Rinspeed has presented two concepts in Geneva with one being of interest to Italian car enthusiasts, an innovative tuning project that sees the 500 Abarth offered into two guises, one for economical city driving and one for the open roads.

Swiss design and tuning firm Rinspeed has presented two concepts at the 79th Geneva Motor Show this week with one being of interest to Italian car enthusiasts, an innovative project that sees the powerful 500 Abarth offered into two horsepower guises, one for economical city driving and one for out on the open roads. Rinspeed, known for a string of outrageous and forward-looking concepts first began showing cars in Geneva exactly thirty years ago, in 1979.

Dubbed the Rinspeed E2 this 500 Abarth conversion offers 60 or 160 bhp as necessary. It is Rinspeed’s answer to the fast changing requirements of the market and sociopolitical perception about the tuning industry.’ Rinspeed boss Frank M. Rinderknecht explains: “Just like the auto industry has to adjust to the demands of a new era, tuners have to look for new ways to do business as well.”  The Swiss, who has his roots in the tuning business, observes a change in people’s attitude, at least in the western world: “We need an intelligent use of our fossil resources, especially of our energy".

Rinspeed’s creation is based on the Abarth version of the Fiat 500. Its name E2 signals the fact that the nimble little Italian car is equipped with two different power levels: The 60 bhp ‘Commuting’ level is more than sufficient to move along with city traffic while saving energy. In this mode the E2 consumes just some four litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. Outside the city, the ‘Highway’ mode provides driving fun and added power for fast and safe passing. In ‘Highway’ mode the engine produces 160 lively horsepower and transforms the Italian flea into a venerable hornet. Fuel consumption in ‘Highway’ mode is in the neighbourhood of seven litres per 100 kilometres. The energy management system of the ‘E²’ is controlled by a small button in the cockpit that affects the engine electronics.

Rinderknecht believes he is on the right path with his new interpretation of automobile customizing. With the E2 and his concept car ‘iChange,’ which is much further removed from production, he wants to nudge the automotive as well as the tuning industries in a new direction, to leave well trodden paths and creatively look for new ones: “I don’t believe too much in eco tuning. Many drivers are not willing to miss out on driving fun and don’t want to drive a something that announces to the world that they do without. But the number of people who want to use our energy supply responsibly not in the least because they want to protect our environment will grow quickly.”