Renault Altica sporty estate concept car

Renault has taken the wraps off its latest concept car, Altica, a sporty estate car with a spacious interior. Described by Renault's Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Patrick le Quement, as “a successful balance between flowing and sporty lines,” the Altica is designed to combine the practicality of an estate car, the sports appeal of a coupe and a high standard of travelling comfort. The interior of the car is where most of the advanced concepts are employed, with a suspended drive station held in place by four profiled rods that hint at the world of Formula 1. Similarly, the seats are fixed, and the drive station and pedal assembly adjust to match the driver's physique via a motorized mechanism. Altica's sports pedigree is reinforced by its scissor doors, the form of which ensures easy access to this low vehicle.

The panoramic windscreen and rear window underline the car's fluid aerodynamics. The two-tone paintwork accentuates the side design and also asserts Altica's graphic identity. The car's overall stance – low-slung lines, long bonnet, prominent wings – and proportions express true sports car dynamics. Comprised of a mosaic of transparent panes, the rear quarter lights suggest forward movement.

Altica's interior mirrors its sporty, dynamic exterior design. The suspended drive station is held in place by four profiled rods that hint at the world of Formula 1.

The transparent roof and panoramic windscreen erase the boundary between the interior and the outside world and also ensure a brightly-lit cabin. The mosaic design of the rear quarter lights allows sunlight to filter into the cabin much like it does through stained glass windows and gives the interior a more welcoming feel. The layout and angling of the panes ensure good three-quarter rear visibility for the driver which is indispensable when parking.

The headlamps feature four different modes – daytime running lights (DRL), sidelights, dipped beam and main beam – and function using rows of diodes.

They also produce a halo effect when the DRL mode is selected. This is achieved in two ways. First of all, each polycarbonate headlamp module cover is speckled with thousands of small, micro-engraved nicks. Invisible to the naked eye, these nicks have no effect on the beams and permit light to pass unhindered. In the daytime running mode, however, the surface of the module cover is illuminated from the edge. The light is accordingly trapped inside the mass and spreads out like a fluid over the entire surface to produce an original and effective halo effect for the DRL and sidelight functions.

An estate with the accent on style

Altica's sports pedigree is reinforced by its scissor doors, the form of which ensures easy access to this low vehicle.

The generous interior volumes of Altica provide a very high standard of travelling comfort despite the car's sporty characteristics. Each of the four individual seats boasts outstanding comfort.

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