The Renault Twizy Z.E. is a peculiar little electric vehicle with a tandem seating layout. The Twizy Z.E. was introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show alongside three other electric powered concept cars from Renault.
The Twizy Z.E. Concept was created for busy city dwellers who need to pick their way through congested urban traffic. The compact dimensions of the vehicle at 7.5 feet long and 3.7 feet wide (2.30m long / 1.13m wide), ensure that it is nimble enough for urban use.
With a turning circle of just 9.8 feet (three metres) and a footprint barely larger than that of a Scooter, the Twizy Z.E. Concept is easy to park in town. The narrow dimensions and agile handling ensures that it rarely gets stuck in traffic, while the four wheels and low centre of gravity provide excellent stability.
Inside, the designers have tried to make the Twizy Z.E. as easy to drive as possible. The instruments are laid out in an easy to read format, with displays located at eye level at the base of the windscreen, and grouped in honeycomb-shape clusters which are easy to differentiate.
Access to the rear seat is aided due to the fact the seatback is attached to the roof of the vehicle, allowing the lower part of the seat to pivot.
Driving the Renault Twizy Z.E. is a 20 horsepower (15kW) electric motor. The lithium-ion batteries which power the electric motor are mounted beneath the seats to lower the centre of gravity. The batteries are charged via an extendible cable located behind the Renault logo at the front of the car. A full charge takes just over three hours.
Range: 60 miles (100 km)
Top speed: 47 mph (75 km/h)
Renault, Zoé Z.E Concept
The Zoe Z.E. was one of the quartet of zero emission concept cars Renault rolled out at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The Renault Zoe Z.E. is a compact four-seat supermini designed for short daily journeys in urban areas. The Zoe Z.E. is aimed at motorists who own more than one car and who are looking for a compact, versatile vehicle capable of meeting their varied day-to-day needs, such as the school run, work commute or shopping trips.
Aerodynamics have a major impact on the performance of a zero-emission vehicle and, in the case of the Zoe Z.E. concept, the overriding concerns regarding design were elegance and efficiency.
Powering the Renault Zoe Z.E. is a 95 horsepower (70kW) electric motor which produces 166 lb/ft (226 Nm) of torque. The Zoe Z.E. has three recharging options. A standard charge off any household socket takes between 4 and eight hours. A quick charge takes 20 minutes from a dedicated higher voltage outlet. And the 'Quickdrop' system, this is an idea which Renault has put forward where a standardized battery pack can be swapped out at a battery exchange station. On a full charge the Zoe Z.E. has a 100 mile range.
The interior of the Renault Zoe Z.E. is designed to compliment the nearly silent drivetrain by offering a relaxed and comforting atmosphere. The seat cushions are supposed to imitate the shape of a pebble (let's hope they're a little more comfortable), while the seatbacks are suspended from the ceiling.
The dashboard is covered with a mineral-like membrane, it responds to the lightest of touches to call up a range of touchscreen controls. The wide TFT screen is housed in a glass bubble. This is the central information point for Zoe Z.E. Concept and displays navigation data, the charge indicator and remaining range, as well as a pallet of colored mood lighting options which enable the interior ambiance to be customized. One of the more unusual features of the Zoe Z.E. is that the mood lighting color can be selected automatically via a sensor in the seat which will tone the lighting to match the colors of the driver's clothes.
The climate control system of the Renault Zoe ZE features a unique set of systems for controlling more than just the temperature. A hydrating function controls the humidity and also uses dash mounted vaporizers to spray a moisturizer into the air. The 'Detox' function monitors air quality and shuts off the air vents if required. And the Active Scent Function releases essential oils suited to the mood of the moment: a relaxing drive home, perhaps, or the need to stimulate concentration when driving at night.
Renault Fluence ZE
The Renault Fluence ZE (Zero Emission) is one of the four electric powered concept vehicles Renault put on display at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Powering the Fluence ZE is an electric drivetrain which features plug-in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries stored in the rear. A solar panel integrated into the roof helps to supply a trickle charge to the batteries.
Aside from a few green highlights, rear view cameras instead of mirrors, blue taillights and push-button door handles, the styling of the Renault Fluence ZE is very feasible for mass production.
In contrast to the relatively subdued exterior styling, the interior is far too adventurous for production as-is. The interior is modern and characterized by very simple shapes and bright colors. The driver is presented with a single, large multi-display central dial and array of peripheral buttons. An i-Pod dock located in the centre console provides entertainment and navigation options.
ONDELIOS Renault Concept Car
The Renault Ondelios is a top-of-the-range concept car designed for long distance travel. The vehicle first went on display at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.
Patrick Le Quément, Renault's Design Director said of the concept, "Ondelios is inspired by motion rather than speed and is a whole new response to the call of the open road."
The styling of the Renault Ondelios is inspired partly by aircraft. And while it might not be pretty, it has resulted in a slippery, low drag body and a canopy-style passenger compartment with gull-wing doors.
