Approximately translated from a Chinese version of a March 24, 2002 report from a Geneva auto exhibit, captions too...
Geneva exhibit: RINSPEED Presto
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"Presto" transform!
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This amazing "elastic" car can extend its length from a two-passenger 3m to a four-passenger 3.7m in a matter of seconds. The source of this transformation comes from a motor centered at the base of the car, powering two 746mm-long metal rods in low-friction tight-fitting cylinders. Although the body of the car changes, Rinspeed guarrantees Preso's steel-tensile strength to be totally sufficient, and has installed mechanical safety to prevent extension/compression while the vehicle is in motion.
Insufficent space to park? | 
Just shrink the car! |
Environmental Advance
Rinspeed Presto uses a Mercedes-Benz 1.7L DOHC four-cylinder diesel engine, which doesn't use igniter plugs. Rinspeed thus mixes 40-60% natural gas with diesel as the igniting fuel in this engine to maximize environment friendliness. This duel-fuel system is an excellent mix of capability with environment protection, as it delivers a maximum of 120ps/4200rpm power and 228kg/1600rpm torque, more than enough to drive a mere 865kg Presto from 0-100km/h in 10.5 seconds, up to a maximum speed of 180km/h.
No one beats this elastic car. | 
Great for grocery shopping, too. |
Smile as Logo
When one first sets eyes on Presto, one gets a feeling that it smiles. Its bumper-less head, crescent radiator cover, with the addition of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class sport coupe style head- and tail-lights, gives Presto an absolutely non-intrusive design, making it a very cute car indeed.
The primary mission of Presto is to serve as a nimble metropolitan utility-sports car. It has a short length and a merely 1750mm axle-width to enable the easy access of small alleyways. At its shortest of 2996mm, Presto can be parked in tiny spaces, beaten only by Smart, but Smart only carries two.
LCD rear-view mirror. | 
Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. | 
Mercedes-Benz C-Class sport couple head lights |
Resolving the Extension Problem
Some may think, if the car extends, does the muffler have to extend also? It's actually less involved. Presto uses Remus side-exhaust pipe and fixed the pipe to the front half of the vehicle, eliminating the need to manufacture extendable muffler.
However, the biggest challenge for Presto was not the chasis arrangement of parts, but passengers' entry and exit of the vehicle. Because the body of the car extends or compresses, Presto doesn't have car doors. So how do passengers get in? The answer is to climb stairs. Notice the two steel pipes on the sides of the vehicle. Passenger entering the vehicle can pull the steel pipes out as stairway to climb in.
Beware of Laughter
However, if you should one day drive up behind a Presto, be prepared and prevent yourself from getting into an accident, because the rear end of the vehicle is quit hilarious. When it breaks, the stop light reads "STOP." When the driver activates the turn signal, the signal light reads "TURN." When it gets dark and the driver turns up the car lights, the Presto tail light reads "PRESTO." I'm sure these kind of lights are catchy enough, but can bet on people who might laugh uncontrollably at these lights and run themselves off the road.
Inside the car, due to the lack of a windshield, the rear-view mirror has to be installed on the central control panel, which is obviously not high enough. Thus, that rear-view mirror actually uses an LCD screen to show the output of a camera installed in the rear of the car.
Understably, many might think Presto is a M-Benz vehicle, and that's because Presto uses Benz parts quite extensively. For example, the meter panel is from the A-Class and chairs are from Smart. The rear sets can be put away with the push of a button, making Presto a small cargo carrier, and its rear-seat space is large than that of the A-Class.
Presto is comfortable for two. | 
Four fits as well. | 
Look, the rear seats are quite roomy. |
Theft-Proof Car
Because Presto has no top, it would be easy for anyone to climb in and drive it away, so it must have a specially designed anti-theft system. This system is called the "Meta-Sat Anti-theft System," and uses a satellite positioning approach. Once the key leaves the car ten feet, the car does not start. Even if it is towed, GPS can easily locate the vehicle, so one would just need to bring the police along to arrest the thief.
Presto has good maneuverability. | 
Still looks good after extension. |
Presto adds spice to life.
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Brief History of RINSPEED
Rinspeed is a Swiss-born company founded in 1997 by Founder Frank M. RINderknecht (currently CEO). Its initial jobs were to import U.S. skylights and handicap vehicles for reassembly. Rinspeed first participated in the Geneva Auto show in 1979, and exhibited a VW Golf GTi reassembeld in turbo mode. In 1981, it exhibited a wing-style door of Golf. In 1982, it owned the sole distributorship of Swiss AMG. In 1986, the company moved to Zurich. 1988, it earned the sole distributorship of Swiss AC Schnitzer. 1990, the company relocated to Zumikon and began collaboration with M-Benz and AMG. Each Geneva Auto show, Rinspeed has something incredible to exhibit. Who knows what Rinspeed will imagine next.
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