Latest news with #RenaultFilanteRecord2025
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Manufacturer unveils mind-blowing concept car built to break world records: 'Inspired by fighter planes'
A storied French automotive company has created a sleek "laboratory on wheels" to test new electric vehicle technologies. The Renault Filante Record 2025, an EV concept car, aims to push the limits of aerodynamics and energy efficiency. Electrek reported on the EV, which was designed around the same 87 kilowatt-hour capacity battery as Renault's Scenic E-Tech compact crossover. Renault hopes the bold-looking "Ultraviolet Blue" car will set new records for power consumption and range. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The aeronautical-inspired design is a nod to the brand's rich history and Renault's vision for an electrified future. As demand surges for EVs, researchers are looking for ways to boost battery range. According to a press release, one key goal for the Renault Filante Record 2025 was to make an energy-efficient lightweight vehicle, which in turn would extend battery range. To achieve this, designers combined ultralight materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Each vehicle component was optimized to reduce weight while still being strong enough to break records. Engineers brought the car's weight down to an impressive 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds), according to Electrek, 600 kilograms (1,323 pounds) of which is the battery itself. Some innovations developed for the EV include aerospace-inspired materials, 3D-printed parts, unique friction-reducing tires, and fully electronic steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technologies. "We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion," said Sandeep Bhambra, director of advanced design at Renault. "Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance." Designers drew inspiration from Renault's famed 40 CV des Records, which set a string of speed and endurance records between 1924 and 1926, and the Étoile Filante, which broke several speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956. "The design as a whole seeks to convey an impression of flow and lightness," said Bhambra. Similarly, Renault looked to the brand's history when designing other powerful electric vehicles. The company is also behind the accessible, budget-friendly EV brand Dacia. This latest car is a testament to Renault's vision for future EVs that will maximize performance, comfort, and efficiency. Throughout the automaker's history, it has used motorsports and records to road test innovations before implementing them in production models. The cutting-edge tech developed for the Renault Filante Record 2025 is expected to make its way into the next generation of Renault's electric vehicles. These advancements will continue to shatter misconceptions about EV range and efficiency, powering our transition away from air-polluting, gas-powered cars. Per Electrek, the Renault Filante Record 2025 will be on view at the Rétromobile car show in Paris, before competing for new efficiency records later in the year. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renault Wants to Break Records with an Electric Vehicle Streamliner
The Renault Filante Record 2025 is a battery-electric streamliner the company is using to develop new technologies. 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.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renault Filante Record 2025 Aims to Set Efficiency Records This Year
The Renault Filante Record 2025 is a crazy-looking concept car that is also functional and will attempt to set efficiency and range records this year. The thin body is fashioned from carbon fiber and designed to cut through the air with minimal drag. The Filante features steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, extensive use of lightweight materials, and unique friction-reducing tires from Michelin. French automakers are known for eccentric designs, and Renault has cooked up something particularly kooky for 2025. This torpedo-like vehicle is the Filante Record 2025, an electric concept car inspired by a series of record-setting vintage Renaults. But this isn't some static flight of fantasy. Not only is the Filante operational, but Renault plans to use it to set a new record for electric efficiency and range this year. The Filante Record 2025 is rooted in history. Its purpose and its aerodynamic bodywork reference a trio of old Renaults that set records in their own day. The Filante's thin fuselage mimics that of the 1925 40 CV des Records and 1934 Nervasport des Records, while the name and curvy fenders draw upon the 1956 Etoile Filante. Renault partnered with Ligier Automotive—which builds endurance race cars and is loosely tied to the F1 team from the '70s and '80s—for the development of the Filante Record 2025. The streamlined Ultraviolet Blue body stretches 201.6 inches long but just 46.9 inches tall, roughly 14 inches longer than a Lexus LC500 but six inches shorter. The lengthy hood curves rearwards to a glass bubble that recalls the cockpit of a fighter jet. The front and rear wheel fairings sit independently of the body for aerodynamic efficiency and are linked back to the