RinSpeed XchangeE — A Tesla Model S With a Reconfigurable Interior

Posted on February 18, 2014 by SeanTucker

Switzerland’s RinSpeed might be the world’s most inventive shop. They’ve turned a Lotus into a working submarine, built a car that chases speed records on water (riding on hydrofoil fins), even built a full-size four-seater that shrinks down to Smart-size for parking.

And now, they’ve built a Tesla Model S with an almost infinite number of interior configurations.

The RinSpeed XchangE is a working Tesla Model S, with seats that can be configured to seat four like a conventional car, or sleep two in adjustable beds. It has a steering wheel and pedals that slide from side to side, allowing you to drive from the conventional position, or from a center seat, McLaren F1-style, while passengers on either side stretch out.

There’s even a 32-inch monitor in the back, so you can extend the seats into rear-facing loungers and watch TV in comfort.

The dashboard is basically one screen, nearly four-feet wide, able to display almost infinite combinations of information and entertainment.

The XchangE, RinSpeed says, is meant to show what driverless cars could be like, imagining a future where the car takes you where you need to go, while you and your passenger relax and, perhaps, play with the xbox. A future, apparently, where we all get oversized turtlenecks. It will be on display at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show in March.

Fed Aims to Require Cars “Talk” to Eachother

AMY GILROY FEBRUARY 4, 2014 0

The Obama administration plans to propose a mandate that would require cars be able to “talk” to one another.

Such vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communication could eliminate 4 out of every 5 crashes that don’t involve a drunk or impaired driver.

The technology lets cars transmit location, speed and direction data 10 times every second.  The computers in other cars pick up the signal to improve reaction time.  In some cases, the cars could brake automatically.

Other actions like turning or stepping on the gas would also be communicated in a way that lets other cars react more quickly than relying on human reflexes, said CNN.

The technology could be used in autonomous cars, but also to help human drivers.

“The results could be nothing short of revolutionary for roadway safety,” said the acting chief of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) David Friedman Monday.

V2V technology would add between $100 to $200 to the cost of a car, said the AP. And most car makers are in favor of the technology, but have been waiting for a signal from the government that the technology will be supported, reported POLITICO.

First NHTSA will publish the results of a year-long pilot program for the technology.  Then it is expected to publish a report on the technology and receive public comments and then draft a proposal to mandate V2V devices in all vehicles by a certain date that has not been determined.