The Renault Filante Record 2025, a concept car that works but looks crazy, will try to set new records for fuel economy and range this year. The thin body is made of carbon fiber and is meant to cut through the air with little resistance. The Filante has steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, a lot of lightweight parts, and Michelin tires that are specially made to reduce friction. French car companies are known for making unique styles, and Renault has really thought of something new for 2025. The electric concept car Filante Record 2025 looks like a rocket and was based on a number of old Renaults that set records. That being said, this isn’t a static fantasy. Renault is not only making the Filante, but they also want to beat old records for range and energy efficiency this year. A Piece of Carbon Fiber that has Historical Ties The Filante Record 2025 has a history behind it. Its function and aerodynamic bodywork make me think of three classic Renaults, each of which set its own marks. The Filante’s name and curved fenders make it look like the 1956 Etoile Filante. Its thin body also makes it look like the 25 CV des Records and the 34 Nervasport des Records. The Filante Record 2025 was made by Renault and Ligier Automotive, a company that makes endurance race cars and has ties to the Formula One team from the 1970s and 1980s. The beautiful Ultraviolet Blue body is 201.6 inches long and 46.9 inches tall, which is 14 inches longer than a Lexus LC500 but six inches shorter. The tall hood bends back into a glass bubble that looks like the nose of a fighter jet. The front and rear wheel fairings are mounted away from the body and connected to the main structure by a few black struts, making the bike more aerodynamic. Renault wants to make the bodywork even better, so this spring, they will try it in wind tunnels. The Renault Filante Record 2025 is called a “laboratory on wheels” because it has so many cutting-edge features. Renault says that the prototype can weigh about 2,205 pounds because its frame is made of lightweight steel, carbon, and aluminum alloys. Parts of the body were 3-D printed with Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminum alloy, while the body is made of carbon fiber. Computer tools helped Renault limit the amount of material used to only the most important parts that had to stay rigid. A Laboratory in Motion Under the eye-catching skin is an 87.0-kWh battery pack that Renault says has the same capacity as the pack used in the Scenic E-Tech SUV that can be driven on the road. Renault says that the cells are built right into the battery pack, so there is no need for any extra sections. This makes the battery lighter, at about 1323 pounds. In the small cabin, there is only room for one seat. The seat’s low curb weight comes from the fact that it is made of stretched cloth over several thin carbon blades. Renault says that the layout fits the shape of the driver’s body like a bed. A very thin screen in the shape of a cylinder is put in front of the driver to show important information and control several jobs. Renault also has an air-circulation system that lets the car breathe without adding any extra weight or parts. In the party trick, a turning wheel that isn’t really a wheel is used. Instead, the Filante has two handles that look like yokes and are used to move, brake, and speed up. There is an electrical link between the driver’s controls, the wheels, and the brakes on the Filante. On top of that, the Filante Record has special Michelin tires that reduce friction, which should help the electric range. Before it tries to break the record for fuel economy in the first half of 2025, Renault will show off the Filante Record 2025 at the Rétromobile Show in Paris starting February 5.