The striking aluminium-finish grille is flanked by LED headlamp units designed to suggest flowing motion. Another aerodynamic feature of the Renault Ondelios are the boomerang-shaped tail lights. These are built into the bodywork and ringed with air extractors to control the flow of air from the wheel arches.
The glass roof and butterfly-type side doors (which also feature an extensive glazed area) flood the interior of the Ondelios with natural light. The dark blue anthracite of the bodywork blends perfectly with the tinted glazed area, making the car look as if it were all of a piece and a single color."We think of it as made from a single material, where the body and glazed areas merge into one. Ondelios is a glimpse of what the automobile might be in the medium term future," adds Patrick Le Quément.
The interior of the Renault Ondelios has seating for six people. The individual seats are arranged in three rows of paired seats. The electrically adjustable backs fold into comfortable, business-class positions, while occupants can deploy and retract their footrests at will.
All the passengers, including those in the back row, have their own Samsung interactive portable multimedia devices which they can use for sharing data or multiplayer gaming. Speakers are also incorporated into the headrests and a multizone HVAC system enables each passenger to set the temperature to his or her own liking.
The Renault Ondelios is powered by hybrid drivetrain consisting of a205 horsepower, 2.0 litre diesel engine working in conjunction with two electric motors. The diesel engine sends its power to the front wheels, while the two electric motors drive the 23 inch rear wheels.
Renault Mégane Coupé Concept
The Renault Megane Coupe Concept went on display at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Like the Renault Laguna Coupe Concept from 2007, the Megane Coupe was created as a preview of a production model due to be released in the near future.
The Megane Coupe Concept is designed to symbolize Renault’s vision of what a genuine compact sports coupe should deliver.
Patrick Le Quément, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design for Renault said of the concept. "This show car emphatically showcases the evolution at Renault Design. Its squatter proportions and powerful, energetic styling talk directly to the driver's senses; they say 'driving pleasure'. The spectacular, unprecedented door-opening kinematics add that little touch of magic which contributes to the dream factor associated with the automobile."
The styling of the Renault Megane Coupe Concept is designed to convey a feeling of movement and dynamic ability - while at the same time allowing for practical use. The lines are sleek and modern with flush, inset features like the headlights, grille, sideskirt inserts, taillights and exhausts. The massive 21" wheels have a stylish, slightly offset pattern which complement the cars design.
Access to the vehicle is through elaborate two-part, upward swinging gullwing doors. Inside, the Megane Coupe Concept features a futuristic, red accented interior with four individual seats. A centre console extends through to the rear seats and is designed to imitate the striated bar of the headlight units.
Powering the Renault Megane Coupe Concept is a 200 horsepower, 2 litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. This is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox turning the front wheels. This setup gives the Megane Coupe an impressive 0-60 mph time of just 7.2 seconds.
Renault DeZir Concept
The Renault DeZir is an electric powered sports car concept which is set to go on show at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
Styling
The bold design represents an entirely new design direction for Renault. In fact if it wasn't for the badge you'd be hard pressed to tell what manufacturer it came from. The styling of the DeZir concept was led by Laurens van den Acker, and according to Renault it's the first in a series of concept vehicles which will provide a glimpse of the company's future production cars.
Renault's new motto is 'Drive the Change', and for the DeZir concept this saying was used as a source of inspiration. Renault have also chosen three key words which they are going to try and build into all their forthcoming models, they are 'simple', 'sensuous' and 'warm'. I get the sensuous in the ReZir concept, it's got more curves than a sphere, and with the red-hot paintwork I even get the warm. But simple this car is not. There's a lot of complicated lines and elements to the design, which come together nicely. But it's not simple at all!
Drivetrain
Powering the Renault DeZir concept is a full electric drivetrain. The 'Z' in the car's name is a reference to Renault's overall naming structure - they use Z.E. to denote their 'Zero Emission' vehicles. The electric motor of the concept is mounted in a mid-rear position to balance out the weight distribution. The batteries are located behind the seats. This setup offers 147 horsepower (110 kW), and 226 Nm (166 lb-ft) of torque.
The car can be charged using a conventional mains plug, and this takes around eight hours for a full charge. Alternatively a dedicated fast-charger gets the job done in just 20 minutes. When the time comes to get a new battery, thanks to Renault's 'Quick Drop' system the job is relatively painless.
Top speed of the DeZir is just 112 mph. However the 0-60 mph time of just 5 seconds is considerably more impressive - and useful.
Engineering
In order to improve performance and increase the DeZir's overall range, Renault's engineers focused on keeping the vehicles weight to a minimum. To achieve this goal the car was equipped with a Kevlar body, and a tubular steel frame borrowed from the Megane Trophy race car.
The vehicle's efficient aerodynamics and low-drag bodywork also help to improve performance, without the need for more power.
Interior
The striking interior layout of the Renault DeZir is clearly split into the driver and passenger zones. The passenger is met with a very clean and smooth dashboard - which is a refreshing change to the overly complicated and increasingly technical interior designs of modern vehicles. The driver is seated in a much more focused environment, and the unique dashboard layout and center console look very futuristic.
