Renault’s latest concept car has a dual personality. These days, professional and personal lives are so intricately interwoven that drivers find themselves permanently channel-hopping between one world and the other. The role of Renault Frendzy is to be a partner that takes the strain out of this lifestyle. On the passenger’s side, there’s no glazing and no centre pillar, just one conventional door and one sliding side door which incorporates a 37-inch widescreen display. This is the world of work. The driver’s side, complete with side windows, still no centre pillar, but with centre opening doors represents the world of the family.
New 2012 Renault Frendzy is a vehicle that adapts to the requirements of the business user, with a large external screen that can display useful messages or information (such as “making deliveries” or “back in five minutes”, the battery-charging method or the remaining charge) or advertising messages, either whilst parked or on the move. Come the weekend, the vehicle transforms itself into a family vehicle, with a comfortable passenger seat and, in the rear, a big bench seat. Depending on their mood of the moment, children can watch a film or play games on the touch-sensitive pad which slides out from the back of the driver’s seat. They can even draw on a special slate integrated into the sliding door.
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| 2012 Renault Frendzy |
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| 2012 Renault Frendzy |
The driver’s side cockpit is designed along the theme of a futuristic ‘work bench’ featuring a structure which appears to be made from molten metal. Green light emanating from the dashboard brings this smooth and organic architecture to life. These lights signify the ‘work’ mode and tie in with the colour displayed on the exterior of the vehicle. Dominant throughout is the sense that the interior forms a cosy cabin which echoes the simple yet practical world of camping, and this is further reflected by extensive use of wood. Indeed, as much a symbol of warmth as it is of strength and timelessness, wood forms a link between the two modes. The leather latticework seats and removable accessories also refer to the camping metaphor. |
| 2012 Renault Frendzy |
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| 2012 Renault Frendzy |
The chief new feature of Frendzy as an electric vehicle is the extensive work that has gone into the sounds it produces. This work was carried out in conjunction with IRCAM (Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique / Musique). Electric vehicles are silent, so one of the big challenges facing Renault is customizing the sound they produce for safety reasons, notably at slow speeds.
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| 2012 Renault Frendzy Interior |
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| 2012 Renault Frendzy Dasboard |
Through accident analysis,
Renault Frendzy has developed extensive knowledge on accident mechanisms. We can assess the efficiency (lives saved and injuries avoided) of each safety system and rank the systems to be fitted on our vehicles to optimize their real safety. One of the first accident studies was made on the Dauphine! Since then, safety has always fuelled our technical thinking and we have never stopped innovating. Seatbelt load limiters and anti-submarining systems are Renault inventions.
