Making its global debut in Paris, the Renault Trezor Concept pushes the boundaries on every level, and according to Laurens van den Acker, Senior VP of Corporate Design “prepares the way for the trends we are likely to see in our upcoming vehicles.” Drawing influences from the earlier Renault DeZir show car he crafted in 2010, this two-seat electric sports coupe matches stunning looks with a competition-proven drivetrain culled from the automaker’s championship-winning FIA Formula E racing effort. And, if that’s not enough, it’s also designed to accommodate fully autonomous operation.
Boldly beautiful
Constructed largely of carbon fiber and rising a mere 42.5 inches at its tallest point, the sleek GT-styled Trezor – which means “treasure” in French — is crowned by a power-activated access port and features an analog state-of-charge display on its left rear flank in place of the conventional fuel-filler door. Wrapped in bodywork that earns a 0.22 coefficient of drag, the car has a long 109.3-inch wheelbase and wide track dimensions. It rides on Continental tires fitted to 21-inch alloys up front and 22-inchers at the rear.
Inside, the Trezor’s sensual, minimalist cabin features a dash made from a custom ash wood composite set off with red leather upholstery. The rectangular racing-style multifunction steering wheel overlooks a large L-shaped ultra-high-res curved-screen OLED display that combines all primary controls with those of the navigation and infotainment system. The system is automatically performs time-saving tasks like pairing phones and other smart devices upon entry.
Racing technology for the streets
Doing its part to foster the potential for fun in an electric-propelled future, the 3,725-pound Trezor is motivated by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that cranks out 350 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. To optimize balance and help lower the center of gravity, the Trezor has battery packs in the front and the rear, each with its own cooling system. In addition to conventional plug-in charging, the Trezor also utilizes the Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) technology developed for Formula E racing to add more juice on the fly.
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The Trezor is capable of operating in three different modes: neutral, sport and autonomous. When in autonomous mode, the steering wheel moves out of the way to afford the Trezor’s operator a full panoramic view of the main display to permit viewing of videos or engaging in other online activities. The car’s exterior lighting signature also changes at that point to let other drivers know the vehicle is driving itself.
While van den Acker is confident that big changes are definitely on the way in this brave new electric world-to-be, there’s no telling exactly when this vision of tomorrow may actually materialize in a showroom.
More Concept Vehicles…
The Audi e-tron Quattro Concept previews the upcoming Q6 crossover
Mazda Koeru Concept offers a look at a new compact crossover model
Porsche Mission E Concept: a 600-hp EV on the fast track to production
