Created by the French carmaker’s new design director Laurent van den Acker, the concept “stands out as an illustration of the brand’s commitment to more emotional styling.” Furthermore, Renault claims that “the front-end design previews the new front-end identity that is poised to become a feature of all Renault models in the future.”
The vehicle, which has a drag coefficient of 0.25, measures 155.3 inches (4,225mm) in length, 77.5 inches(1,968mm) in width and 45.8 inches (1,163mm) in height, having a wheelbase of 101.7 inches (2,582mm) and a ground clearance of 4.3 inches (110mm).
The 880 kg two-seater coupe uses a mid-mounted electric synchronous motor that delivers 150 hp and 226 Nm of torque and sends its power to the rear wheels via a direct drive transmission featuring a reducer and an active differential. The electric motor’s output might not sound like much, but the vehicle’s tubular steel frame and Kevlar body, which keep the weight at 830 kg, allow the DeZir to reach 62 mph in only 5 seconds.
The electric motor relies on a 24kWh Li-ion battery pack and on a KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) to offer a range of 100 miles (160 km). The battery can reach an 80 percent charge level in 20 minutes using Renault’s Quick Drop fast-charger.
The DeZir shares some of its suspension components with the Megane Trophy racecar, which comes to the world via the Dieppe factory, where the Alpine brand cars use to be manufactured. So the concept could also indicate that Renault is considering bringing back the marque.
The interior of the vehicle features a single bench seating solution, also coming with a white leather finish and red lacquer accents and offering a central touchscreen display.
Renault has collaborated with three partners to develop the concept: G Studio for the body, Michelin for the tire and IRCAM for the “fake” soundtrack that will be found on the car.
Our say: September will be an important month in the world of automotive design. While Laurens den Acker was busy creating the DeZir concept, Ikuo Maeda, who replaced him at the helm of Mazda’s design department last year, was working on a concept that would preview the future of Mazda design, with the vehicle also scheduled to make its debut in September, but in Milan.
You can watch a static and a dynamic video of the DeZir concept bellow.
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