Renault will give Rétromobile classic-car showgoers a real treat next month. Today the French automaker revealed the all-electric Filante Record 2025 demo car that will be on show in Paris next week before setting out to establish a new record for efficiency in the first half of the year. The single-seater concept with a streamlined body design for aerodynamic efficiency is a car of exceptional dimensions at 5.12 m (202 in) long, 1.19 m (47 in) tall, and just 1.71 m (67 in) wide—with an extremely low mass of 1000 kg (2200 lb).
The futuristic vision of electric mobility is designed as a tribute to the history of the brand, which has used motorsports and records as ways to validate its innovations before applying them to production models. The new single-seater is inspired by the legendary 1925-1926 40 CV des Records, 1934 Nervasport des Records, and 1956 Etoile Filante.
The exercise in style is also a demonstration of exceptional aerodynamic efficiency and cutting-edge energy efficiency and technology, underlining Renault’s commitment to innovation and more sustainable and efficient mobility. Its bold looks are inspired not only by brand history but also by aeronautical design cues, with a “monolithic sculpture” of clean, flowing, organic lines.
“We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion,” said Sandeep Bhambra, Director of Advanced Design, Renault and intelligent EV subsidiary Ampere. “Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance. 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.”
Design and aero efficiency
The concept features bodywork in Ultraviolet Blue, a new shade reminiscent of that of the 40 CV des Records, that looks blue or violet depending on the light reflection and viewing angle. Other new car design details similar to the iconic Renault models are the round headlamps, the wheels separated from the body as with 40 CV des Records and Nervasport des Records, wheel fairings like the Etoile Filante, and the pointed grille, cabin position, and seat adjustment strap from the 40 CV des Records.
However, designers also looked to the world of aeronautics as the main inspiration for the design. Bringing to mind a fighter jet are the car’s protective aerodynamic bubble cabin covering, bodywork details, and curves and shapes to reduce drag.
The front and rear wheel fairings contribute to the vehicle’s style while playing a fundamental role in its aerodynamic performance. Along with the wide side wheel flanges, they contribute to aerodynamics, the uninterrupted flow of the body, and the absence of visible breaks.
Weight was also a priority in the design of details down to the finish. The visible screws on the bodywork, inspired by aircraft construction techniques, not only to make the car lighter but also to give it a contemporary, high-tech look.
Renault’s engineering and design teams worked with those of Ligier Automotive to achieve the highest level of aerodynamic performance.
Aerodynamics engineers sought to optimize the airflow around the car, with particular emphasis on the transition between its different parts. The elongated shape of the single-seater played a key role here since longer vehicles allow better control of the aerodynamic flow by reducing interference.
The wheels, normally major sources of aerodynamic interference, and suspension arms are carefully fared 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.
The aerodynamic development process has been guided by cutting-edge numerical simulations, but engineers plan to carry out wind tunnel tests in Spring 2025 to confirm simulation results and make adjustments to vehicle design for optimal aerodynamic performance.
Lightweight and advanced technologies
One of the key developmental goals was to maximize energy efficiency and range, so the project involves an innovative combination of ultralight materials and advanced manufacturing techniques. Vehicle components were studied, analyzed, and optimized to reduce weight while enabling the performance required to establish new records.
The demo car uses an 87-kW·h battery pack that is the same capacity as the automaker’s Scenic E-Tech electric production car. Cell-to-pack battery technology supplied by Ampere maximizes vehicle energy efficiency while delivering space and weight savings. The new architecture also brought down overall vehicle weight to 1000 kg despite the 600-kg (1320-lb) battery.
The cells are integrated directly into the battery pack without intermediate modules to reduce weight and optimize form factor and available space, a major challenge for a car just 1.71 m wide. A carbon battery casing also contributes to weight savings while providing increased strength and protection.
Engineers employed a topology optimization method to balance material mass and functional performance. With advanced computer calculations and simulation software enhanced by artificial intelligence, engineers were able to establish the areas where material were required to ensure strength and the areas where it could be removed to make the structure lighter without impacting performance.
They maximized carbon-fiber use to reduce the weight of the chassis and body components without compromising their structural strength. Chassis material selection was balanced through detailed studies on possible combinations, with carbon and aluminum/steel alloys combined to reduce component cross-sections to the minimum while maintaining maximum strength.
One interesting material application the engineering team chose to reduce weight is Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminum alloy specially designed for 3D printing made from scandium, aluminum, and magnesium developed by Apworks GmbH. The team was able to manufacture lightweight complex parts with extreme precision with a 3D printing process that also minimizes material waste.
Cockpit designed for by-wire performance
The car’s pared-down interior design was inspired by aviation and space travel to maximize performance, comfort, and efficiency. Components and systems—for functions like cruise control, accelerator, and braking—are within easy reach of the driver with designs geared toward ergonomics and weight reduction.
The integration of controls and instruments is by a “flowing, minimalist approach” with functions displayed on ultra-thin digital screens. An ingenious system of air circulation makes it possible to ventilate the cockpit with fewer technical parts, again with a view to weight and energy savings.
The F1-inspired driving position is designed for ergonomics and visibility, with the driver’s legs positioned over the batteries for a better architectural result. The driver’s seat is made from stretched canvas similar in style to a hammock for a lightweight design that adapts to the body. It is supported by thin carbon blades clad in a technical textile inspired by the aeronautics and aerospace industries.
The concept replaces conventional mechanical controls with electronic steer- and brake-by-wire technologies, delivering a better driving experience while reducing the number of mechanical components to free up space, rethink vehicle architecture, and optimize weight. The use of by-wire technology made it possible to overcome a range of architectural and standardization constraints for a better cockpit layout.
For instance, the steering components could be positioned wherever required. The steering wheel is attached to the cockpit’s protective bubble, rising upward when opened for easier driver ingress and egress.
The steering wheel controls the acceleration, braking, and steering functions and uses a 3D-printed structure made of Scalmalloy. At its center is a flexible panoramic screen wrapped around a cylinder that provides an immediate display of essential data such as speed, range, and driving parameters.
Tires by Michelin
Renault says that “tires influence range by around 20%” and therefore play a key role in this type of project. The demo car is fitted with 19-in Michelin tires specially designed to deliver performance while also maximizing range.
The engineers at Michelin’s Technology Center worked on a number of parameters including materials to reduce tire-related energy dissipation and an architecture to better flatten the contact patch. The tires’ design, a slimline shape that is tall and narrow, has the twofold advantage of limiting energy dissipation with each turn of the wheel while also making a positive contribution to vehicle aerodynamics.
In the quest for efficiency, engineers pushed the limits of tire rolling resistance. Their coefficient is almost 40% lower, at around 4 kg/t during vehicle use compared with around 6.5 kg/t for conventional vehicle tires.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car side view in sun.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car front top.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car front side.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car rear side.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car rear top charging.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car front.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car rear.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car cockpit.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car cockpit bubble open.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car controls.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car driver.
- Renault Filante Record 2025 demo car cockpit view from driver’s feet.
- Renault 1925-1926 40 CV des Records.
- Renault 1934 Nervasport des Records.
- Renault 1956 Etoile Filante.

Join the movement
Become a part of the Futurride.com community to receive updates from our team, our weekly enewsletters, and full access to our content.