Collapsible tables, camping chairs and even bicycles have long proved their versatility in situations where space is at a premium. Swiss company Rinspeed aims to solve Europe’s parking problems with the Rinspeed Presto collapsible car, a compact two-seater roadster that can expand itself into a four-seater with the push of a button.
Stretching the car was done with a set of rails and an electric motor. Rinspeed claimed it maintained the structural integrity of a roadster. I believe that’s code for “floppy.” Still, I doubt the people who would be attracted to this sort of thing are the ones that’d be found at a track day meet going sideways.
When returning to Roadster mode, this slides back into the floor pan ‘like a drawer’ and the process is clearly visible from the Remus side pipes which track along grooves on the side panels of the Pre-Preg-Composite plastic body – a strong, lightweight material rarely used in car design because of its prohibitive cost.
