64th Frankfurt International Motor Show 2011→ Opel RAK e & KISKA
Opel’s RAK e experimental vehicle is an all-new, battery-powered electric vehicle that can travel 100 kilometres (61 miles) for 1 Euro. It’s a third the weight of a conventional small car and can reach 120 km/h (75 mph) in fewer than 13 seconds.
Designed by KISKA in association with Opel, the RAK e is a proud inheritor of the ‘RAK’ name. This was last used in 1928 for the RAK 2 rocket-powered car, which accelerated Fritz von Opel to an amazing 228 km/h (142 mph). Today the RAK e maintains Opel’s pioneering role in alternative fuels and innovative design.
KISKA worked with Opel to create a radical design that would meet the needs of budget-conscious younger people in search of viable town transport. The RAK e is based on a steel space-frame structure on which sits a skin of conventional synthetic material. This combination delivers a high level of safety as well as affordable pricing and low weight. With minimal energy needs, the RAK e is a perfect town car and a logical extension of the concepts introduced in the Opel Ampera.
Urban mobility with fun character
KISKA and Opel adopted a radical new approach to automotive design when working on the RAK e. For example, both interior and exterior were designed in a single process, applying KISKA’s many years of expertise in automotive and motorcycle design, engineering, and lightweight materials. The result was an exciting approach that breaks down the barriers between car and motorcycle design.
The RAK e, which is only 1.3 metres wide, around 3 metres long and 119 cm high, accommodates two people in tandem configuration, ensuring optimum aerodynamic performance and energy efficiency. The canopy, which combines the functions of roof and windshield, gives a 270-degree view with no blind spots. For easy entry and exit, the steering wheel automatically swings out of the way when the canopy is opened, and the clever hinge arrangement ensures that the vehicle maintains its low profile. For young drivers, the RAK e can be set to operate in a low-power mode with speed limited to 45 km/h.
Sébastien Stassin, KISKA partner with KTM X-Bow at Auto(r) 2010 automotive design conference.
The future is lightweight
For KISKA, the RAK e reflects the company’s 20 years of experience in advanced transportation design. After working with nearly every major motorcycle manufacturer in the world for some 20 years, KISKA designed its first 4-wheel vehicle in 2007. “Ever since that decisive moment,” says Gerald Kiska, CEO and founder of KISKA, “we decided to focus on innovative materials and techniques. For us, lightweight construction is not a buzzword, but an attitude,” he continues. “It is the only solution for urban mobility in the future."
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