Renault Wants to Break Records with an Electric Vehicle Streamliner
This wild machine uses an 87-kWh battery pack, which has the same capacity as the Scenic E-Tech SUV.
The Filante Record 2025 streamliner takes inspiration from the 40 CV Des Records from 1925-26, Nervasport Des Records from 1934, and Etoile Filante from 1956.
Renault is looking at its past to help shape its future. The French carmaker is gearing up to show off its latest concept car, the Filante Record 2025, at the upcoming Retromobile motor show in Paris, France, in February.
This wild concept takes inspiration from historic Renault machines of yore to help create a testbed for the future.
This battery-electric streamliner uses 87 kWh worth of battery for motivation. Now, Renault hasn't mentioned the motor array, yet, but did note this battery capacity is the same as its Scenic E-Tech SUV.
This battery is supplied by Ampere and uses cells that are directly integrated into the pack without intermediate modules. According to Renault, this battery shaves weight and is only responsible for 1,322 pounds of the 2,205-pound curb weight.
If you're scratching your head about that number, this streamliner uses lightweight materials throughout to help keep gravity at bay. The chassis uses aluminum, carbon, and steel but has been designed in a way to reduce mass while maintaining strength. Three-dimensional printed aluminum was also used to more easily create complex structures.
Obviously, another point of weight savings is the cockpit. This single-seater is predictably narrow, which the company notes made battery packaging difficult. Renault says the Filante Record 2025 is only 1.71 meters wide, or 5.6 feet.
Steer- and brake-by-wire systems work to further lower the curb weight, and reduce componentry. These systems also open up engineering possibilities that would otherwise have to be packaged around mechanical connections.
This narrow shell lets the Filante Record 2025 better slice through the air. As you can tell from the images above, the engineering team at Renault worked on massaging the shell to work with the air through numerical simulations, but wind tunnel confirmations are coming later this year.
Renault is also working with Michelin to test tires. The Filante Record 2025 sports a set of special low rolling-resistance tires to maximize range. These narrow tires limit the contact patch and help cheat surrounding air at speed.
According to Renault, these tires have about a 40% lower friction coefficient than a normal passenger car tire.
If you can't make it to Paris for Retromobile, you might be in luck. Assuming Renault brings some cameras around, anyway. Renault plans to make an efficiency record attempt in the first half of 2025.
Do you think anything Renault learns from this concept car will make it to production? Tell us your thoughts below.
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