Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

The Renault ZOE e-sport concept car revealed at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show showcases Renault’s commitment to the ongoing development of electric vehicles. 

Based on the all-electric ZOE’s supermini platform, ZOE e-sport concept draws on Groupe Renault’s three years of success in the FIA Formula E Championship. This all-electric single-seater series, fought on challenging street circuits around the world, has proved a popular and accessible way for the public to enjoy high-performance electric racing. The two-seater ZOE e-sport concept echoes the styling of the latest Renault single-seater race cars, and its colour scheme reflects the livery of the e.dams team. The lightweight body structure is made of carbon fibre, and the car tips the scales at just 1,400kg, including the battery (450kg). This minimal weight in addition to excellent aerodynamics, power close to 460bhp and torque of 640Nm, helps the car to accelerate from standstill to 62mph in 3.2 seconds.

“The brief for the Renault ZOE e-sport concept couldn’t have been simpler: ‘Have fun!’. So we came up with something midway between a production model and a racing car… It’s perfect for lovers of extreme driving sensations!” analyses Stéphane Janin, Director, Concept Car Design. “At Renault, we believe that electric cars are capable of addressing the needs of all types of customers, with the emphasis on driving enjoyment… The Renault ZOE e-sport concept is a stunning expression of this!”, says Éric Feunteun, Director, Electric Vehicle Programme. Renault launched a full range of EVs in 2012 and continues to stand out as the market leader today. The brand continues to explore every facet of electric motoring thanks to a programme spearheaded by the ZOE.

The Renault ZOE is an all-electric car that delivers a smooth, agile ride. Uniquely enjoyable to drive, it is built to the highest environmental standards. The New Renault ZOE premiered at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and marks an important step in the development of mass-market electric vehicles. Its driving range is 250 miles (NEDC), equivalent to real-world range of around 186 miles in summer and 124 miles in winter. The New Z.E.40 battery takes the worry out of charging the car while opening up a wider spectrum of journey options. The New ZOE also comes with a new, improved suite of connected services to make electric motoring easier, including Z.E. Trip and Z.E. Pass.

The ZOE e-sport concept’s connection to Formula E is immediately apparent thanks to a colour scheme inspired by the reigning champion Renault e.dams team’s 2016/2017 livery. The dominant colour is Satin Blue with flashes of yellow on the door mirror and the front and rear bumper beading. The bumpers, lip spoiler and headlight/air intake surrounds have a carbon fibre finish. The 20-inch diamond-cut aluminium alloy Sport wheels feature contrasting angles highlighted by a two-tone finish in black and Shadow Chrome. These rims come with a central locking nut.

The overall design retains traditional Renault styling cues, plus elegant flourishes from higher-end high-performance models. The ZOE e-sport concept has extra-tinted windows. Its doors are opened by a simple tap on the ‘open’ zone incorporating tactile sensors. The headlights carry over the C-shape that has become a hallmark of the latest Renault models. The prominent vertically mounted backlit Renault front and rear diamond logos echo the styling of the Renault TreZor concept car unveiled at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Inside the cabin, the colours and materials express the car’s sport pedigree. Black is the dominant colour, with a few splashes of blue and – notably for the controls – aluminium. The seats, steering wheel and door panels are trimmed with overstitched Alcantara.

Renault tops the electric vehicle sales charts in Europe in a consistently expanding market. Renault is still the only carmaker in the world to offer a commercially available comprehensive range of electric vehicles to cover a wide variety of uses: 

• More than 100,000 Groupe Renault electric vehicles are already on the road.
• More than one electric vehicle in four sold in Europe in 2016 was a Renault.
• The ZOE was Europe’s top-selling electric car for the second year in a row.
• There’s an electric car for everyone, from the Twizy city car and ZOE supermini to the Kangoo Z.E. light commercial vehicle.
• At the 2017 Brussels Motor Show Renault announced that the Kangoo Z.E. Van will receive significant improvements to its range (168 miles NEDC) and charging system from the Summer of 2017 and a new Master Z.E. large van will be made available from late 2017.
• Groupe Renault was the first European carmaker to launch all-electric vehicles back in late 2012 and its strategy is to continue developing mass-market electric cars.