Renault was one of the early players in the electric car game, but it hasn't joined Tesla in harnessing battery power for crazy performance. It might not beat a Model S off the line, but the company's Zoe e-Sport Concept does inject a dose of fun into an otherwise bland line of electric cars.
Based on the latest iteration of the Zoe, the e-Sport Concept plays on the brand's Formula E connection for more performance and some more aggression in the looks department. The body is made entirely of carbon fiber, and is now home to a host of wild scoops and wings designed to hint at the performance on offer. It looks properly nasty, and that's no mean feat when you consider the family-friendly base car.
It can also back those looks up, streaking to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds. Renault says this turn of speed comes courtesy of its carbon fiber-heavy bodywork, which helps keep curb weight down to 1,400 kg (3,086 lb). Although you wouldn't call it light beside the average petrol hot hatch, that figure is impressive considering the battery pack alone weighs 450 kg (992 lb).
Beyond the lighter body, the e-Sport benefits from a Formula E powertrain with 456 hp (345 kW) and 472 lb.ft (350 Nm) of torque. The car is all-wheel drive and sits on a wider track than the standard model for greater stability at high speeds. It also rides on a set of four-way adjustable Ohlins dampers, working with double-wishbone suspension all-round to keep all four wheels on the road. Useful, given the tall body and prodigious power on tap.
"The brief for the Renault ZOE e-Sport Concept couldn't have been simpler: 'Have fun!'," says Stéphane Janin, Director of Concept Cars Design. "So we came up with something midway between a production model and a racing car."
The e-Sport is just a concept at the moment and, given the fate of past Renault electric concepts like the Twizy RenaultSport, it's unlikely to ever make it to production. It's on show at the Geneva Motor Show, where New Atlas is on the ground covering all the action. You can also check the car out in Renault's video below.
Source: Renault