Renault DeZir

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Renault DeZir

This stunning electric sports car is the first of a series of six concept cars Renault will be revealing over the next two years.

You can see the full story here: Renault cycle of life programme.

The main point of this car is to show where Renault will take its design in the future. 'Simple', 'sensuous' and 'warm' are the key attributes to the car's design, says the company.

The vertically-mounted 24kWh lithium-ion battery is located behind the bench seat and provides the car with a range of around 100 miles.

The basic motor is the same as the unit used for Renault's production electric cars, although power has been uprated to 110kW.

To keep the weight down - the car only weighs 830kg - the DeZir's body is made of Kevlar and it has a tubular steel frame.

Will it be built?
A source told us there are some in Renault who think the DeZir should be made, as a flagship for its Renaultsport range. However for the moment, take a close look at the front of the DeZir and you will get and idea of how the front of the new Clio will look when it goes on sale in 2012.

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Renault round-up
Renault is also showing a production-ready version of its electric Twizy scooter. It will go on sale in the first three months of next year, with an expected price tag of around 5000.

It has a 19bhp motor, a range of 60 miles and a top speed of 47mph. Charging its batteries takes 3.5 hours.

Facelifted Laguna
Renault's family car has been given a mild face-lift, with a new grille and headlight cluster. It goes on sale in November, with prices unchanged.

Along with the cosmetic surgery, all the engines have been revised to meet Euro V regulations. The result? Lower emissions across the entire range. In the hatchback, the 1.5 dCi 110 engine now emits just 120g/km of CO2 10g/km less than before.

4Control system
In the UK, three trims will be available Expression, Dynamique and GT Line with the companys 4Control system available on models with the 2.0 dCi 180 engine.

This allows the rear wheels to turn slightly, with the angle and direction depending on the circumstances. The company says it gives better manoeuvrability at low speeds, increased stability at high speeds, and more safety in an emergency.

Also on show is the Latitude, a big brother to the Laguna. No decision yet has been made whether the saloon will go on sale in the UK.

Renault's eco2-branded cars - think Volkswagen Bluemotion - are on show in Paris, too. There are 90g/km versions of the Clio and Twingo, a Megane that emits 106g/km and a Laguna with 109g/km. They go on sale next year.

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