Radical Renault Filante Prototype Aims for EV Range Records

Renault wants to smash EV range records with its new, retro-futuristic Filante Record 2025 prototype.

Renault has an entirely new EV model under its arms in the form of a radical, retro-inspired prototype known as the Filante Record 2025. And as its name suggests, the French automaker aims to break several records for energy consumption and driving range, with the help of several new technologies and extreme aerodynamics.

Borne out of Renault’s collaboration with former Formula One (F1) constructor Ligier Automotive, this radical prototype is described as a “laboratory on wheels for testing new technologies, materials, and innovations.” The Filante Record 2025 will also join the long list of Renault’s speed-record prototypes of the past, which include the likes of the 40 CV des Records from 1925, the Nervasport des Records from 1934, and the Etoile Filante from 1956.

Unlike these prototypes, however, the Filante Record 2025 is specifically designed to achieve the longest possible range on a single full charge. According to Renault, this EV prototype design is based on numerical simulations, with actual wind tunnel tests set to commence afterwards in spring this year.

Featuring a single-seat layout that spans 5.12 metres long and just 1.19 metres tall, the Filante Record 2025 gets a pretty sleek and aerodynamically optimised design, featuring rounded LED headlights and a unique fin-shaped tail—both are clear homages to the past.

What’s also unique about this prototype is the wheels are all separated from the car’s main body, with all of them being “carefully faired” with aero covers and sculpted fenders for minimal drag. Also helping to reduce drags are the fully enclosed 19-inch wheels shod in bespoke, friction-reducing Michelin tyres.

The radical, retro-inspired exterior design of the prototype is matched by a futuristic cockpit that adopts an F1-style single-seat layout with inspirations from the aviation world and space travel. For starters, the Filante gets a joystick-style steering wheel that integrates all the essential controls and functions, while the seat is essentially a stretched canvas supported by carbon blades that helps to adapt to the body shape of the driver.

Given the bare-bonedness of this cabin, it comes as no surprise that the Filante Record 2025 weighs closer to none, at least according to EV standards. Combined with its aluminium and carbon fibre chassis, as well as bespoke 3D-printed aluminium alloy known as Scalmalloy, the prototype tips the scale at only 1,000 KG, and that is despite its battery component alone weighing 600 KG.

Speaking of battery, the Filante benefits from an 87-kWh battery pack, of which it borrows from the Scenic E-Tech crossover. In order to fit in the ultra-low body of the prototype, it features cell-to-pack technology within a carbon casing. As of now, however, Renault has yet to unveil any information on the electric motors or the performance specifications of the prototype, as well as the promised numbers and figures.

Fortunately, we don’t need to wait too long for that, as the Renault Filante Record 2025 will make its official record attempt sometime in the first half of this year. Should this project be a fruition, we could potentially see some of the techs from this prototype trickling their way down to Renault EV models in the future.