PREVIEW

A new Renault concept car has driven more than 1,000 kilometres at motorway speeds without relying on oversized batteries.

At the start of 2025, the French carmaker set itself the challenge of making the trip on a single charge using a battery no larger than the one fitted to its Scenic electric family car, while maintaining sustained, real-world speeds.

An initial attempt scheduled for October was abandoned at the last minute because of poor weather. The team finally completed the run on 18 December at the UTAC test track in Morocco.

Rather than chasing a record by fitting an enormous battery or driving slowly in ultra-efficient mode, Renault opted for a far tougher test. Its Filante Record 2025 concept car was equipped with a standard 87 kWh battery - the same capacity as the Scenic E-Tech electric - and drivers were instructed to keep the average speed above 110 km/h. The aim was to cover more than 1,000 kilometres in under 10 hours, including driver changes and technical stops.

Achieving that target required every possible efficiency gain. Engineers refined the car’s aerodynamics, stripped out weight, and carefully selected lightweight materials.

The resulting vehicle was purpose-built for the challenge but also designed to be visually distinctive. Renault’s designers drew heavily on the company’s heritage of record-setting vehicles, blending historic references with a futuristic aesthetic.

Finished in a striking ultraviolet blue, Filante Record 2025 pays tribute to the Renault 40 CV, which set endurance records in 1925. It also nods to the Étoile Filante of the 1950s, while incorporating aviation-inspired design cues. A clear bubble canopy covers the cockpit, reminiscent of a fighter jet, and the driver’s seating position mirrors that of a Formula 1 car.

Efficiency was the guiding principle throughout the project.

Sandeep Bhambra, Chief Designer Advanced, Renault, said: " This accomplishment took a lot of exacting work on several fronts – ultra-efficient aerodynamics of course, the low-rolling-resistance tyres, the lightweight materials and advanced technical features. Teams of experts from Renault and its partners Michelin and Ligier worked on every aspect of Filante Record 2025's design to demonstrate that electric vehicles can now travel long distances without recharging, even at sustained speeds."

The first version of Filante Record 2025 was unveiled at the Rétromobile show last winter. While its aircraft-like silhouette already reflected Renault’s record-breaking past, wind-tunnel testing carried out in the spring revealed room for improvement.

Engineers returned to the drawing board, reshaping the wheel fairings and mounting them directly onto the wheels. The change reduced drag and improved airflow, while the central structure - already close to optimal - was largely left untouched. Air intakes were also reduced to limit any remaining aerodynamic losses.

A further attempt in France last October was cancelled because of poor weather, prompting the team to relocate the final run to Morocco.
On the morning of 18 December, conditions were close to ideal: dry weather, no wind and temperatures rising from 4°C at dawn to 13°C by early afternoon. The task involved nearly 10 hours of continuous driving and 239 laps of a circuit just over four kilometres long.

Three drivers shared the workload. Laurent Hurgon took the opening stint shortly after sunrise, followed by Constance Léraud-Reyser. Arthur Ferriere completed the final leg as night fell.

After 9 hours and 52 minutes of driving time - excluding seven minutes for driver changes - the target was met. Filante Record 2025 covered 1,008 kilometres at an average speed of 102 km/h without recharging, using just 7.8 kWh per 100 kilometres. Renault says 11% of the battery remained at the finish, enough for a further 120 kilometres at similar speeds.
The company believes the lessons learned will feed directly into future production cars.