Automotive

Renault is making a "racing teapot"

Renault is making a "racing teapot"
Renault's Formula 1-inspired Yellow Teapot
Renault's Formula 1-inspired Yellow Teapot
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Design sketches of The Yellow Teapot
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Design sketches of The Yellow Teapot
Renault's Formula 1-inspired Yellow Teapot
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Renault's Formula 1-inspired Yellow Teapot
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On July 16, 1977, Renault made its first foray into the world of Formula 1 racing. It did so at Britain's Silverstone Grand Prix, with a car known as the RS01. Among other things, it was the first Formula 1 car to feature a turbocompressed engine. Now, the automaker is marking the 40th anniversary of that event by introducing a limited-run … teapot?

Given that it was exploring new technological ground, it isn't surprising that the RS01 initially had some reliability issues. As a result, it was often seen streaming white smoke due to engine problems. Racing team boss Ken Tyrrell thusly called it the "Yellow Teapot," and the nickname stuck.

The actual teapot reportedly "takes up all the aesthetic codes of the Renault Formula 1 and plays on the design, the graphics and the colours" – in fact, it features the official paint of Renault's new RS17 racer.

Starting in September, it will enter use at the L'Atelier Renault cafe on Paris' Champs-Elysées. At that time it will also become available for purchase, both at the cafe and through its e-shop, priced at €129 (about US$147).

If you want a Yellow Teapot of your own, though, act quickly – only 40 are being made.

Source: Renault

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3 comments
3 comments
Richard Green
Only making 40? That will make them an expensive collectable. I think I will hold out for the knock-off forgery.
Nik
Eric Laithwaite, of linear motor fame, used to show a similar teapot, at some of his lectures, as an example of good logical design, but claimed his wife wouldn't use it because it reminded her of a, ''chamber pot.''
darren37
Maybe they should focus more on their f1 cars and stop worrying about making TEAPOTS 🙈