A Retro-Futuristic Renault Filante Record 2025 Made to Smash Range Records
Image Credit: Renault Group.
Renault has been busy cooking up something truly bizarre in their secret underground lair. They've decided to take a page out of Doc Brown's playbook and create a retro-futuristic EV prototype that looks like it's been teleported straight from a 1950s sci-fi comic book. They call it the Filante Record 2025, and it's got one goal in mind: to smash EV range records like a runaway Tesla on a sugar rush. And I like it. A lot.
What? Another EV prototype promising the moon? Yawn… But before you doze off, this one's actually got some serious potential. Renault has a history of building record-breaking prototypes, and they're not afraid to push the boundaries of what's possible. If you need an example, the Étoile Filante is a rocket-powered land speed record holder from the 50s. Yeah, these guys are serious about their speed. I know - Renault and speed aren't two words you'd often put together in one sentence.
Image Credit: Renault Group.
Unfortunately, this time, it's not about going fast. It's about going far. Renault wants to squeeze every last mile out of a single charge, and they've pulled out all the stops to make it happen. The Filante Record 2025 is a sleek, aerodynamic marvel that looks like it could slice through the air like a hot knife through butter. Cliche? Sure - but look at its long, low-slung body, a massive fin-shaped tail, and wheels that are separate from the body. That's one sexy butter knife right there, just like those old-school racers.
Renault went as far as teaming up with Michelin to create custom low-friction tires that are said to improve range by no less than 20%. Twenty percent more range just from the tires! I didn't even know that was possible. I bet those Michelin tires are made of unicorn tears and fairy dust.
Image Credit: Renault Group.
But the real magic happens under the driver's feet. That's where you'll find the massive 87 kWh battery pack, which is the same one found in the production-spec Scenic E-Tech crossover. But in order to fit it into the Filante's ultra-low body, Renault had to get creative. They used cell-to-pack technology and encased the whole thing in carbon fiber, because, you know, weight is the enemy.
Renault has gone to great lengths to make the Filante as light as possible. The chassis is made of a combination of aluminum, carbon fiber, and steel, and they've even used a fancy new 3D-printed aluminum alloy called Scalmalloy. All told, the Filante tips the scales at a surprisingly skinny 2,205 pounds, despite its battery alone chipping in 1,323 pounds. That means the entire car, without the battery, weighs less than 900 lbs. That can't be right, can it?
But what's it like to actually drive this thing? Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to get behind the wheel yet, but from what I've seen, it looks like something out of a science fiction movie. The cockpit is inspired by aviation and space travel, with an F1-style driving position and a steering wheel that looks like a gaming controller. It has all the latest tech, including steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems, meaning you can control the car with just a few flicks of your fingers and a gentle tap from your feet. I bet my lunch money it's one heck of an experience.
Getting into this futuristic contraption is an entirely different game. The canopy opens together with the steering wheel, making it easy for apparently even the most inflexible of drivers to climb inside. Once you're in, you'll be enveloped in a hammock-style seat that's made of stretched canvas and supported by carbon blades. It's designed to adapt to your body shape, so you can stay comfortable even on those record-breaking drives.
Renault says they'll be making a record attempt in the first half of 2025, but they haven't given us a specific date yet. And as for the actual range figure they're aiming for, they're keeping that under wraps for now. But based on the specs and the technology they're using, I wouldn't be surprised if they managed to squeeze out something truly impressive. The Renault Scenic E-tech with the same battery has a 388-mile WLTP rating. The Filante weighs about half of the Scenic and is super air-slippery - are we going to see 1,000 miles?
Of course, the Filante Record 2025 is just a one-off prototype, so don't expect to see it at your local Renault dealership anytime soon. But Renault says that many of the technologies they're testing on the Filante will eventually make their way into production vehicles. I just wish we could all one day be driving around in cars that look like they've been beamed down from another planet.
Until that day comes, we'll just have to keep our eyes peeled for the Filante Record 2025 as it makes its record attempt. And when it manages to break the EV range record, it'll be one giant leap for electric-kind. In style. And just in case Batman was asking, you can tell him Renault pinched his ride.
