Renault Twizy F1 concept

Renault has pulled the covers off a Formula One-inspired version of its Twizy EV. This one-off concept has been unveiled at the company’s factory in Valladolid, Spain, and features a wide range of motorsport technologies to go with its dramatic looks.

The Twizy Renault Sport F1 concept uses the same huge slick tyres as single-seat racecars and features a carbon-fibre body kit with a huge rear-wing, aero front splitter and side pods, as well as the same hi-tech steering wheel as a Formula 3.5 car and energy saving LED lights.

However, the biggest innovation is hidden behind the driver, where Renault has fitted the Twizy with the same Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) as the current crop of F1 cars.

Visible through a glass screen in the roof, the water-cooled KERS system takes energy from the standard batteries and then feeds it through 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 concept is capable of recording exactly the 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 ready to provide boost. The driver can choose the amount of energy harvested by using a rotary switch on the steering wheel. 'Boost' mode is activated by pulling the two paddle shifters back at the same time which also turns the flashing rear brake light on.

When the KERS system is enabled the maximum revs of the standard motor climb to 10,000rpm and the Twizy concept also gets the same 'R.S Monitor' data logging system similar to those fitted on the Megane R.S. and New Renaultsport Clio models. This allows the driver to record performance times and figures and store them.

It was built 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 very complex system and integrating it into another electric vehicle was a very serious endeavour, but they managed to make it work, delivering a huge boost of power safely and efficiently”

Although there are no plans to put the concept into production it will be making several public appearances during the year including a run up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June.