Renault Filante Record 2025 is an electric demo car developed to maximize energy efficiency and set a new record for power consumption and range with an 87 kWh battery, i.e., the same capacity as the Scenic E-Tech electric.
We’re talking about a single-seater with a streamlined body design for aerodynamic efficiency. The Renault Filante Record 2025 is a car of exceptional dimensions: 5.12 meters long and 1.19 meters tall for just 1,000 kg.
It’s a laboratory on wheels for testing new technologies, materials, and innovations. The Filante is fitted with unique friction-reducing tires and steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technologies.
Famous predecessors
It also pays tribute to the history and heritage of the Renault brand, which has always used motorsports and records to validate its innovations before applying them to production models.
Inspired by the legendary ’40 CV des Records’ (1925-1926), the ‘Nervasport des Records’ (1934), and the ‘Etoile Filante’ (1956), this single-seater appears to be sculpted by air, says the press release. “It is an exercise in style and a demonstration of exceptional aerodynamic efficiency and cutting-edge technology, underlining Renault’s commitment to innovation and more sustainable and efficient mobility.”
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Renault Filante Record 2025 features bodywork in Ultraviolet Blue, a new shade that looks blue or violet depending on the light’s reflections and the viewing angle. Reminiscent of the 40 CV des Records, this color was recreated especially for Filante Record 2025.
Many other details also recall the iconic models that inspired the design of the demo car: the round headlamps, wheels separated from the body (40 CV des Records and Nervasport des Records), wheel fairings (Etoile Filante), pointed grille, cabin position, and seat adjustment strap (40 CV des Records).
“All these shapes and parts remind us of the past while fusing perfectly with the contemporary look of Renault Filante Record 2025. Integrating smoothly and harmoniously with the vehicle’s futuristic vision creates a natural dialogue between past and future,” explains the press release.
The Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car will be on show at the Rétromobile Motor Show in Paris from 5 to 9 February 2025 before establishing a new record for efficiency in the first half of the year.
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New levels of efficiency…
Renault Filante Record 2025 is a feat of engineering and design, says Renault. “Developed to push the limits of aerodynamics and energy efficiency, it is out to set new records. Aeronautical design cues and brand history inspire its bold looks.”
“We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion. Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance,” explains Sandeep Bhambra, Director of Advanced Design, Renault and Ampere.
“Every inch of the surface was crafted to capture the light and showcase the body lines, which appear to melt into the air. The blue windows and color palette further underline this light and airy impression. The design as a whole seeks to convey an impression of flow and lightness,” he adds.
The world of aeronautics is the main inspiration for the design of this demo car. With its protective aerodynamic bubble, the cabin brings to mind a fighter jet. At the same time, every detail of the bodywork has been optimized to reduce drag, with features that bring to mind the curves and shapes of high-performance aircraft.
… and performance
Weight was also a priority in the Renault Filante Record 2025 design. This is clear in every detail, down to the finish. Aircraft construction techniques inspire the visible screws on the bodywork. The purpose is to make the car lighter and give it a contemporary, high-tech look.
Alongside the other design features inspired by the world of aeronautics, these visible screws underline the brand’s commitment to innovative and more sustainable vehicle design.
The interior design of Filante Record 2025 takes the same approach as the exterior, with a cockpit inspired by the worlds of aviation and space travel, in which every detail is designed to maximize performance, comfort, and efficiency.
In this pared-down environment, each component or system (safety and opening functions, cruise control, accelerator, braking, etc.) is within easy reach of the driver, with a design geared toward ergonomics and weight reduction.
The choice of materials also reflects this thinking. The driver’s seat, for example, is made from stretched canvas, similar in style to a hammock, for a lightweight design with optimum support.
The seat adapts to the body shape of the driver, who feels like one with the vehicle. The seat is supported by thin carbon blades clad in a technical textile, a choice again inspired by the aeronautics and aerospace industries, where every gram is vital in maximizing performance.
The steering wheel is the most visible component of an innovative control architecture. Its handles control the acceleration, braking, and steering functions using fully electronic steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technologies, discreetly integrated into a 3D-printed structure made of Scalmolloy.
This approach is inspired by aeronautical technologies, where controls must be ergonomic and rapidly accessible. At the center of the steering wheel, a flexible panoramic screen wrapped around a cylinder provides a clear and immediate display of essential data, such as speed, range, and driving parameters. Finally, the steering wheel is attached to the cockpit’s protective bubble, rising upward when opened to make it easier for the driver to get in and out.
Aerodynamics and weight
Based on a collaboration between Renault’s engineering and design teams and Ligier Automotive’s design teams, the Filante Record 2025 demo car features an exceptional ultra-aerodynamic design optimized for performance.
The elongated shape of the single-seater played a key role here since longer vehicles allow better control of the aerodynamic flow, thereby reducing interference. The wheels are usually primary sources of aerodynamic interference, but they have been carefully shaped here to minimize their impact on performance.
The engineers initially used simplified shapes before perfecting the design for the best trade-off between styling intent and aerodynamic performance. At the same time, the suspension arms were also faired in, with design lines that reflect aerodynamic logic.
One key goal was to make the vehicle lighter to maximize energy efficiency and range. To this end, the project deployed an innovative combination of ultralight materials and advanced manufacturing techniques.
By maximizing carbon fiber, a material of key importance for reducing the weight of the chassis and body components without compromising their structural strength, the engineers kept the weight under 1,000 kilos while optimizing stiffness and safety.
The engineering team used Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminum alloy specially designed for 3D printing, to further reduce the vehicle’s weight. This allowed engineers to manufacture complex parts with extreme precision while reducing the vehicle’s overall weight.
The 3D printing process also minimized material waste by optimizing the structure of the parts to be manufactured. The components produced are lightweight, strong, and a perfect fit with performance requirements.
No mechanical connections
Renault Filante Record 2025 replaces conventional mechanical systems with electronic steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technologies, delivering a fuller driving experience while reducing the number of mechanical components. This frees up space to rethink vehicle architecture and optimize weight.
Steer-by-wire is a significant step forward in steering control. It relies on an electronic link between the steering wheel and steering rack motors. When the driver turns the wheel, the system sends electrical signals to a central ECU that determines the best way to turn the car, not just with the front wheels but also with other components such as the engine, brakes, and suspension. Thus, the entire platform can be used.
Brake-by-wire technology operates on a similar principle. Renault Filante Record 2025 does not have a conventional pedal assembly. Instead, braking effort is managed by an electronic control system. When the driver activates the brakes, an electrical signal is sent to the braking system, which distributes the force applied to the wheels for optimum effect. Here again, this technology opens new possibilities in platform and cockpit architecture.
Cell-to-pack battery
Cell-to-pack technology, supplied by Ampere, maximizes the vehicle’s energy efficiency while delivering space and weight savings. The cells are integrated directly into the battery pack without intermediate modules, reducing weight while optimizing its form factor and available space. This was a major challenge for Renault Filante Record 2025, just 1.71 meters wide.
This new architecture also reduced the vehicle’s overall weight to 1,000 kg with a 600 kg battery. The carbon battery casing also contributes to weight savings, increasing strength and protection.
Innovative tires
Renault Filante Record 2025 has 19-inch Michelin tires designed to deliver pure performance while maximizing range. Tires influence range by around 20%, so they play a key role in this type of project.
In this quest for efficiency, these tires once again push back the rolling resistance limits. Their coefficient is almost 40% lower, at around 4 kg/ton in conditions of vehicle use, compared with around 6.5 kg/ton for a conventional vehicle tire.
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