Renault has unveiled a high-performance electric two-seater GT concept at the ongoing Paris motor show. A sleek coupé, called the Trezor, which means ‘treasure’ in French, it's the latest creation of design boss Laurens van den Acker, who has held the role at Renault since 2009.
At 4700mm in length, the Trezor is nearly as long as a Range Rover Sport, but its height of 1080mm makes it one of the lowest cars on the road. The concept rides on 21in front and 22in rear wheels with gaps between spokes that make the shape of the Eiffel Tower, plus carbonfibre scoops to aid brake cooling. The concept’s chassis consists of a central carbonfibre spine that connects to steel frames in the front and rear which carry the independent suspension. The rear wheels are driven by a single 355hp Formula E motor mounted behind the occupants. Despite the two large batteries -- one front and one rear -- the kerb weight is just 1600 kgs, meaning the car can accelerate from 0-100kph in less than four seconds.
The Trezor concept is set to shape the styling of the French carmaker’s future production models and sports a number of interesting design features, including a Renault diamond set into the body sides which flashes as the roof opens. The bonnet includes automatic scoops which open to provide cooling air to the battery when required. There are laser lights at the front, while at the rear, fibre optic lights incorporate tiny laser beams as decorations. The whole lighting set assumes an all-enveloping ‘technical’ configuration when the car is in autonomous mode.
The huge, one-piece powered door opens forward to reveal a step-in cockpit with two leather-trimmed bucket seats, designed to provide comfort either when the car is being driven or in its selectable autonomous mode. Also revealed, when the door opens, is a finely crafted wooden-framed luggage compartment, with space for two suitcases. Head restraints for the occupants are also carried on wooden frames.
Additionally, the concept previews big changes in technology. Instrumentation is entirely screen-based, with two large displays on the dashboard and three smaller ones across the rectangular steering wheel. Meanwhile, controls are mostly app-based, with icons to enable desired functions. In autonomous mode, the steering wheel widens, like the curtains in a theatre, to give better visual access to the main fascia’s screens, on which the occupant can play a game or watch a movie.
The Trezor will not appear in showrooms internationally, but it underscores van den Acker’s belief that there’s more mileage in the visual language he began to create for new Renault production cars six years ago.
“There are more big changes coming over the next few years,” said the design boss. “High technology will invade everything. As a designer we all have ideas about the direction of progress, but we can’t always be right so we use concept cars like Trezor to help us find answers. It’ll be interesting to see.”