Motor
07-05-2010, 03:54 PM
Electric Love: Renault DeZir EV Sports Coupe (http://wot.motortrend.com/6662176/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/index.html)
Renault's new DeZir all-electric sports concept is a "passionate" signal of the French automaker's new design direction, thanks in large part to the efforts of Laurens van den Acker. The Dutch designer recently left the top design post at Mazda to take a similar position at Renault, and the DeZir is his team's first showcase effort.
DeZir, which will make its world debut at the upcoming 2010 Paris motor show, is a two door, all-electric powered sports coupe with a unique gullwing door setup. Several automakers have trotted out sexy-looking EVs lately, and not surprisingly, Renault says the DeZir "is proof that electric vehicles and a love of cars are by no means incompatible."
Renault also says the DeZir, which drew inspiration from Renault's past, is also the first of several concepts to production vehicles that will further explore the brand's new, more expressive design direction. DeZir reportedly features front end design cues that will find their way to future production Renaults.
The DeZir's electric motor is rated at 110 kilowatts (150 horsepower) and 166 pound feet of instantly available torque and is a minor evolution of the setup found in Renault's zero-emission Z.E. series of cars -- which employ roughly the same powertrain as the Nissan Leaf thanks to the Nissan/Renault alliance.
The motor of the rear drive DeZir is mounted in a mid-rear position to optimize weight distribution. The DeZir's vertically-mounted 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located behind the seat. Renault says the DeZir can shoot from 0 to 62 mph in 5 seconds flat onto a top speed of 112 mph. The 1830-pound car's range is pegged at 100 miles and charge times vary depending on connection.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/28319393+w750/renault-dezir-concept-front.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/29724187+w750/renault-dezir-concept-side.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/29724178+w750/renault-dezir-concept-rear.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/28319390+w750/renault-dezir-concept-front-three-quarter-doors-open.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/28319396+w750/renault-dezir-concept-rear-doors-open.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/29724181+w750/renault-dezir-concept-cockpit.jpg
I see too much R8 in its design. It's bad enough the R8 looks like a deformed TT that's been flattened and sat out in the sun too long. This takes it to another level of bad.
Renault's new DeZir all-electric sports concept is a "passionate" signal of the French automaker's new design direction, thanks in large part to the efforts of Laurens van den Acker. The Dutch designer recently left the top design post at Mazda to take a similar position at Renault, and the DeZir is his team's first showcase effort.
DeZir, which will make its world debut at the upcoming 2010 Paris motor show, is a two door, all-electric powered sports coupe with a unique gullwing door setup. Several automakers have trotted out sexy-looking EVs lately, and not surprisingly, Renault says the DeZir "is proof that electric vehicles and a love of cars are by no means incompatible."
Renault also says the DeZir, which drew inspiration from Renault's past, is also the first of several concepts to production vehicles that will further explore the brand's new, more expressive design direction. DeZir reportedly features front end design cues that will find their way to future production Renaults.
The DeZir's electric motor is rated at 110 kilowatts (150 horsepower) and 166 pound feet of instantly available torque and is a minor evolution of the setup found in Renault's zero-emission Z.E. series of cars -- which employ roughly the same powertrain as the Nissan Leaf thanks to the Nissan/Renault alliance.
The motor of the rear drive DeZir is mounted in a mid-rear position to optimize weight distribution. The DeZir's vertically-mounted 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located behind the seat. Renault says the DeZir can shoot from 0 to 62 mph in 5 seconds flat onto a top speed of 112 mph. The 1830-pound car's range is pegged at 100 miles and charge times vary depending on connection.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/28319393+w750/renault-dezir-concept-front.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/29724187+w750/renault-dezir-concept-side.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/29724178+w750/renault-dezir-concept-rear.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/28319390+w750/renault-dezir-concept-front-three-quarter-doors-open.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/28319396+w750/renault-dezir-concept-rear-doors-open.jpg
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-shows/electric-love-renault-dezir-ev-sports-coupe-coming-to-paris/29724181+w750/renault-dezir-concept-cockpit.jpg
I see too much R8 in its design. It's bad enough the R8 looks like a deformed TT that's been flattened and sat out in the sun too long. This takes it to another level of bad.