01-03-2005
Renault has chosen the 2005 Geneva Show to take the wraps off its latest
concept car, Zoé, a diminutive upper-range urban vehicle which places
the accent on genuine motoring pleasure. In response to the public’s
demand for compact, appealing, dynamic models, Zoé features a blend of
clear-cut lines and rounded forms. Meanwhile, its luxurious, functional
interior puts its innovative asymmetry to maximum effect to reveal a true
three-seat layout and voluminous boot. Another Zoé innovation is its ‘Pass’ system which will automatically adjust interior ambience to match individual
driver tastes. One click will modify the choice of music, settings and
overall atmosphere...
Renault has given Zoé its own vision of a small,
dynamic, upper-range city car. A modern-day expression
of luxury in a compact format, Zoé “appeals
through its mature, sensuous curves, its characterful
frontal styling and hypnotic demeanour. Zoé is charm
personified,” says Renault’s Patrick le Quément,
Senior Vice President, Corporate Design.
The hatch is raised by a twin opening system,
with the rear window and tailgate sliding into
each other to keep overall height to a minimum
when open while at the same time providing easy
access. A further practical feature concerns the
rear left quarterlight which can be lowered so
small items can be placed on the rear parcel
shelf or in the boot.
The motorized passenger
door features a two-hinge,
three-axis opening system
that offers extremely easy
access. The travel of
the door itself can be
selected according to
whether access to both
the front and rear seats, or
just the front seat is
required. In this way, the
space taken up by the door
when open is kept to a
strict minimum. Meanwhile,
the glazed lateral part of
the roof lifts up the instant
one of the doors is opened.
A small, compact, functional city car
A mere 3.45m in length, Zoé is both practical and
functional with innovative opening panels thought
through for urban use, including kinematics engineered
to facilitate access and loading, especially in
situations where space is at a premium.
Zoé’s interior is exceptionally spacious for such a
small vehicle. Its modular three-seat layout makes
a number of combinations possible. A starfish-like
switch located on the side of the driver’s seat makes
it possible to arrange the cabin layout in one of three
pre-set arrangements to optimize the way interior
space is used.
Special attention has been paid to ergonomics and
comfort. The rear of the front right seat features a
built-in footrest, while the rear seat can be likened
more to a comfy armchair in which the passenger can
literally snuggle up. No preference has been given to
any one occupant since all three seats offer the same
level of comfort, while the cabin comes with numerous
discreet storage bins that allow valuables to be
concealed.
Elegant, dynamic exterior design
Zoé’s soft lines have an unmistakable charm, while
its flowing lines and the curves of its glass panels
take their cue from aeronautic design with curved
pillars flanking a vast, panoramic windscreen. The
two glass sunroofs carry over to the rear in the form
of the rear window, the ‘shallow V’-shaped line of
which is a hallmark of Renault’s visual identity.
Developed in association with Valeo, the headlamps
feature high performance light emitting diodes
(LED) which produce an unprecedented sparkle
effect. The frosted glass rear lights ensure a particularly
soft tone, while the clear glass indicator housings
reveal a deeply hued flash. The rear light clusters
themselves take the form of crystal spheres
complete with transparent, LED-lit rings that contribute
to the overall futuristic feel.
The combination of Zoé’s short, steeply-raked bonnet
and its Ribera Red body colour highlights the
car’s highly dynamic stance, a sensation reinforced
by its long wheelbase, short overhangs and wide
track. The impression of power and sprightliness is
further strengthened by the air inlets on the bonnet
which take the form of concentric half circles.
A sprightly engine for genuine pleasure at the wheel
Zoé’s short but distinctively penned bonnet conceals a small Renault petrol engine, a new 1.2-litre turbocharged
unit that delivers 73kW and maximum torque of 145Nm. Its first-class efficiency enables it to
combine attitude with respect for the environment, while its low fuel consumption ensures remarkably low
CO2 emission figures (under 140g/km).
Poetic luxury inside
Patrick le Quément believes that Zoé is in total
keeping with the spirit of Renault’s previous concept
cars: “Its interior is simple and its layout is easy to
remember. Zoé is a further illustration of our ‘Touch
Design’ concept which first appeared on Talisman
in 2001 before finding its way onto production
models.”
The entire cabin focuses not only on an intuitive
understanding of its forms but also on ergonomics
and simplicity. The thin seats take the form of outspread
leaves and are extremely comfortable, while
the harmonious dashboard is uncluttered. The centre
console houses a variety of controls, including the
transmission mode selector, command of the multifunction
screen located at the centre of the dash
panel, the seat-adjustment joystick and the central
LCD screen located within the speedometer dial.
Zoé’s interior ambiance oozes a blend of luxury and
technology. The combination of beige ‘kei-light’
leather upholstery and velvety grey paintwork
ensures a soft, comfortable, cocoon-like chic.
The
cabin itself is particularly bright thanks to the two
glass roof panels inlaid with LEDs that reproduce a
starry canopy when travelling at night. The carpet
takes up the same graphic theme as the roof lining
with the lines of a printed circuit linking some of the
world’s great metropolises… the breeding ground of
new trends. The spilled handbag which illustrates
the boot mat and the floating impression of the rear
parcel shelf made from ‘cloudlike’ materials add a
touch of fantasy.
A ‘Pass’ for intermodality
Zoé comes with a nomadic ‘Pass’ which enables personal preferences
to be memorized with a view to reproducing individual ambiences
by selecting favourite music and pre-set seat, driving control
and rear-view mirror settings.
Text and photos courtesy of Renault
