Renault Filante Record 2025: Blazing a Trail to Electric Efficiency

Renault Filante Record 2025: Blazing a Trail to Electric Efficiency

The Renault Filante Record 2025 isn’t just a concept car; it’s a rolling laboratory, a testament to Renault’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle technology. This sleek, single-seater demo car is designed to maximize energy efficiency and set a new benchmark for power consumption and range, utilizing the same 87 kWh battery found in the Renault Scenic E-Tech electric. With its streamlined design, innovative materials, and cutting-edge technologies, the Filante Record 2025 is poised to redefine what’s possible in electric mobility.

A Legacy of Speed and Innovation
The Filante Record 2025 draws inspiration from Renault’s rich history of record-breaking vehicles, including the 40 CV des Records (1925) and the Étoile Filante (1956). These iconic models set historic records for the brand, proving Renault’s dedication to innovation through motorsports and record attempts. The Filante Record 2025 continues this tradition, serving as a platform for testing and validating new technologies that will eventually find their way into production models. This demo car will be showcased at the Rétromobile motor show in Paris from February 5th to 9th, 2025, before embarking on its record-breaking attempt in the first half of the year.

Sculpted by Air: Design for Efficiency
The Renault Filante Record 2025 is a masterpiece of design and engineering. Its aerodynamic form, inspired by aeronautics and historic Renault models, is designed to slice through the air with minimal resistance. The car’s long, low profile (5.12 meters long and just 1.19 meters tall) and its remarkably light weight of 1,000 kg contribute significantly to its efficiency.

“We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion. Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance. Every inch of the surface was crafted to capture the light and showcase the body lines, which appear to melt into the air. The blue windows and colour palette further underline this light and airy impression. The design as a whole seeks to convey an impression of flow and lightness.” – Sandeep Bhambra, Director of Advanced Design, Renault and Ampere

The car’s Ultraviolet Blue paint, a modern take on the color of the 40 CV des Records, shifts between blue and violet depending on the light. Other design cues, such as the round headlamps, separated wheels, and wheel fairings, pay homage to its predecessors while maintaining a distinctly futuristic aesthetic. However, it’s the influence of aeronautics that truly defines the Filante Record 2025’s design. The cockpit’s protective bubble evokes the image of a fighter jet, and every detail of the bodywork has been meticulously optimized to reduce drag.

A Cockpit Designed for Performance
The interior of the Filante Record 2025 is as focused on performance as its exterior. Inspired by aviation and space travel, the cockpit is a minimalist environment where every component is designed for maximum efficiency and driver comfort. The driver’s seat, made from stretched canvas and carbon blades, molds to the body for optimal support. All essential controls are within easy reach, and information is displayed on an ultra-thin digital screen. The innovative steering wheel, incorporating steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technologies, controls acceleration, braking, and steering through a 3D-printed Scalmalloy structure. A flexible panoramic screen at the center of the steering wheel displays crucial data like speed, range, and driving parameters. Even the air circulation system is designed for efficiency, minimizing weight and energy consumption. The F1-inspired driving position optimizes ergonomics and visibility.

Aerodynamics and Weight Control: Keys to Efficiency
The Renault Filante Record 2025’s exceptional aerodynamic design is the result of close collaboration between Renault and Ligier Automotive. Engineers focused on optimizing airflow around the car, paying particular attention to the transitions between different sections. The elongated shape of the single-seater, along with carefully faired wheels and suspension arms, helps to minimize aerodynamic interference. While numerical simulations have guided the aerodynamic development process, wind tunnel testing is planned for 2025 to further refine the design.

Weight reduction was another critical priority. The Filante Record 2025 utilizes a combination of ultralight materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Extensive use of carbon fiber in the chassis and body components keeps the weight below 1,000 kg while maintaining structural integrity. Aluminum, carbon, and steel alloys are strategically combined to minimize component cross-sections without sacrificing strength. Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminum alloy, is used in 3D-printed parts to further reduce weight and optimize complex designs. Topology optimization, a technique that uses computer calculations to identify areas where material can be removed without compromising strength, plays a crucial role in creating lightweight, robust parts.

A Laboratory on Wheels: Technologies of the Future
The Renault Filante Record 2025 serves as a testbed for technologies that will shape the future of electric vehicles.

Steer-by-Wire and Brake-by-Wire: These technologies replace conventional mechanical connections with electronic systems, enhancing the driving experience and reducing weight. Steer-by-wire uses electronic signals to control steering, while brake-by-wire manages braking force electronically.

Optimized Battery Integration: Ampere’s cell-to-pack technology integrates battery cells directly into the pack, eliminating intermediate modules and saving space and weight. The carbon battery casing further contributes to weight reduction and provides added strength and protection.

Innovative Tires: Specially designed 19-inch Michelin tires maximize performance and range. Engineers focused on materials, architecture, and design to minimize rolling resistance and improve energy efficiency.

A Name with Meaning

The name Renault Filante Record 2025 pays tribute to two historic Renault models: the Étoile Filante (1956), which set speed records, and the 40 CV des Records (1925), which achieved numerous speed and endurance records. The year 2025 marks the centenary of the 40 CV des Records’ achievements.

Renault Filante Record 2025 Specifications:

  • Battery Capacity: 87 kWh
  • Weight: 1,000 kg
  • Length: 5.12 meters
  • Height: 1.19 meters
  • Tires: 19-inch Michelin (specially designed)
  • Technologies: Steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, cell-to-pack battery technology

Source: Renault
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini

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