Renault has unveiled the Scenic Vision, a concept car destined to become a production EV in a few years’ time and a hydrogen car by the end of the decade.
The company leads by pointing out that 70 percent of the trim is made from recycled materials. Reprocessed plastic is found in the floor lining and seat trim, while the hydrogen tank is partly made of paper waste. The black color pigment comes from soot particles filtered from the air and is purely organic with no synthetic additions. Overall, the concept vehicle is 95 percent recyclable.
From the design point of view, it is a low-riding crossover with a flat floor and no b-pillars. It is 4,490 mm (175.4 inches) long with 2,835 mm (110.7 inches) of wheelbase.
A giant display installed at the bottom part of the windshield can be configured to show both the relevant real-time data and video from its front-mounted cameras. According to the engineers, using the cameras widens the driver’s field of view by 24 percent, improving safety.
The interior has a handful of other, smaller touch-sensitive panels, some of which double as screens while the others are simply buttons. The steering wheel is yoke-shaped and houses a display in the middle.
Renault claims it has implemented a ‘risk assessment interface’ in the car, which evaluates the driver’s style and provides helpful feedback regarding safe driving. The system also monitors the alertness of the driver at all times.
A face recognition system on board can automatically unlock the doors and apply custom settings as soon as an owner of the car approaches. Speakers and microphones built into the seats create a unique audio experience for every passenger while avoiding being too loud to prevent spoken communication.
Power comes from an electric motor rated at 217 PS (214 hp / 160 kW), which is linked to a 40-kWh battery. A fuel cell array on board can supply another 16 kilowatt-hours of electricity when needed.
The car weighs in at 1.7 metric tons (~3,750 lbs). Range and acceleration remain to be announced.