OFFICIAL: This Is Renault DeZir, The Electric Concept With Emotional Design

Renault unveiled today the DeZir concept, an electric prototype that comes with an impressive design, and with a 150 HP engine and with an autonomy of 99 miles.

Renault is not reinvented, but proved to all his critics that can expose creations with deeper emotional side. The exponent of the new direction is DeZir and is the expected concept at the Paris Motor Show 2010.

Perhaps as many know, the concept is the first project of Laurens van den Acker at the helm office of Renault design and the direction lines that the French automaker models will adopt with the new philosophy “Drive the Change”. The language proposed by DeZir is guided by three key words: simple, sensual and warm. According to official press release that accompanying the French concept, these epithets will be present in all future models of the French automaker.

The “Z” letter in the name betrays its relationship with the electric concepts from Renault family, which bears the signature Z.E. Under the hood we have therefore an electrically powered, centrally mounted to optimize weight distribution. The unit is identical to that used by Renault for future power series models. The power was changed, the engine has 150 HP and 167 lb-ft of torque.

The concept is kept alive by a lithium-ion battery, which provides a range of 99 miles and can be recharged in 8 hours or in just 20 minutes (when using a 400V outlet) or may be changed, thanks to Renault Quick Drop technique.

At recharge chapter we talking about a system used for braking energy recovery, similar to KERS, used in F1. The stored energy during braking can be used for extra power when accelerating.

To maintain a low total mass, Renault has used a similar steel tubular chassis of the Megane Trophy and has developed a Kevlar body. Also the aerodynamic improves the performance, the coefficient is only 0.25, an impressive figure.

The acceleration from 0-60 mph is made in five seconds and the sprint from 0 to 31 mph in just two seconds, impressive results for an engine with only 150 HP.