Renault aims to break range records with electric prototype
The aerodynamically optimised single-seater is 5.12 metres long, 1.71 metres wide and 1.19 metres flat. According to Renault, it weighs 1,000 kilograms, which is particularly impressive as the 87 kWh battery accounts for 600 kilograms of this tonne.
The energy content is not new to the Renault Group; the Scenic E-Tech Electric also uses an 87-kWh battery. However, since Renault only writes that the battery of the Filante Record 2025 has “the same capacity,” it is probably really only about this value. Given the prototype’s body shape, it is unlikely that there is any relation to the battery from the production model. The one from the Filante Record 2025 comes from Ampere and uses cell-to-pack technology to reduce weight and space requirements – with a vehicle width of just 1.71 metres, battery integration is a major challenge, according to Renault.
However, the French are still keeping quiet about the data and features of the drive system. It will probably only be revealed gradually. Initially, the vehicle will be exhibited at the Rétromobile motor show in Paris at the beginning of February, before the record-breaking drives are planned for the first half of the year. Renault is very optimistic, as the press release states that the car will “set a new record for power consumption” – there is no mention of an attempt.
Efficiency was at the centre of the design work. That naturally applies to the body’s shape, which has been aerodynamically optimised – but is also intended to be reminiscent of Renault’s historic record-breaking vehicles. Another factor is the weight. The battery housing is made of carbon fibre materials, and the visible screws on the body are inspired by aircraft construction to improve the transition between the individual body parts. The tyres are not only a special smooth-running design from Michelin, but they are also fitted with fairings to minimise aerodynamic disturbance.
“We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion,” says Sandeep Bhambra, Director of Advanced Design at Renault and Ampere. “Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance. Every inch of the surface was crafted to capture the light and showcase the body lines, which appear to melt into the air. The blue windows and colour palette further underline this light and airy impression. The design as a whole seeks to convey an impression of flow and lightness.”
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