Rinspeed will consider – in line with its tradition – offering it with an environmentally friendly natural gas propulsion system.
At 6,600 rpm, the engine has a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft, which is transmitted to the rear axle via a manual six-speed transmission. The necessary traction is provided by Dunlop tires with Touch Technology (245/30 R20 at the front and 305/25 R20 at the rear), mounted on lightweight Rinspeed five-spoke rims (8.5 x 20” at the front and 11 x 20” at the rear) made by CW Fahrzeugtechnik (Borbet Group).
The body – for which the molds were produced using Obomodulan modeling foam – sits on a 4x adjustable chassis specially designed by KW automotive. Here, the designers have managed to perform the rare feat of creating an outstanding synthesis of drive comfort and sporty handling.
==============
Rinspeed zaZen: A New Way to Automotive Enlightenment
February 28, 2006, will mark the world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show of the Rinspeed concept car, “zaZen", created by the Swiss designer Frank M. Rinderknecht. It represents his vision of the car of the future and will be showcased as a kind of “automotive enlightenment” on four wheels. It also embraces a technical revolution in car manufacture, with the transparent backlite being turned into a luminous holographic area. As if from nowhere, the third brake light shines out of what looks like a floating transparent hardtop.
The Car of the Future
The world premiere of the “zaZen”, with its holographic brake lamp and smoothly contoured, transparent, one-piece roof dome made of high-tech Makrolon, marks the beginning of a new era in lighting technology in vehicle design. For Ian Paterson, who is responsible for innovation on the Board of Bayer MaterialScience, this novel lighting system represents a small step on the way to building the car of tomorrow: “Together with Rinspeed, our goal is to get people thinking about the car of the future. We contribute our high-quality materials and the combined creative know-how of our engineers."
The breathtakingly designed vehicle concept was born at the Swiss engineering specialists, Esoro, from one single vision and many imaginative ideas. The entire roof dome down to the belt line is made of Bayer's transparent Makrolon polycarbonate. A glass-clear elastic sealant from Revoflex AG has been used to achieve an optimum joint with the body. The striking hardtop is light in both senses of the word. Not only does it appear to float airily above the rather chunky body, it is also weighs less than glass – not that it would be possible to make it from glass in the first place.
The Roof Construction
The lightness of the roof construction ties in with the surface coating of the “zaZen” – a white mineral shade based on the Bayer raw materials, Desmodur and Desmophen. It is certainly not gaudy, but unassumingly beautiful through the millions of tiny precious Swarovski crystals protected by a self-healing polyurethane clear coat. This so-called “crystal skin” finish was developed and applied by the Austrian surface coating specialists, Karl Seelos. The Lesonal company was responsible for producing a perfect substrate. In a nutshell, the future driver can expect to find a muscular body in a sophisticated, tailored suit – a suit that has been given an exclusive touch though Swarovski trimmings on the front, side and rear lamps and the wheel rims. But the crystal manufacturer came up with a real masterpiece in the design of the seemingly never-ending 3D rear decorative panel.
The Interior
The interior fittings of the “zaZen” are also dominated by this ethos of transparency and reduction to essentials, cleverly combined with strategically placed highlights. The transparent plastic seat shells of Makrolon fitted with Technogel upholstery were produced in cooperation with Recaro. A bright, friendly mango-orange color has been chosen for the rest of the leather/fabric interior trim. It was made by hand by Strahle & Hess, SC Schafer, OesterleSLR and Sellner. Together with the Luoro Faia plantation wood – also in the dashboard area - it creates an interior that radiates warmth and relaxation.
Powered by a 6-cylinder from the Porsche Carrera S
The “zaZen”, which weighs 3295 lb, is powered by a 355 bhp 6-cylinder boxer engine from the Porsche 997 Carrera S. It has a top speed of 182 mph and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in exactly 4.5 sec. Should the “zaZen” be built in a small series at some time in the future, Rinspeed will consider – in line with its tradition – offering it with an environmentally friendly natural gas propulsion system.
At 6,600 rpm, the engine has a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft, which is transmitted to the rear axle via a manual six-speed transmission. The necessary traction is provided by Dunlop tires with Touch Technology (245/30 R20 at the front and 305/25 R20 at the rear), mounted on lightweight Rinspeed five-spoke rims (8.5 x 20” at the front and 11 x 20” at the rear) made by CW Fahrzeugtechnik (Borbet Group).
The body – for which the molds were produced using Obomodulan modeling foam – sits on a 4x adjustable chassis specially designed by KW automotive. Here, the designers have managed to perform the rare feat of creating an outstanding synthesis of drive comfort and sporty handling.
02-17-2006, 10:37 AM
#2
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
Specifications
Engine
Type: Inline-6
Displacement cu in (cc): 233 (3824)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 355(261) / 6600
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 295(400) / 4600
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 245/30 R20 - 305/25 R20
Driveline: Rear Wheel Drive
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: 174.6 × 74.5 × 50.1
Weight lb (kg): 3295 (1495)
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s: 4.5
Top Speed mph (km/h): 182 (293)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a.
Engine
Type: Inline-6
Displacement cu in (cc): 233 (3824)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 355(261) / 6600
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 295(400) / 4600
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 245/30 R20 - 305/25 R20
Driveline: Rear Wheel Drive
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: 174.6 × 74.5 × 50.1
Weight lb (kg): 3295 (1495)
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s: 4.5
Top Speed mph (km/h): 182 (293)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a.
02-17-2006, 10:38 AM
#3
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
02-17-2006, 10:39 AM
#4
Photography Nerd
How does Rinspeed actually make any money? They always come out with concept cars, but what do they do for a living? Are they making prototypes for other manufacturers? Just curious...
02-17-2006, 10:40 AM
#5
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
02-17-2006, 10:53 AM
#6
Originally Posted by Dan Martin
How does Rinspeed actually make any money? They always come out with concept cars, but what do they do for a living? Are they making prototypes for other manufacturers? Just curious...
Well, Rinspeed is mostly a design company so perhaps all of these projects are commissioned.This particular one looks like it might have been paid for by Bayer Material Science as a way to test whatever new material they developed for that top.
02-17-2006, 11:09 AM
#7
Photography Nerd
Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
Well, Rinspeed is mostly a design company so perhaps all of these projects are commissioned.This particular one looks like it might have been paid for by Bayer Material Science as a way to test whatever new material they developed for that top.
I've actually seen that Bayer logo on a couple of their cars, so I imagine there's some relation there. Best guess is they're trying to find practical applications for their materials.
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02-17-2006, 11:50 AM
#8
Senior Moderator
no amount of beautiful scenery and/or sunsets can save this car... 
I give them some style points for being brave with their design, though. Very brave.
I give them some style points for being brave with their design, though. Very brave.
02-17-2006, 11:53 AM
#9
Senior Moderator
Thread Starter
The car looks strangely very happy...
02-17-2006, 10:49 PM
#13
Senior Moderator
now... I wonder what they did with the 612 Scag after stealing its headlights....
btw why couldn't the 612 have looked more like this concept sketch:
http://www.carbodydesign.com/vehicle...i_Sketch_4.jpg
btw why couldn't the 612 have looked more like this concept sketch:
http://www.carbodydesign.com/vehicle...i_Sketch_4.jpg
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