main structure by a few black struts. Renault aims to conduct wind-tunnel tests this spring to further hone the bodywork. Renault describes the Filante Record 2025 as a "laboratory on wheels," fitting the concept with a variety of futuristic technologies. Renault says the prototype weighs around 2205 pounds thanks to a lightweight chassis made from a combination of aluminum, carbon, and steel alloys. The body is fashioned from carbon fiber, and Renault also 3-D-printed certain parts using Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminum alloy. Computer programs allowed Renault to reduce the amount of material used to only the most crucial sections needed to maintain rigidity. Under the dramatic bodywork lies an 87.0-kWh battery, which Renault notes is the same capacity as the pack found in the road-going Scenic E-Tech SUV. Renault says the cells are integrated directly into the battery pack, eliminating intermediate modules and keeping the battery's weight to around 1323 pounds. The cockpit is snug, holding just one seat. That seat is made from stretched canvas over a series of thin carbon blades, contributing to the low curb weight. Renault compares the setup to a hammock and says it adapts to the shape of the driver's body. An ultra-thin screen wrapped around a cylinder sits ahead of the driver to show important information and control various functions. Renault also touts an air-circulation system that will ventilate the cabin without adding parts and weight. The party trick is the steering wheel, which is, in fact, not actually a wheel. Instead, the Filante features a yolk-like setup with two handles that control the acceleration, braking, and steering. The Filante has both steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems, relying on an electronic link between the driver's controls and the wheels and brakes. The Filante Record also features unique friction-reducing tires from Michelin that should help maximize the electric range. Renault will show off the Filante Record 2025 at the Rétromobile show in Paris starting on February 5 before the car embarks on its attempt to set a new record for efficiency in the first half of 2025. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renault's Mad Single Seat Demo Car Is Built For Chasing EV Records
Electric vehicles allow for some unique packaging, opening up the world of automotive design in many ways. And while this Renault Filante Record 2025 demo vehicle isn't exactly what you'd call a production-intent concept, it is one of the coolest cars we've seen come out of France in a long time. Here's what we know so far about the single-seat streamliner focused on electric efficiency. The Renault Filante Record 2025 is an homage to some of the brand's most impactful record holders over the last century, including models like the 1925 40 CV des Records, the 1934 Nervasport des Records, and the 1956 Étoile Filante. Those machines served to highlight the brand's capabilities with speed and endurance, while the new model is focused more on efficiency. The package itself is based around a bespoke 87 kilowatt-hour battery pack supplied by Ampere, with cells integrated directly into the pack without any intermediate module requirements. Renault hopes to use this machine to set a new record for EV efficiency in the first half of the year, so a slick battery is a must. The pack size was chosen to reflect the unit in the production Scenic E-Tech electric SUV, though packaging it was a challenge. The car measures in at just over 67 inches wide, or about three and half inches narrower than a modern Civic. At just under 47 inches tall, it sits comfortably below a Mazda Miata. It's also just a tick shorter than most three-row American SUVs, giving the car some seriously striking proportions. That length is purposeful to aid aerodynamics, a crucial aspect for an efficiency challenge. Thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum alloys in conjunction with additive manufacturing techniques, the Renault Filante Record 2025 tips the scales at under 2200 lbs despite 1323 of those pounds accounting for the battery pack itself. The sculpted bodywork is both art-deco and futuristic, and reflects the brand's clear inspiration from fighter jets. The large canopy puts the driver on display, while a blue tint eases the visual transition to the sky. The front and rear wheel fairings are both stylish and help improve aerodynamic efficiency, working in conjunction with bespoke Michelin rubber utilizing an energy-preserving compound and a slimline shape. All of the main controls are done by-wire, with acceleration and braking set to hand controls on the wheel. Drivers also sit canted back like an F1 racer, which only further adds to the unique driving setup. It sure looks like a great view out the front. The car is slated for further wind tunnel tests in the spring, but will be displayed ahead of time at the Rétromobile Motor Show in Paris from February 5-9. Later in the year, engineers will begin pushing the car on its journey to capture some records for Renault. Hopefully, the learnings can help improve the efficiency of the brand's road cars, or at least inspire the designers to think outside of the box a bit more. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
