RECORD SCRATCH

Renault wants to break EV efficiency world records, to do so it's taking lessons from the past...

- GREG POTTS

In fact, looking like a cross between the Michael Keaton era Batmobile and a Star Wars pod racer, the Renault Filante Record 2025 is described by its maker as "a laboratory on wheels for testing new technologies, materials and innovations".

The Filante Record 2025 won't just be a rolling lab though, because as the name suggests Renault is planning to use this outrageous looking single seater to break world records for "power consumption and range with an 87kWh battery". Yep, it's electric. First attempts will take place in the first half of this year.

Renault says that it has "always seen motorsports and records as a way to validate its innovations, before applying them to production models" and so this particular concept car is heavily inspired by radical record setting Renaults from the past.

Time for a quick history lesson. Back in the roaring 1920s speed records were all the rage, and Renault wanted its largest luxury car the 40 CV to take a piece of the pioneering pie. However, even with its new 140bhp, 9.1-litre straight six engine and a special sleek (ish) narrow body designed by engineers Ellery Garfield and Robert Plessier, Renault knew that it couldn't compete for the outright land speed record, which for years was traded between bonkers Brits Malcolm Campbell, Henry Seagrave and JG Parry-Thomas in aircraft engined creations. So, the French firm decided that the newly christened 40 CV des Records should focus on endurance and average speed.