All-electric fighter-jet inspired supercar dubbed ‘Batmobile meets Star Wars podracer’ unveiled – but it has NO pedals
A FUTURISTIC all-electric supercar without pedals that's inspired by fighter-jets and reminiscent of the Batmobile has been unveiled.
French car giant Renault showcased its brand-new Filante Record 2025, described by the carmaker as "a laboratory on wheels".
As its name suggests, Renault plans to use the unique single-seater motor to break world records for "power consumption and range with an 87kWh battery".
Greg Potts of Top Gear described the concept car, which will have its first record-breaking attempts before July, as "a cross between the Michael Keaton-era Batmobile and a Star Wars podracer".
It's inspired by a range of former record-breaking Renaults, including the jet-engined single-seater Étoile Filante from 1956.
In a similar style, the Filante Record 2025 has also been designed with inspiration from aviation, including a cockpit taken directly from fighter-jet designs.
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Its pop-up hatch access and single-seat, as well as exposed screws on the bodywork, help the car to create a fighter-jet style experience on the ground.
Director of Advanced Design for Renault Sandeep Bhambra said: "We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion.
"Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, it reflects both performance and timeless elegance."
Renault said its designers set out to create a "monolithic sculpture" of a motor that could be seen as "organic".
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Its rounded LED headlights, shape, and cockpit position and design make the car feel like it's straight-out of a science fiction film.
The Batmobile from 1989's Batman can be seen within the concept vehicle with its long curves and central cockpit.
Some have even drawn comparison to podracers from 1999's Star Wars The Phantom Menace, due to the motor's long detached front and rear wheel sections.
The 5.12m-long electric car will undergo wind tunnel tests in spring to confirm simulation results for its aerodynamics.
It comes in at just a little shorter than a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and is 1.19m tall, 1.71m wide, and weighs less than 1,000kg.
Much of this weight comes from the motor's 600kg battery, which comes in a light carbon fibre casing to try and help reduce its weight.
The chassis of the supercar is made from aluminium, carbon and steel alloys, with most of the body being carbon fibre.
Renault has also utilised 3D printed complex parts using Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminium alloy.
When combined, these reductions in overall weight may just help tip the car into the record books.
PEDAL-LESS POWER
Special 19in Michelin tyres will hold the vehicle up and aim to deliver maximum range for the motor that also features both steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technology.
The pedal-less supercar comes with a central steering "wheel" that has futuristic-looking grab handles which allow the driver to operate all of the controls.
Central to this wheel is a flexible screen that wraps around the cylinder and displays speed, range, and other key information.
The singular seat is made from a stretched canvas which Renault says is "similar in style to a hammock".
The vehicle is inspired by a range of older record-chasing Renaults, including the 40 CV des Records from 1925, the Nervasport des Records from 1934, and the Étoile Filante from 1956.
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A string of speed and endurance records were set in the 1920s by the 100-year-old 40 CV des Records, while the super streamlined and jet-engined Étoile Filante broke four world records in a 1956 run.
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