Renault DeZir

Renault’s home auto show in Paris this Fall will mark the beginning of a new styling direction for the brand, and that means a new concept car. The DeZir is the first major project under new design vice president Laurens van den Acker and according to Renault, it represents the vision of ‘simple’, ‘sensuous’ and ‘warm.’ From where we sit, the shape certainly fulfills the first two elements and the bright red finish is downright hot.

Expect this to be the face of future Renault models, such as the next-generation Laguna. Scissor doors add to the dramatic exterior appearance, while the rear window is replaced by two cameras that produce a panoramic rearward view for the driver.

Inside, the red exterior makes way for a one-piece bench trimmed in contrasting white leather, designed to represent the attraction between two people.

Power comes from a vertically mounted 24kWh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, fed to a 148bhp mid-mounted electric motor. This gives Audi e-tron-rivalling performance, with 0-60mph in only five seconds and a top speed of 112mph.

Propulsion is provided by a 110 kilowatt electric motor spinning the rear wheels and pushing the 1,830 pound concept to 60 mph in 5 seconds (at least according to the spec sheet). Kevlar body panels (including a pair of trick reverse-hinged butterfly doors) are wrapped around a steel tube frame chassis with double wishbones at all four corners. Renault hasn’t given any indication yet if the DeZir will be produced.