First look: Rinspeed shows ZaZen

WE’VE seen the design sketch and now Swiss designer Frank M Rinderknecht has revealed his Rinspeed ZaZen concept ahead of its Geneva motor show debut.

Representing Rinspeed’s vision of the car of the future, ZaZen was produced in co-operation with global plastics giant Bayer MaterialScience.

Beneath the Porsche-like body, which features a non/transparent, one-pieceroof dome made of lightweight Makrolon polycarbonate and includes a holographic brake light, there are transparent Makrolon seat shells trimmed with Recaro-developed Technogel upholstery and a handmade leather/fabric/wood interior.

ZaZen weighs 1495kg and is powered by a 355hp (265kW) six-cylinder boxer engine from the Porsche 911 Carrera S, giving it a claimed top speed of 293km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration in 4.8 seconds.

However, Rinspeed says that, if produced, ZaZen would be offered with "an environmentally friendly natural gas propulsion system".