Paris Show: Renault ZOE Preview Teases 2012 Production EV and Hints at Next Clio

One or two sizes up from the quirky little Twizy is where Renault's ZOE Preview sits. Following in the vein of last year's ZOE Z.E. coupe, the ZOE Preview is a more realistic look at the production version that will be available in 2012 wearing Renault's newest face. Not only that, but it may just be previewing (ZING!) the next Clio as well.

Similar in size to the Clio, this little electric econobox gets some high-end passenger comfort tech that may or may not show up in the production model (Renault claims 90% of what you see here is what you'll get). To get occupants comfortable, the ZOE has a humidity-regulating climate control system with an integrated toxicity sensor and scent diffuser.

Oh, there's more, don't worry. It also provides "light therapy", which is being co-developed with Philips (apparently a "world-renowned light therapy specialist").

The concept seen here is 4.1 meters long and rides on 19-inch wheels. For production, dimensions are going to be similar, but those wheels? Probably not showing up. Power comes from an 80-horsepower / 60 kW electric motor that makes 222 Nm / 164 lb-ft of torque.

A charge will take from 6 to 8 hours and can be done (primarily) two different ways: either with a Wall Box that you connect to your home's outlet, or by optional EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). Renault recommends going with the wall box for the sake of convenience. Also possible, should an infrastructure appear sometime soon, is what the company calls a "Fast Charge"; this gives the car a 37-mile emergency run after only ten minutes of charging.

Israelis and Danes may also have the opportunity for Quickdrop batteries, meaning there will be stations that will change out your used-up battery in a matter of minutes.

By Phil Alex

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Carscoop Reader Chops Renault Latitude Cabrio Prior to Flagship Sedan's Paris Debut

Renault's new Latitude mid-size sedan will make it western European debut in Paris very soon, so now's about the time for people to start photoshopping to their hearts' content to see how Renault's funky hit-and-miss lineup can be improved.

In this case, a reader sent in his take on a 4-door Latitude-based cabrio. Other than the poppin' orange paint and lack of a roof, some nice additional design elements show up in the form of front fascia-mounted LED running lights, a narrower grille, and the flat black trunk lip spoiler. Other additions include larger rims and the requisite sleekification of an average-looking mid-size sedan.

Combine the two images - that is, add the nice details from the convertible onto the sedan - and Renault could have its average-looking flagship's appearance be a little more luxurious. As for 4-seat convertible, it's far from realistic; overall a neat chop, but Renault's already got the Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet 4-seater convertible. That, and the market for 4-door convertibles is toast.

By Phil Alex

Photoshop courtesy of Carscoop reader Lil-K

Renault Captur: Juke-Sized Crossover Convertible Concept Demonstrates New Design Language

Remember the Renault DeZir sports coupe concept from the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show? If you don't, you can refresh your memory here, but in short, the two-seater study herald the French firm's new and more curvalicious design strategy on a sports car. Fast forward to today, and Renault has unveiled a new concept model called the Captur, which applies the DeZir's design philosophy on a three-door small crossover with a removable hardtop.The Captur will receive its world premiere at the upcoming Geneva Salon.

“It takes as its basis the fundamental design language introduced on the DeZir concept car but adds a more technical dimension – more functional but still highly sensuous," said Renault's director of concept cars, Axel Breun,

The French firm said that for the exterior designer, the main sources of inspiration were athletes and radical sports with styling references to equipment such as helmets, gloves and other protective gear.

The Captur, which is close in size to alliance partner Nissan’s Juke, is crafted from carbon fiber and features a removable hardtop that allows it to transform from a coupe to a convertible crossover. Other highlights include the butterfly doors and extra-large tires fitted to 22-inch black and white rims.

The colorful and futuristic-looking interior that can seat four passengers features fluorescent highlights picked out by a constant stream of light. "My main sources of inspiration were the human body, outdoor sports and urban styling," explains the colour and trim designer, Kana Watanabe. "I wanted Captur to radiate warmth and dynamism."

Power for the Captur comes from a 1.6-liter twin-turbocharged diesel engine concept with 160HP, developed from the new Energy dCi 130HP that will eventually replace the firm's current 1.9 dCi unit. The oil-burner is paired to a dual clutch EDC gearbox, and according to Renault, it emits less than 99g of CO2 per kilometer.

The Captur also comes with numerous technological advancements including a new RX2 mechanical self-locking differential and the Visio-System with a forward-facing camera mounted at the top of the windscreen providing driver-assistance functions.

Retour vers le futur: Renault's Amazing 800HP Espace F1 MPV Prototype

I don’t have children, but I bet school runs can become pretty boring. However, if parents could get their hands on a Renault Espace F1, I’m sure they'd sing to a different tune when they'd return back from school... Unveiled in 1995, this über-Espace was not your typical soccer-mom transporter. Created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the French MPV and Renault’s decade-long involvement in Formula 1, the concept was literally an F1 racer in disguise.

