What's this then?
This is the Renault EZ-Ultimo, and if you're thinking Renault hasn't had much luck with its luxury car sales in the past decade or so, you'd be right. The Ultimo concept is, possibly, a future way of swerving around head-on competition with the dominant Germans.
It's designed to be a luxury car that you share, hire for a single journey, or an hour, or a day, to swoosh you around in a gorgeous cabin lined with leather, wood and marble (yes, marble). It's autonomous (well mostly - Renault says it's Level 4 autonomous, which means it might need dedicated roads and lanes), electric and has a combination of a huge side door for easy access, but faceted side glass for privacy once within.
"As consumer trends change and people are enjoying ride-hailing services more and more, a new paradigm for mobility will emerge. Embodying this revolution, EZ-Ultimo offers a unique luxurious experience aboard a robo-vehicle that can be adapted depending on the service provider," said Laurens van den Acker, SVP Corporate Design. "Inspired by contemporary architecture, and completely integrated in future smart cities, EZ-Ultimo will provide an exclusive experience for all. With autonomous, electric and connected cars, we are entering a new exciting era in automotive design."
Neil Briscoe - 2 Oct 2018