The concept cars that came out in the 90s were wild on imagination. It was a time when the future could be painted in any dreamy way. Automakers were also not skeptical about dumping money on concepts and so, the features these cool show cars packed are still drooling to date.
While most of the concepts were created by automakers and design houses, there was one company in Switzerland that solely showcased concept machines called Rinspeed AG. You might know of this company from the cool Rinspeed SQUBA which got its inspiration from the underwater Lotus Esprit from the James Bond movie – The Spy Who Loved Me.
But they started doing bold builds in 1992 with the Rinspeed Speed-Art which was an artistic exercise using a Nissan 300ZX. But their proper wild build legacy started with the 1993 Rinspeed Veleno which was based on the legendary and scary Dodge Viper RT/10. Veleno is an Italian word that means poison. So, Rinspeed built a poisoned viper!
The V10 motor, co-developed with Lamborghini, was given a shot of nitrous oxide and the car was given a loud visual makeover. Even the interior of this wild Dodge was given a similar treatment but also with a practical touch. The material used in the open-top cabin was known for its durability. Future technology was hinted at with steering wheel controls and an in-built Nokia cellular phone.
Rinspeed took a Dodge Viper RT/10 and injected it with more venom using nitrous oxide, “acidic” visuals, and technology upgrades.
The Iconic Dodge Viper RT/10 Under All That “Green”
It is hard to believe that the car you see above is 30 years old. This Dodge risked it all and dived face in to make the most of the adrenaline rush of the time. Also, the first-gen Dodge Viper RT/10 was as much an Italian as an American because Lamborghini was owned by Chrysler during the time. The mad engineers from Sant’Agata Bolognese helped Dodge build the ferocious V10 motor.
The RT/10 was powered by a naturally aspirated 500 hp 8.0-Liter V10 which sent power to the rear wheels via a 6-Speed BorgWarner T56 manual transmission. This Dodge has built up a reputation for being the scariest car out there, and it achieved it without a hiccup back in the 1990s. Legend says that people still shiver in the vicinity of one of these modern classics!
Rinspeed Gave The Viper More “Veleno”
Now Rinspeed, known for its wacky concepts, took the already fierce Dodge Viper RT/10 and dialed it further up. Let’s just say that the Swiss concept car builder added more “venom” to the American outlaw. The V10 motor was kept intact, but Rinspeed added in an electronically controlled nitro-oxide(NO2) injection which bumped the figures from 400 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque to 500 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque. This was a serious bump back in 1993!
Rinspeed Veleno Looks Like Shrek On Steroids
Rinspeed has a reputation for going radical with its concept designs. But we must say that their Veleno Concept happens to be the least altered one of them all. At a glance, it just looks like a Dodge Viper RT/10 with an acid green paint job. But there is more to the visual appeal.
The bright acid green paint job is not a very subtle addition, but it sure shows us that the Dodge Viper looks good in colors other than red! The only visual mods on this concept are custom front skirts and the repositioning of the rearview mirrors onto the top section of the windshield. The rearview mirror position is what strongly reminds us of Shrek and his tiny ears!
The rear roll hoop has been modified with a custom cover and integrated brake lights. The top section of this rear hoop is wide and gets “Veleno” vinyl. Elevating the custom makeover are cool three-piece OZ wheels wrapped with 275/35-18 front and 335/30-18 Pirelli Zero tires.
Rinspeed Veleno Interior Is Futuristic, Durable, And Green
The Veleno’s interior also gets a futuristic and vibrant makeover. All the upholstery and trimmings of the stock Viper were stripped off and replaced with a highly durable artificial material called “Vinerus”. This material was used by Maison Mollerus to make high-end durable handbags and travel luggage during the time.
This material was known for its fusion of plush appeal and durable nature. Black Vinerus was used in the Veleno and was contrasted with the same acid-green shade from the exterior, for the dashboard and the center console. Technology features were also bleeding-edge for the time. This wicked concept car came with steering wheel controls for all the infotainment controls.
It packed the then-cool integrated CD-changer by Alpine. The cabin also got the latest of wireless connectivity of the 90s with a cellular phone from Nokia. It was a lightweight unit with a power output of up to 6W. The phone was clamped onto a protruding stand on the passenger side dash. Also, the luxury appeal was elevated on this Viper with plush carry-bags (mostly fine leather-made) neatly tucked away in the trunk.
Rinspeed Was Way Ahead Of Its Time With Concepts
It is astonishing to see how Rinspeed got a lot of things right with many of its concepts. Back in the 1990s, if you saw a Dodge Viper in the acid-green shade, it would have been deemed as blasphemy!
The use of a wireless phone, and slapping the infotainment controls onto the steering wheel are all things that are technology features that sprouted into the mass-market car world in recent times.
Rinspeed is still wacky with its concepts, but they have always showcased sensible and possible features with their creations.
Sources: Rinspeed, Dodge