Power was sourced from the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C single seater racecar. The 3.5-liter 40-valve V10 powerplant initially developed 700 hp, but engineers managed to squeeze another 100 ponies pushing output to 800 hp. As with the F1 car, the V10 was mounted in the center sending power to the rear wheels, through a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.

Performance was simply mind-boggling: the Espace F1 could reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.9 seconds. Top speed was pegged at 312 km/h or 194 mph.

Stopping power was equally impressive. Fitted with carbon-ceramic brakes, the special Espace could accelerate from 0 to 270 km/h (168 mph) and then brake to standstill in less than 600 meters (1,969 ft).

Is this the ultimate MPV or what? Check out the videos below to see it in action.

New Kangoo Be Bop ZE Plug-In EV Previews Tech to be Used on 2010 Nissan and 2011 Renault EVs

Renault took advantage of the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders today in Paris, France, to unwrap a more production-like version of its Kangoo Be Bop Z.E. concept that was first seen at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. What's really significant about this new prototype is that it features technology very similar to what will be used on the first all-electric Nissan vehicle due to be launched in the USA and Japan in 2010 and the rest of the world from 2012, as well as the equivalent Renault EVs in 2011, beginning with a family saloon in Israel, and a utility version of New Kangoo in Europe.

Derived from the production Kangoo Be Bop, the Z.E. (short for Zero Emissions) is powered solely by a 44kW (60HP) electric motor that revs to 12,000rpm and is coupled to a reducer which replaces the traditional gearbox.

The system deploys a set of lightweight and compact-sized lithium-ion batteries produced by AESC (Automotive Electric Supply Corporation), a Nissan-NEC joint venture which was founded in April 2007. Thanks to their compact size, the batteries can be positioned in various places in the car. In the case of the Be Bop, the batteries are located underneath the dashboard. Renault claims that the AESC battery pack is expected to deliver between 80 and 100 per cent of its original capacity for a duration of six years.

In the Kangoo prototype, the 15kWh battery delivers a range of approximately 100km or 62miles, but the French automaker supports that when released, the production Renault and Nissan electric vehicles will profit from an evolution to their battery technology which will take their real-world range to 160km or about 100 miles.

The batteries are charged through socket located behind a flap at the front of the vehicle alongside the right-hand headlamp. The cable plug allows two different battery-charging modes, a conventional charge via a household mains supply (10A or 16A 220V) that takes between six to eight hours and the so-called quick charge using a 32A 400V three phase socket, enabling up to 80 per cent charge in around 30 minutes.

However, Renault said that it is also working with the German group RWE to develop a universal standard, three phase plug that can be used with a 400V supply and will enable a complete charge in just 20 minutes.

To further improve the Kangoo's efficiency, the latest Be Bop Z.E. prototype benefits from a series of measures that include reworked aerodynamics with the ground clearance lowered by 20mm compared to the standard model. Unique features on the prototype include linear displays on the exterior part of the doors that show how much charge is left in the battery while inside, a gauge to the left of the instrument panel provides the driver with a permanent indication of how much battery charge remains.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Brazilian Design Student Creates Renault Hybrid Supercar Concept

Don't you just love the wild imagination of young design students especially when they don't have to deal with the necessary but nonetheless, boring practicalities of real life vehicles? Such is the case with this scaled prototype for a Renault Hybrid Supercar that comes to us from André Luiz, a young design student at FAAP in Sao Pao, Brazil. André told Carscoop that this project won him second place in the Latin American design contest, "My First Renault". The concept behind the design was to create a three-seater supercar that would be used by Renault for demonstration purposes.

According to André, the hybrid can accommodate a professional pilot up front and two 'joy-ride' passengers behind him. As for the mechanics, it was designed to be equipped with a mid-mounted combustion engine and two electric motors in the front wheels. You can read more details about André's project below.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Carscoop thanks André Luiz for the photos

Andre Luiz: Project "First Experience"

The project's idea is to innovate the way how velocity is brought to the user, like the Renault Spider and F1 Space concepts. It would be used by Renault in circuit shows or in the streets, and give to the public a single sensation of riding in a competition car. I took as inspiration: Lemans vehicle, the F1 R26 and, as I told before, the last decade Renault's concepts.

It's driven by a professional pilot who is placed in the front cockpit, while the 2 passengers are placed in the back cockpit, enjoying all the tactile, auditive and visual sensations that only a professional pilot had experienced before.

The car has 2 propulsion systems: in the center it has a combustion engine and it's complemented by 2 electrics engines placed in the front wheels. The batteries are placed between the pilot and the front wheels.

This Project was made for "My first Renault" contest. The participants had the follow up of the company's designers. The 1:5 scale model was developed by me and it was shown at the Renault stand during the Auto Show of São Paulo with the others finalists. This Project was the Second place.

About me:

• Finalist of the Quatro Rodas magazine design contest in 2007.
  
• Graduated in Product Design at UEMG ( University of Minas Gerais ) in 2008.
  
• Worked at Underground do Brasil in 2008.
  
• Finalist of the Salão de Acessórios in 2008.
  
• Currently I study Mobility Design at FAAP (São Paulo-Brazil).