Although equipped with a 87-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the entire vehicle weighs only 1,000 kilograms.
- Renault aims to achieve a new milestone in electric vehicle energy efficiency.
- To showcase this innovation, a remarkable single-seater demonstration vehicle called the Filante Record 2025 was created.
- It possesses an 87-kilowatt-hour battery pack and tips the scales at 2,204 pounds.
The brand that once sold the model known as Le Car in the United States is raising the stakes once again.
The high-performance single-seater featured in the photo gallery below is the Renault Filante Record 2025. It appears to embody a sleek, high-tech aesthetic while drawing inspiration from its heritage–a design approach that Renault has successfully refined over the past few years.
As its name indicates, the Filante Record 2025 was designed to set records. Instead, in contrast to its predecessors from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1950s, which focused on speed, this year's Ultraviolet Blue spaceship on wheels is designed with efficiency in mind, given the rise of electric vehicles.
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The entire vehicle's design, including the shape of the wheel covers and the thin, circular headlights, was optimized for efficiency. Consequently, the car's overall weight is a remarkably lightweight 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds), with the largest proportion of that weight attributed to the 87-kilowatt-hour battery pack situated at the floor level. This battery, which employs cell-to-pack technology to minimize volume and weight, weighs around 600 kilograms (1,322 pounds), leaving just 400 kilograms (882 pounds) for the rest of the components, including the body, suspension, wheels, and electronics.
High-strength carbon fiber was extensively used in the construction process, supplementing it with 3D-printed aluminum for components that required exceptional precision. This production approach effectively minimized material waste by utilizing the least amount of raw materials necessary.
Tires with a slimmer, made-to-order design come from Michelin. Although it's improbable that we'll see them on mass-produced cars in the near future, the performance claims made by Michelin are remarkable. Michelin claims that the custom-made, 19-inch tires have a rolling resistance that is around 40% lower than standard car tires.
Inside, the Renault Filante Record 2025 accommodates a single person on a lightweight, fabric-covered seat that spans the battery pack. The steering system differs significantly from conventional designs. Instead of a standard round wheel, the driver operates a pair of handles. Crucial information, such as speed and remaining range, can be accessed on a flexible, cylindrical display screen that wraps around the wheel.
Discussing steering, Renault's advanced electric vehicle features a futuristic design that eliminates the physical link between the steering wheel and wheels. This is made possible by utilizing steer-by-wire technology, similar to the Tesla Cybertruck, to reduce weight. Additionally, the vehicle adopts a brake-by-wire system, replacing the conventional hydraulic braking system. Moreover, there is no traditional brake pedal present inside the vehicle.
Renault didn't specify the Filante's powertrain, but at just 2,200 pounds and with its sleek design, even a relatively low-powered engine should be able to propel it to high speeds. The French carmaker announced that the display car will be showcased at this year's Retromobile Motor Show in Paris in February, followed by wind tunnel testing, with the goal of setting a new efficiency record in the first half of the year.
The prototype is powered by a 15.5 kilowatt-hours battery pack and is expected to reach up to 103 miles per kilowatt-hour of energy use, with a consumption rate of approximately 0.6 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. It weighs approximately 374 pounds or 170 kilograms.