Renault has pulled the covers off a formula One-inspired version of its Twizy EV. This one-off idea has been revealed at the company’s factory in Valladolid, Spain, and features a wide variety of motorsport technologies to go with its remarkable looks.
The Twizy Renault sport F1 idea utilizes the exact same big slick tyres as single-seat racecars and features a carbon-fibre body set with a big rear-wing, aero front splitter and side pods, in addition to the exact same hi-tech steering wheel as a formula 3.5 vehicle and energy saving LED lights.
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However, the biggest innovation is hidden behind the driver, where Renault has fitted the Twizy with the exact same Kinetic energy healing System (KERS) as the present crop of F1 cars.
Visible with a glass screen in the roof, the water-cooled KERS system takes energy from the basic batteries and then feeds it with a high-performance electric motor to boost power from 17bhp to 97bhp for a period of 13 seconds.
This means the Twizy Renault sport F1 idea is capable of recording precisely the exact same 6.1 second 0-62mph sprint time as the hardcore Renaultsport Megane 265 hot hatch, while the top speed is increased to 68mph.
Weighing just 30kgs, this KERS system also has a ‘recovery’ mode that stores power up prepared to provide boost. The driver can select the amount of energy harvested by utilizing a rotary switch on the steering wheel. ‘Boost’ mode is triggered by pulling the two paddle shifters back at the exact same time which also turns the flashing rear brake light on.
When the KERS system is enabled the maximum revs of the basic motor climb to 10,000rpm and the Twizy idea also gets the exact same ‘R.S Monitor’ data logging system similar to those fitted on the Megane R.S. and new Renaultsport Clio models. This enables the driver to record performance times and figures and store them.
It was developed in just 10 months by a team of Renaultsport engineers in partnership with their F1 colleagues. Jean-Michel Jaliner, president of Renault sport F1 said: “KERS is a extremely complex system and integrating it into one more electric vehicle was a extremely serious endeavour, however they handled to make it work, providing a big boost of power safely and efficiently”
Although there are no plans to put the idea into production it will be making a number of public appearances during the year including a run up the hill at the Goodwood celebration of speed in June.