The DeZir concept, due to make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, is the car Renault says will shape the Clios and Méganes of the next decade.

It's the first Renault concept led totally by Dutch Renault designer Laurens van den Acker, formerly at Mazda and responsible for the similarly swooping Nagare concept.

The DeZir is powered by electricity, of course, and apparently draws inspiration from the human life cycle, comprising a wealth of idyllic experiential stereotypes: falling in love, starting a family, exploring the world and gaining wisdom.

What's wrong with just looking cool? Anyway, it's a two-seater sitting on 21-inch rims and sporting a distinctly familiar pair of side blades. Don't tell Audi.

And if you're wondering about the erroneous capital Z, it's there to emphasise the 'zero' on 'zero emissions'.

Power comes from a mid-rear mounted 110kW (148bhp) electric motor with 167lb.ft from zero rpm. It weighs 830kg because the body is mostly made from Kevlar, so it will hit 62mph in five seconds flat. Its range is up to 100 miles on a charge.

But because silence is not golden when it comes to cars, Renault is working on an acoustic simulation to emulate an engine note.

Slide through the flamboyant top-hinged doors and you'll encounter an unusual front seat arrangement that's essentially a single bench, albeit made of multiple pieces.

The boudoir cabin is inspired by an 'amorous encounter', says Renault, decadent in white leather, shiny red surfaces and pulsating red lights. It's hardly likely to make the next Twingo, so let's move on.

The exterior, believe it or not, does actually sport some of the detailing we might see later on production cars - the front end in particular, says Renault. The huge Renault badge, more central fog lights and thin headlamps are pointers to the future apparently.

Next-generation Renaults are likely to retain rear windows though, rather than utilise the pair of reversing cameras the DeZir does.

Mark Nichol - 5 Jul 2010