What's all this about?
In 2030, Renault believes the autonomous, electric car will not just be a form of transport, or even a personal lifestyle assistant that can connect with your home and manage your diary/appointments for you. Oh no, Renault thinks the 2030 EV will actually be a part of your house, calling its Symbioz star of the Frankfurt show an 'extra-mobile, modular and multi-purpose room'.
How does that work with my Viscount 1987 semi-detached?
It doesn't. You need a special house of the future to make the Symbioz work. Luckily, Renault has such a thing on hand in Frankfurt and the company will be able to show off the way the Symbioz can move throughout the building and even out onto the roof, if you fancy having a penthouse that looks a little bit like a sci-fi-modified Espace. It's not even the only car of the Symbioz concept.
Isn't it?
No, there's the full concept car, which shows us the EV of 2030 that's also kitchen-cum-bedroom-cum-conservatory, and then what's called a Demo Car, which is a slightly more toned-down bit of the Symbioz display that previews a more realistic EV of 2023. Well, as realistic as something with 680hp (500kW), 660Nm and a 312-mile-plus battery range can be.
Crikey! How does the Symbioz Demo Car put out that power?
There are two electric motors, but they're both mounted on the rear axle driving one wheel each. Renault says the 2023 Demo Car can do 0-62mph in 'less than six seconds', which sounds somewhat on the conservative side for something with 680hp and 660Nm. More importantly, the 72kWh batteries can be charged to 80 per cent of their capacity in 20 minutes... and Renault says that by 2030, when the full Symbioz 'arrives', the performance, range and charging times will all have improved further.
I like the look of the 2030 car.
Yes, it's deliberately styled to look like two halves of a different car that are bisected laterally. So, the glasshouse is all clean shapes and airy architectural cool, while the bottom half is made of carbon fibre panels and is said to be 'muscular and flowing'. Renault logos on the front, back and sides of the car illuminate while the Symbioz is running in autonomous mode and, talking of lights, we've got Renault's current C-shaped clusters fore and aft. We also like the show-stopping way the doors and roof open to allow access to that living room interior, and that clear tail-fin on the boot that incorporates a third, high-level brake light.
Matt Robinson - 12 Sep 2017