Rinspeed To Unveil See-Through eXasis Concept

ZUMIKON, Switzerland — It's no accident that the photos of Rinspeed's transparent eXasis concept look as if they were taken on the surface of the moon.

That's because the "glass car made from plastic" appears to be the product of some out-of-this-world thinking.

The latest Rinspeed concept will make its debut on March 8 at the Geneva Motor Show.

The eXasis has a transparent floor pan, a cigar-shaped body with fore and aft tandem seating and a supercharged two-cylinder 750cc engine that seems more appropriate for a motorcycle. The eXasis runs on bioethanol to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. Rinspeed said the vehicle has a projected weight of only 1,650 pounds due to its lightweight plastic construction.

Rinspeed said the eXasis celebrates the company's 30th anniversary. Inspiration for the concept came from "elements of the legendary Auto Union racing cars from the first half of the last century, combined with a modern Baja 1000 off-road vehicle," Rinspeed said.

Rinspeed partnered with 18 other companies on the eXasis concept, including Recaro, Sharp Electronics, Swissauto and Weber Automotive.

The company warns that the eXasis may be "just a clever 3-D projection" or "maybe a mirage of a four-wheel art object."

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