The touchscreen display in the center console features an intelligent navigation system that combines journey information with the driver's diary in order to optimize task management and itineraries - probably not that useful a feature for most people, but clever all the same! The instrument panel features video-game inspired graphics which provide information on the drivetrain systems and energy management.
Renault Nepta
The 2006 Renault Nepta concept was a 4-seat, GT cabriolet with motor driven gull-wing doors and a sleek body.
Powered by a longitudinally mounted 3.5 litre V6 developing 420 horsepower connected to a 7-speed transmission the Nepta can reach 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds.
The graceful exterior lines of the Nepta is an "expression of Renault's vision of driving pleasure". The body panels have been designed to give an impression of fluidity and highlight the Nepta's long body.
Access to the Renault Nepta utilizes perhaps the concepts most intriguing feature, the doors. The two motor-driven gull-wing doors cover the entire length of the passenger compartment, hinging midway down the bonnet and on the rear deck. Electronic sensors and an anti-pinch device ensure nothing gets trapped when bringing the doors down.
Inside the Renault Nepta the seats are covered in white leather and the controls are suspended on a 'floating' dashboard. And while instrument design reflects the past, use of aluminium adds a modern feel.
A centrally mounted, rotary shift knob for the 7-speed transmission is an unusual feature, set into the Nepta's centre console.
Back seat passengers in the Renault Nepta are protected from buffeting by the wind with a transparent screen positioned between the front seats. Entertainment for the passengers is provided by folding DVD screens installed in the back of the front seats.
Renault Altica Concept Car
The Renault Altica concept shown at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show is a car which boldly attempts to bridge the wide gap between estate cars and sport coupes.
Using the contemporary Renault face common to all the recent Renault concepts and many production cars the Altica's front is unremarkable, aside from the addition of 3 mode headlights, daytime driving lights using LED technology, low beam, and high beam.
From the windscreen back the Altica concept becomes more and more interesting. The panoramic windscreen and glass roof not only let as much light into the cockpit as possible, but also provide mounting for the dramatic scissor-style doors. The rear side windows have been broken up into what appears to be a random pattern checkered motif. Renault say this is to let light into the interior in the same way a stained glass window does, However it would be interesting to see how this design idea could be adapted, or explained, for use on a production car.
Another first for the Altica concept is the introduction of a technology Renault calls the 'Synthetic Jet'. This patented system consists of a 2mm wide slit located at the extreme rear of the roof where the Altica and passing airflow separate. Through this slit air is alternately sucked and blown to control the separation of air depending on the Alitca's speed. At 80 mph the Synthetic Jet reduces the Altica's Cd by 15% resulting in improved fuel economy.
Inside the Renault Altica four single seats are provided, and while the seats themselves are fixed, the instrument cluster and pedal assembly is moved electronically to suit the driver. The rear seats can be folded away to provide 1300 litres of storage space.
Powering the Renault Altica concept is a 177 horsepower, 2.0 litre diesel running through a six speed gearbox. This powerplant is capable of taking the Altica to 60 mph in just 7.5 seconds while also emitting minimal CO2 emissions for its class.
RENAULT Laguna Coupe ConceptUsing the contemporary Renault face common to all the recent Renault concepts and many production cars the Altica's front is unremarkable, aside from the addition of 3 mode headlights, daytime driving lights using LED technology, low beam, and high beam.
From the windscreen back the Altica concept becomes more and more interesting. The panoramic windscreen and glass roof not only let as much light into the cockpit as possible, but also provide mounting for the dramatic scissor-style doors. The rear side windows have been broken up into what appears to be a random pattern checkered motif. Renault say this is to let light into the interior in the same way a stained glass window does, However it would be interesting to see how this design idea could be adapted, or explained, for use on a production car.
Another first for the Altica concept is the introduction of a technology Renault calls the 'Synthetic Jet'. This patented system consists of a 2mm wide slit located at the extreme rear of the roof where the Altica and passing airflow separate. Through this slit air is alternately sucked and blown to control the separation of air depending on the Alitca's speed. At 80 mph the Synthetic Jet reduces the Altica's Cd by 15% resulting in improved fuel economy.
Inside the Renault Altica four single seats are provided, and while the seats themselves are fixed, the instrument cluster and pedal assembly is moved electronically to suit the driver. The rear seats can be folded away to provide 1300 litres of storage space.
Powering the Renault Altica concept is a 177 horsepower, 2.0 litre diesel running through a six speed gearbox. This powerplant is capable of taking the Altica to 60 mph in just 7.5 seconds while also emitting minimal CO2 emissions for its class.
The Renault Laguna Coupe concept is a development of the Renault Fluence concept from 2004. The simple yet attractive design is far from groundbreaking yet it also elevates Renault's styling into a more premium sector. The bold lines give the concept a sturdy appearance, while the rear view has an almost Aston Martin-like appearance. From the front the conservative styling is not easily identifiable as being a Renault product, and without the prominent central badge the styling could be mistaken for belonging to a Japanese maker.
Inside the Laguna Coupe concept the interior features more radical styling while also retaining a functional appearance.