Rahul Somvanshi
Renault has revealed its latest electric vehicle project – the Filante Record 2025 – combining cutting-edge technology with a nod to the company’s record-breaking heritage. This single-seat electric demonstrator aims to set new benchmarks for EV efficiency when testing begins later this year.
At the heart of the Filante sits an 87 kWh battery pack, the same capacity as Renault’s Scenic E-Tech Electric SUV. But that’s where similarities to regular electric cars end. The engineering team has managed to keep the total vehicle weight under 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs), with the battery accounting for 600 kg of that figure.
“We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion,” explains Sandeep Bhambra, Director of Advanced Design at Renault and Ampere. “Inspired by fighter planes and speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance.”
The Filante’s striking appearance serves a practical purpose. Every curve and surface has been shaped to minimize air resistance. The narrow body – just 1.71 meters (5.6 feet) wide – features enclosed wheel fairings and a smoothly tapered tail section. Special Michelin tires reduce rolling resistance by 40% compared to regular car tires, helping maximize the vehicle’s range.
Inside the cockpit, Renault has eliminated traditional controls. There’s no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels – everything is controlled electronically through steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems. The driver sits in a lightweight canvas seat, similar to a hammock, while essential information appears on a wraparound digital display.
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The construction makes extensive use of advanced materials. The chassis combines carbon fiber, aluminum, and steel alloys. Some components are 3D-printed using Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminum alloy developed for aerospace applications. The battery pack uses what Renault calls “cell-to-pack” technology, where cells are integrated directly into the battery structure without separate modules.
The Filante Record 2025 pays tribute to Renault’s history of record-setting vehicles, including the 1925 40 CV des Records and the 1956 Étoile Filante. The latter set records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, achieving speeds of 306.9 km/h for the 1 kilometer distance and 308.85 km/h for the 5 kilometer distance.
The public will get their first look at the Filante during the Rétromobile show in Paris from February 5-9, 2025. Following that, Renault plans to begin real-world testing with the goal of setting new efficiency records in the first half of the year.
While many technologies in the Filante are experimental, Renault suggests some features could appear in future production vehicles. The electronic control systems and cell-to-pack battery technology show particular promise for improving efficiency in regular electric cars.
The Filante represents a serious engineering effort to push the boundaries of electric vehicle efficiency. Whether it achieves its record-setting goals remains to be seen, but the project has already generated valuable insights for Renault’s electric vehicle development.
