Rinspeed eXasis

We've come to expect the unexpected from Rinspeed. With its unique construction, the eXasis is a real thriller, offering staggering performance and near-unbeatable emissions. Its layout and lack of weather protection make it completely impractical, but it shows how the latest technology will allow sports car designers to be more creative than ever. We can't wait until the next Geneva Motor Show in March to see Rinspeed's follow-up concept.

The Rinspeed eXasis has bared all - just for you! The two-seater was the wildest thing at March's Geneva Motor Show with its distinctive, see-through bodywork. And it set a new standard for green motoring with its efficient bioethanol-powered engine, too.

We got behind the wheel this week to see for ourselves what the new car has to offer. The main ingredients of the eXasis' extraordinary look are its clear plastic body panels. They're made of Makrolon, a lightweight material produced by Bayer - a chemicals firm which also brought us aspirin.

Powering the rear wheels, the bio-ethanol turbo two-cylinder develops 150bhp. Rinspeed has used this unit before in its wacky Splash amphibious car, which crossed the English Channel in record time. But in the eXasis, the motor's green credentials are tough to beat, with CO2 emissions of 20g/km.

While 150bhp is hardly likely to set the world alight in terms of pace, the eXasis tips the scales at only 750kg - half as much as a family car. That gives a power-to-weight ratio on par with a Porsche 911 Turbo! And with so little bodywork, the 4.8-second sprint from 0-62mph couldn't be more exciting.

The eXasis' six-speed gearing is a race-car style sequential set-up, with shifts made via a small black toggle switch by your right leg. Meanwhile, the red handle behind the gearlever engages reverse. Its mechanicals are very light, which was a guiding principle for the car, but the transmission isn't terribly comfortable to use.

Nevertheless, the Rinspeed is great to drive. Not only do the throttle and turbocharger react instantly, the video game-style wheel makes the steering fun, too. Grippy 22-inch race tyres are fitted, and with what weight the eXasis has riding low to the tarmac, you can take tight bends at surprising speed.

Best of all is the suspension. Even though it's predictably rigid, the race-style wishbone structure absorbs every bump well, while giving the driver a clear feel for the road. What's more, the chairs, with their body-supporting elastic straps, are comfortable. The eXasis shows how plastic could have a place in cars of the future. While it won't make production, it also reveals how green motoring needn't signal the end for track-day thrillers such as the Ariel Atom and Caterham Seven.