Here follows the second part of our report on the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris. The trends on this show were clearly set, with all manufacturers putting forward the “green” qualities of their cars, and alternative (electric) modes of propulsion are all the rage...

Hans Knol ten Bensel 

After our visit to the BMW stand, we strolled towards the Renault stand. Here we stood face to face with the electric future. The electric Fluence will be on the market even before the summer, followed by an electric version of the Kangoo. The Zoé will follow in 1912, and last but not least the Twizy, a small car which seems a hybrid between a motorcycle/scooter and a car.

Actually, Renault had chosen the 2010 Paris Motor Show to announce that pre-orders can now be placed for the Fluence Z.E. (Zéro Emission). The launch version will be known as Renault Fluence Z.E. Prime Time which will sell in France at €21,300, with the 5.000 Euro tax incentive deducted of course, while the monthly lease for the battery will be €79 (both prices inclusive of VAT).

Customers wishing to be among the first to own a Fluence Z.E. can place a pre-order at Renault's bespoke website, www.renault-ze.com.

Of course, Carlos Ghosn – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Renault - took the occasion on the show to stress in his typical style that the show marked for Renault the real-life arrival of the electric car. But the Paris Motor Show was also important because we could discover the elements of Renault’s new design identity, embodied by the DeZir concept car.

Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice President, Corporate design and Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO proudly presented the beautiful DeZir... 

Indeed, what a beautiful car it is. The car expresses Renault’s company values taken into the future. And this future, according to Mr. Ghosn, consists of simply designed, sensual and warm cars where technology serves motoring pleasure, safety and respect for the environment.

Indeed, the sensual curves of the DeZir (designer Laurens van den Acker says he was inspired by Laetitia Casta…) illustrate the brand’s commitment to more emotional design. Also the front end, with its air intake drawn around the diamond, will be discovered gradually on future models in our range.

As said, Renault puts big stakes in the electric car. It is also working together with Nissan on the batteries of tomorrow, which will be launched after 2015, thanks to a strategic partnership  with the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission, or CEA . The Renault-Nissan Alliance will be able to rely on the expertise and scientific resources of the CEA to develop batteries with increased range that are lighter, faster charging and less costly to produce…

Having said all this, I am of course very keen to drive one of these electric Renaults, which will undoubtedly be the case soon…  

See you again for the next part of our Paris blog! 

We will let you enjoy the photos here, and invite you soon to read the following edition of our Paris blog on these pages.

Hans Knol ten Bensel