The engine of the next generation vehicles will be derived from the DNA of their first EV the Lightning GT.

According to Lightning, the company will design and come up with several variants. This includes an off-roader SUV, a limo type saloon, and a sports car.

The company wants to focus on the Lightning GT and deriving the power plants of the new members of their brood from it will allow them to release them to the market as soon as they are ready.

The Lightning GT is expected to be released by spring of 2010 and orders for the units are coming. A third of the deposits are mostly from the United Kingdom alone. The specifications of the car though have not been finalized and the information disclosed to the media is very limited.

So far, it is clear that there will be a 700hp electric engine that will rely on nano-titanate battery pack. This powertrain will be able to zoom the car from 0 to 60 in a matter of 4 seconds, and reach a top speed of 130mph.

The system of the EV makes use of Hi-Pa Drive which makes use of brushless motors with permanent magnet on each of the wheel of the vehicle. The design allows optimal traction and also allows the car to make use of regenerative braking. With the Lightning having power on each wheel, there is no use for gear boxes, drive shafts, differentials, or propshafts.

What sets the concept car apart is its teardrop bubble top which acts as windshield, door, and sunroof for the car. It’s a highly unconventional model, as should be expected from Rinspeed, which is designed especially for short-distance city driving.

The car runs on a 370 Nm electric motor which is generated by 567V LiFeP04 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack. i-Change can run up to 56 miles on three battery packs. Its lightweight design (only 2,300 lbs) depends on aerodynamics. The i-Change’s weight is also responsible for its low power consumption.

Just because it’s designed for city driving doesn’t mean that the concept car lacks power. Rinspeed sets the i-Change’s top speed at 137mph.

It has been recently reported that the Seimen’s Corporation Technology Department provided an integrated power system for the i-Change. This comprises of power electronics, a generator, and an interface that’s connected to a battery.

The i-Change is also said to run on six-speed preselector gearbox extracted from a Subaru WRX unit. The car has been tested on colder weathers, but a fan is installed on the i-Change to keep temperatures adequately cool during the summer. Rinspeed reported that this fan will be powered by solar panels attached to the car’s rooftop.

Ideally, these solar panels should also help the car’s batteries regenerate and run for a longer time.

The i-Change also comes with a heater to cope with the temperature drops in the winter. This heater is developed by Eberspächer Group and is configured to run both on electricity and fuel.