Skip advert
Advertisement

Renault R.S. 2027 Vision concept predicts F1's future

Renault's R.S. 2027 Vision concept car will show the future of F1 cars at the Shanghai Motor Show

Renault has set its designers loose to come up with a vision for how Formula One racing cars could look in 10 years’ time - and the result is the R.S. 2027 Vision, which has been unveiled at the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show

The R.S. 2027 Vision is meant to improve the F1 spectacle for the fans - so it gets a transparent cockpit that would allow supporters a better view of the driver working behind the wheel. The driver’s helmet is also transparent, allowing fans to potentially see the faces of the sport’s top stars as they compete.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• Best concept cars at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show

The show car’s bodywork is 3D-printed and, Renault claims, tailored to the shape of the driver’s body. It incorporates LED-based information displays in the wheels, allowing the car to provide relevant information - its position in the race, or its remaining reserves of energy - every time it passes the grandstands. Telemetry data would also be available to spectators, giving them a better understanding of the action.

The concept’s powerplant is based on a turbocharged V6 engine - a development of the current set-up in F1. However, the R.S. 2027 gets a smaller fuel tank (60kg compared with today’s 105kg) and batteries with a higher energy density than the current F1 spec. They power a pair of 250kW electric motors that have enough shove for the car to be driven in all-electric mode during suitable parts of the race (such as the warm-up lap, safety car periods and pits activity).

The R.S. 2027 is purely a concept for now. But F1 is under new ownership and the sport’s bosses have vowed to make improvements to the spectator experience. Renault’s show car is a clear statement of intent from the French brand on how it would like the sport to develop over the next decade.

Beyond the physical concept, the company suggests that the F1 weekend could incorporate a shorter race, split into a longer segment and then a ‘final sprint’, and a rookie night race for up-and-coming drivers that could be held on the Friday evening of every race weekend. It also proposes standardised components that could be shared across all teams, cutting the costs of entry to the sport for new manufacturers.

What would you like to see from F1 in ten years' time? Let us know below.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

This new brand of cars might have battery tech on their side, but European buyers want much more than that
Opinion
25 Apr 2025
Leapmotor T03 set for radical redesign sooner than expected
Leapmotor T03 being driven in the UK - front tracking

Leapmotor T03 set for radical redesign sooner than expected

City car has only been on sale a matter of weeks, but plans are afoot to bring the design in line with rest of the range
News
25 Apr 2025
New Honda GT cars are the ultimate screenfest
Honda GT cars - front

New Honda GT cars are the ultimate screenfest

We counted no fewer than six screens on the dashboard of Honda’s new electric four-door
News
24 Apr 2025
New BMW M4 Edition Nurburgring arrives, but you won’t see it in Germany
BMW M4 Edition Nurburgring - front static

New BMW M4 Edition Nurburgring arrives, but you won’t see it in Germany

Just 53 units will be built to pay tribute to BMW’s M division
News
24 Apr 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025