Renault Zoe e-sport revealed

460hp, four-wheel drive and one heck of a bodykit - the Zoe gets interesting!

Worthy though it is, the Renault Zoe has never been one to get pulses racing at PH. However, we've recently seen the Zoe rally car and now there's this: the Zoe e-sport. Sort of the touring car one, if you will.

Who left the regular Zoe in here then?

Interestingly it shows that the idea of motorsport inspired road cars isn't dead in the world of EV racing, this car drawing upon Renault's experience in Formula E. And yes, that means more than just the paint. The electric motors here use the same high-capacity permanent magnet technology as in the race car, although with a motor both front and rear it makes 455hp (and 472lb ft) where the single-seaters are limited to 275hp. Again as in Formula E, both air and water cooling is used to keep the batteries at the optimum temperature.

Renault claims that the e-sport Zoe can reach 62mph in 3.2 seconds before reaching 130mph in less than ten. Four driving modes can prioritise range or power, plus adjust the power delivery of the motors "to place greater emphasis on front- or rear-wheel drive." Interesting...

Underneath the e-sport there isn't really much Zoe at all. A Tork Engineering tubular steel chassis is derived from "Renault Sport cars competing in hill climbs and ice races", the ride is height is much lower, the tracks are considerably wider and the car is four-wheel drive. Double wishbones are used at each corner, along with four-way adjustable Ohlins dampers. Who'd have thought the next Renault to follow the Trophy-R with standard Ohlins dampers would be a Zoe? 20-inch wheels, 245/30 R20 tyres and big discs complete the dynamic makeover.

Don't hold out your hopes...

The Satin Blue body uses a lot of carbon fibre and in its construction, meaning that weight is 1,450kg. Doesn't sound tiny, but then 450kg of that is the batteries... Externally too you'll notice the big front splitter, rear diffuser and carbon spoiler; combined with a flat floor Renault claims "outstanding" aerodynamics, but no figures have been released yet. Should you want to put those claims to the test, the two-seat e-sport does come with an FIA-approved cage in the back.

The possibility of doing so of course remains very unlikely however, though it's good to see a crazy French concept at a European motor show; Peugeot appears to have gone quiet of late. Whether the Formula E influence can extend to a genuine performance Zoe remains to be seen. In the meantime the road car is available with a higher density battery for increased range, but sadly nothing more.