Schoeller Spinning Group’s coldblack technology which helps fabrics reflect heat and UV rays is being used in the roofliner of iChange a new concept flexible car at the Geneva Auto Salon.

The dream of a flexible, environmentally friendly car may well be within our grasp. At the Geneva Auto Salon from 5 to 15 March, 2009, the Swiss auto powerhouse Rinspeed showed the iChange, the first vehicle in the world with a body that adapts in size to the passenger load.

Within seconds, an aerodynamic sports car, offering space only for the driver, turns into a comfortable three-seater. For Rinspeed CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht, the vehicle is more than just a clever concept car. “The iChange is a symbol for the fundamental changes the auto industry is undergoing worldwide. We have designed and built an extremely flexible vehicle. In it, we have brought the themes of versatility and continually changing energy demands to their logical conclusions.”

The result is a streamlined, lightweight, zero-emission car with dramatically reduced energy consumption. The Rinspeed iChange project represents a revolutionary idea, combining individuality, zeitgeist, ecology and sustainability with innovative automobile design.

Latest technology in the interior

This new approach can also be seen in the interior. Rinspeed has chosen high-tech wool from the Schoeller Spinning Group (a sister organization to Schoeller Textil AG), which is used in the seat covering, door lining, and roof liners of the car. Spun, dyed and finished in accordance with the highest environmental standards, Schoeller says that wool provides a highly sophisticated feel and appearance in the ‘iChange’, featuring special optic appeal and pleasant haptic properties.

Furthermore, due to its special coldblack finish, the high-tech wool guarantees a heat and UV absorbing function in the roof liner to ensure a pleasant interior climate. Schoeller says that this is proof that the ecologically minded can share the stage with luxury and comfort. The Swiss Federal Ministry for Energy (Bundesamt für Energie) also supports the iChange project

Schoeller Technologies AG and Clariant International Ltd have jointly developed coldblack technology and filed patent applications (pending) covering the technology. Schoeller Technologies AG is responsible for marketing and branding activities, while Clariant International Ltd is handling sales, production and distribution worldwide, and the transfer of technical know-how and quality control to customers.