Only the most dedicated of Renault fans will know about the Étoile Filante (the Shooting Star) and 40 CV des Records, a brace of pioneering projects from the 20th century that are now being remembered in style with this, the Filante Record 2025. The Étoile Filante was inspired by aeronautics and achieved more than 186mph at Bonneville (in 1956!), and the 40 CV des Records broke a host of distance and speed records decades before that. In 1925 it covered 4,167.578km, or 2,589 miles, at 173.649km/h - 108mph. Quite the feat for a century ago, one being celebrated now by Renault with the stunning Filante Record 2025.
Because this isn’t just a styling buck; the Filante Record is powered by the same 87kWh battery as found in a long-range Scenic E-Tech, and aims to break efficiency records for EVs during 2025. Centenary years do have a habit of getting away from you. Think of it like Renault’s take on the Mercedes EQXX, which achieved 7.5 miles per kilowatt hour a few years ago, albeit with a much funkier, retro vibe.
Because just look at this thing - it’s like Wacky Races meets I, Robot, all narrow tracks and preposterously long front end. The Filante Record 2025 seems as much luge as car; just the thing for carving through the air as cleanly as possible. Everything has been designed with aero efficiency in mind, from Michelin tyres with a 40 per cent lower coefficient than regular rubber to the dramatic fairings they’re housed in. Renault says that the world of aeronautics has been an influence once more, pointing to the cockpit design and visible screws in the bodywork as evidence. It reckons that ‘every detail of the bodywork has been optimised to reduce drag, with features that bring to mind the curves and shapes of high-performance aircraft.’ And high-performance aircraft nearly always look spectacular, so the Filante Record 2025 does as well.
But aerodynamic efficiency alone wouldn’t be enough for great EV returns - you only need look at the host of two-tonne tanks with 0.2xCd scores for proof of that. Low mass is needed as well, and Renault has delivered on that score as well. Thanks to the extensive use of carbon fibre in its construction, and paring back the bodywork to a minimum, a car as huge as the Filante - 5.12m long, 1.19m tall, 1.71m wide - weighs under 1,000kg. That’s with 600kg of batteries stuffed in also, though even that features a carbon battery casing. Indeed no bit of the Record 2025’s construction was left to chance: ‘Each component of the vehicle was studied, analysed and optimised to reduce weight while maintaining the solidity required to establish new records.’
Actual powertrain details haven’t been released yet, Renault simply stating that it is powered by an 87kWh battery pack. Expect to learn a bit more at the reveal next month. In the meantime, we know it features both brake-by-wire and steer-by-wire; not brand new features, perhaps - the Alfa Giulia has the former, Infiniti introduced Direct Adaptive Steering a decade ago - though potentially significant for Renault. Here the reduction in parts brings packaging and weight benefits for the Filante: no conventional steering column means the wheel can go wherever suits, and the cabin is designed around that. The removal of a regular brake assembly frees up more room for the single occupant.
The interior itself sounds fascinating, the Filante Record 2025 inspired by aircraft with hand-operated controls (imagine that). The handlebar-style design controls throttle, braking and steering; a screen between them provides vital info. The driver is reclined like they’re in F1, legs over the batteries, and an ‘ingenious system of air circulation’ ventilates the cabin without more parts. Make it simple, make it light, and the benefits come - probably too much to hope that this catches on…
Sandeep Bhambra, Renault’s Director of Advanced Design, said: “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.”
Engineered in collaboration with Ligier, Renault will reveal the Filante Record 2025 at the Retromobile show in Paris next month. Feels very fitting; it’s a very cool expo, and this is undoubtedly a very cool concept. Things will move pretty quickly after that, Renault suggesting that it will set ‘a new record for efficiency in the first half of the year.’ Those attempts can’t come soon enough.
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