Cut-and-paste conversions for GN24216

60bhp = 59.2ps = 60.9ps
160bhp = 157.8ps = 162.4ps

4 litres per 100km = 70.6mpg
7 litres per 100km = 40.4mpg 
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March 2, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Rinspeed E2 features magic power button

LONDON, March 2, Graphic News: The hugely popular Fiat 500 minicar will show up twice at the Geneva Motor Show, on both Fiat’s Abarth display and Swiss innovator Frank M. Rinderknecht’s Rinspeed stand.

While the Arbath production car has a 135bhp, turbocharged engine that can whiz Fiat’s baby to 100km/h (62mph) in 7.9 seconds, the Rinspeed has an added twist.

Most commonly associated with tuning Porsches to the point where they almost travel forward through time and wacky concepts such as the sQuba sub-aqua sports car, Rinspeed will showcase its “green” Abarth-based E2 concept at Geneva.

The E2 (E squared) looks similar to the Arbarth but delivers either 60bhp or 160bhp at the touch of a dashboard-mounted button. 

“Commuting” level gives you more than sufficient power to move along in city traffic while saving energy. In this mode, the E2 is capable of four litres per 100km (70.6mpg).

Press the button -- which controls the engine energy management system -- and “Highway”  provides an extra 100bhp which will keep the E2 alongside most BMW 3 series from a standing start. Rinspeed claims an average economy of seven litres per 100km (40.4mpg) in this mode.

Rinderknecht believes he has produced a car for our times. “Many drivers are not willing to miss out on driving fun… 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,” he says.
/ENDS