Rinspeed Design, the Swiss creative house for automotive concepts and emotions, once again presents a unique attraction a this year’s Geneva Auto Show, the Rinspeed Bedouin.

The sporty lines of the Bedouin are reminiscent of the Porsche 911, type 996, from which it takes the 4×4 platform. Thanks to a sporty yet comfortable custom Eibach suspension, the body of the Bedouin sits about 15 centimeters higher than that of the Porsche equivalent. The suspension, which features adjustable ride height and firmness, offers a synthesis of comfort and handling.

Transformation

In less than ten seconds, the Bedouin can be transformed from a roomy two-seater pick-up into a sporty yet spacious four-seater wagon. With its high roofline the Bedouin also offers lots of room and seating comfort for rearseat passengers. Futhermore, the increase of interior space can be used as an enclosed cargo bed by folding down the backrest of the rear seats.

The transformational sequence is started by two electric motors that drive jackscrews to lift the entire roof of the vehicle. The front part of the roof then folds and in effect becomes the tailgate window while the rear part of the roof turns into the cargo bed. The tailgate is also electrically powered and can be lowered to extend the bed by another 45 centimeters to an overall length of 185 centimeters.

Fast Natural Gas

Natural gas is tomorrows fuel. The enormous potential of natural gas for protecting the environment is not limited to stationary use. It can also help reduce the amounts of nitrous oxides, particulate matter, CO2 and hydrocarbons. Engines running on natural gas are also quieter than their conventional counterparts.

The Rinspeed Bedouin is powered by a future-oriented environment-friendly twin-turbo engine running on natural gas. Natural gas is an extremely clean-burning fuel that consists almost entirely of methane and contains almost no sulfur.

Protecting the environment does not preclude driving fun: The four-valve engine is from Porsche and produces 420 hp / 309 kW at 6,000 rpm. It delivers its impressive maximum torque of 560 Nm at just 2,700 rpm. Performance is accordingly proud: The 1,640-kg Bedouin accelerates in roughly 5.9 seconds to 100 km/h and reaches an electronically and mechanically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Story by Rinspeed Design, Edited by Supercars.net