To the Batcave! Renault Filante Record is the new Batmobile-shaped prototype hiding the French brand’s next-gen EV tech
Renault has revealed its advanced new Filante Record prototype that will help it develop its next-generation electric car technology.
Looking not unlike a Keaton-era Batmobile, the new Filante Record is said to have been inspired by famous record-breaking Renault prototypes of the past with the new car said to have been built to set new records for power consumption and driving range.
READ MORE: Mad $200,000 Renault 5 Turbo 3E locked in for Australia!
READ MORE: Renault R4 is reborn as a retro mini SUV: full details here
READ MORE: Electric car technology: All you need to know about the high-tech world of EVs
OPINION: Why the Renault 4 and 5EV will save the world, not Orange Donald or Annoying Elon
The shape is said to feature optimum aero for the least possible drag while a weight of just 1000kg is remarkable, considering its 87kWh battery alone tips the scales at 600kg.
Described as a laboratory on wheels, the Filante measures in at 5.12m long and just 1.19m wide and has been developed in collaboration with famous racing prototype manufacturer Ligier Automotive.
Even the tyres lurking underneath the aero covers are specially developed Michelin rubber that’s said to, alone, increase the range by 20 percent.
Within, there’s a futuristic cockpit that’s part-inspired by a jet fighter and offers an F1 car driving position.
Instead of a steering wheel, the driver gets an unusual yoke-style set-up that some have compared to a gaming controller rather than something you steer a car with.
Speaking of which, the new Renault introduces the brand’s latest steer-by-wire tech that helps packaging – no need for physical connections between the steering wheel and the steering system – and also improves efficiency.
The hammock-style seat, meanwhile, that incorporates carbon blades is evidence of how designers have used extreme measures to cut kilos.
Featuring a chassis made of aluminium, carbon-fibre and steel, the Filante employs 3D printing to save yet more weight.
While the battery pack is sourced from the Renault Scenic E-Tech – there’s no word on where the electric motor is sourced from, nor how many will drive the advanced prototype.
Expect to hear more on the Renault Filante Record as the French car-maker says it will set its first efficiency attempt in the first half of 2025.
