Renault DeZir concept showcases future design direction for Renault

The DeZir, which Renault says is pronounced 'desire', will be officially launched at the Paris Motor Show in September, and is a zero-emissions concept two-seater sports car with gullwing doors. Renault claims that the DeZir's design is an indication of the look of future Renault cars.

The DeZir concept has an electric motor that produces 150bhp and 226Nm of torque, and the mid-mounted motor is powered by a vertically-placed 24 kWh lithium-ion battery behind the bench seat. This is said to give the DeZir a range of 160km. Combined with its lightweight Kevlar body, the DeZir weighs just 830kg, and can go from 0-100km/h in 5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 180km/h.

The DeZir was designed by Renault's new design chief Laurens van den Acker, who replaced the previous head of design Patrick le Quement. The new language's key conceptual elements are 'simple', 'sensuous' and 'warm' and meant to evoke "movement, sensuality and emotion," according to Renault.

Other design touches on the DeZir include the large wheel arches fitted with 21-inch wheels, a full-width front air intake/grille that stretches from the Renault badge in the centre of the face to under the headlights, and the large, gaping mouth of the rear end. The interior meanwhile, is mostly white with space-age design-like curves. "Inside DeZir, you feel like you're floating on a cloud," says Stéphanie Petit, the concept car's colour and materials designer.