Overall rating:

Renault's Zoe Z.E. (Zero Emissions) will reach showrooms in 2012. Promising good looks, relative affordability and real-world performance and range the Zoe might just change how we look at small cars. Here we drive the Preview concept car.

Key Facts

Pricing: Circa £14,000 (after a £5,000 Government rebate)
Engine: Electric motor
Transmission: Reducer transmission, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: a bicycle, bus/rail pass, Mitsubishi i-MiEV
CO₂ emissions: Zero at tailpipe
Combined economy: 100 miles per charge
Top speed: 84mph
0-62mph: 8.1 seconds
Power: 80bhp
Torque: 222Nm

In the Metal:

Straight off the motorshow stand the Renault Zoe Preview looks sensational. The French manufacturer promises that this Preview concept represents much of what the production car will look like, but it'll lose the cool concept details like touch-entry doors, LED lights and the massive glazed roof. The shape will be much the same though, which is a good thing.

The concept car looks will be lost inside too, but if Renault can inject just a touch of the Preview's style then it'll be a cool small car. Space is generous front and rear, and the boot is a good size too.

Driving it

It might look sensational, but the Renault Zoe Preview is very much a concept car. That means no power steering; suspension that's rock hard; hand cut near-slick tyres; and no soundproofing. The latter is particularly obvious when pulling away, as the Zoe is far from the silent experience we've had in most production-ready electric vehicles.

The Zoe rides on a bespoke electric car platform, which means the batteries and motor can be located better for weight distribution and crash protection. It should mean the Zoe Z.E. handles nicely too. The brief test-track drive of its show car relative revealed that the Preview moves, but with little finesse. The road car should improve on that though, and if it can deliver the promised 8.1-second 0-62mph time and 84mph top speed it'll be more than up to the cut and thrust of its natural city environment.

What you get for your Money

No real word on what you'll get with the production version of the Renault Zoe, but expect a specification including all of the necessities in a small, urban car. That should include air conditioning, remote central locking, alloy wheels and a decent entertainment package.

What you're really getting though is a revolutionary small car, which is about the size of a Clio, but with an electric drivetrain that'll cover up to 100 miles on a single charge. Renault reckons it'll cost about the same as a diesel Clio - after the Government has stumped up £5,000 towards it - making it relatively affordable.

Worth Noting

A full charge at home will take up to eight hours. Plug in at a public quick charger and 10 minutes will get you 37 miles worth of power. Make it half an hour and you'll get an 80 percent charge. The Renault Zoe will feature battery swap technology too, meaning you'll be able to exchange your flat battery for a fresh one in less than three minutes - assuming the infrastructure grows to support that.

Summary

Our early first drive shows great promise for Renault's first ground-up electric car. If it's priced right then it could revolutionise small car usage; if the battery swap infrastructure is brought into existence then the Zoe Z.E.'s significance could be even greater.