Automotive

Delusions of grandeur: The F1-inspired Twizy Renault Sport F1 concept

Delusions of grandeur: The F1-inspired Twizy Renault Sport F1 concept
Like a cross between Wall-e and a Formula 1 golf cart, Twizy's Sport F1 is all for fun
Like a cross between Wall-e and a Formula 1 golf cart, Twizy's Sport F1 is all for fun
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Downforce be damned...Twizy has airflow covered with a Cessna sized rear wing
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Downforce be damned...Twizy has airflow covered with a Cessna sized rear wing
Like a cross between Wall-e and a Formula 1 golf cart, Twizy's Sport F1 is all for fun
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Like a cross between Wall-e and a Formula 1 golf cart, Twizy's Sport F1 is all for fun
Twizy F1 comes equipped with an F1 styled front splitter and tiny wee side-pods to handle
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Twizy F1 comes equipped with an F1 styled front splitter and tiny wee side-pods to handle
Twizy Sport F1, now with room enough for one
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Twizy Sport F1, now with room enough for one
What the driver will see at 200 mph (320 km/h), which is how fast Twizy will need to go to qualify for Formula 1's next season
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What the driver will see at 200 mph (320 km/h), which is how fast Twizy will need to go to qualify for Formula 1's next season
From the back Twizy looks angry yet confused about its purpose
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From the back Twizy looks angry yet confused about its purpose
Twizy’s twin-electric motor configuration brings significant performance figures thanks to Renault’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)
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Twizy’s twin-electric motor configuration brings significant performance figures thanks to Renault’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)
Twizy F1's 564 kilogram (1,243 lbs) weight provides a weight-to-power ratio of 5.8:1, slightly higher than the 5.2:1 in Renault’s Megane RS
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Twizy F1's 564 kilogram (1,243 lbs) weight provides a weight-to-power ratio of 5.8:1, slightly higher than the 5.2:1 in Renault’s Megane RS
Renault's FR2.0 and FR3.5 race cars were used as inspiration when designing Twizy’s chassis and suspension
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Renault's FR2.0 and FR3.5 race cars were used as inspiration when designing Twizy’s chassis and suspension
Modified multi-faceted steering wheel, featuring energy recover and boost settings, is taken from the Formula Renault 3.5 race car
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Modified multi-faceted steering wheel, featuring energy recover and boost settings, is taken from the Formula Renault 3.5 race car
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When we last reported on the enigmatic Renault Twizy, it was out fighting fires in the French countryside. Now, apparently bored with firefighting, the Twizy team has decided that perhaps Formula 1 is more the vehicle's cup of tea. So Renault went ahead and came up with a concept racer in the form of the Twizy Renault Sport F1.

Renault admits this concept is for fun as part of its ongoing electric program, and to serve as a “bridge between F1 technology and production cars.” Perhaps the Twizy would be more at home going across that bridge to get the F1 a cup of tea.

According to Eric Diemert, Design Director for Renault Sport Range, “Twizy Renault Sport F1 is a simple yet smart vehicle which combines original lines and advanced technology derived directly from Formula 1. Our objective was to reinforce Twizy’s ‘fun’ side by using F1 cues to express its personality. In terms of both its look and performance, the result is quite simply spectacular.”

Downforce be damned...Twizy has airflow covered with a Cessna sized rear wing
Downforce be damned...Twizy has airflow covered with a Cessna sized rear wing

Twizy’s F1, like any proper F1 car, exists as a single-seat racer and comes equipped with a substantial F1-styled front splitter, aerodynamic side-pods to precisely manage airflow at speed, a diffuser with F1-styled rain light, and one comically huge rear wing to keep downforce in check. All this results in something that looks like a cross between WALL-E and a hobbit’s Formula 1 runabout.

F1 add-ons aside, Twizy’s twin-electric motor configuration brings about significant performance figures. With the help of Renault’s Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which is identical to that used in Renault’s Formula 1 cars and instantly boosts power six-fold, Twizy’s output goes from 17 to 97 horsepower (72 kW). This boost may only available for 14 seconds but should still make for some serious fun.

Twizy Sport F1, now with room enough for one
Twizy Sport F1, now with room enough for one

Combine this power output figure with the car’s meager 564 kg (1,243 lb) weight, and you end up with a weight-to-power (kg/hp) ratio of 5.8:1, just slightly higher than the 5.2:1 of the Megane RS, Renault’s highest-performing road car. The figure, albeit nowhere close to the F1 ratio of 0.86:1, is still impressive for a winged golf cart.

The Twizy Renault Sport F1’s steering wheel further reinforces the F1 argument. The mufti-faceted wheel is taken directly from that of the Formula Renault 3.5 race car, but with functions reconfigured for the Twizy Sport F1. To recover electricity, Recovery mode can be adjusted via a four-position knob, where power boost of 10 to 60 kW can be adjusted to one of six pre-set levels. Twizy drivers can release KERS stored energy by activating two steering wheel-mounted paddles at the same time. Very PS3.

The Twizy Renault Sport F1 concept car will be shown at major events this year, beginning with its first public appearance at the World Series by Renault meeting at Aragon, Spain, followed by the Barcelona Motor Show.

Source: Renault

View gallery - 12 images
7 comments
7 comments
thk
Just a souped up golf buggy.
Samuel Holden Bramah
I own a "normal" twizy... and like the one I have, this is going to be a fun and cute car to drive. People smile and are surprised, strangers talk to you and congratulate you... They are a conversation starter and really great city cars. I do over 90km a day for my work inside and around the city and the Twizy is just ideal.
SoundRacer
It should come with a matching EV electronic engine sound system also, not the less appreciated original Twizy sound. How about a powerful V10 or V12 sound?
BigGoofyGuy
It looks like they took a Smart Fortwo and made it into a race car. I think it is really cool looking.
It would be neat to go to a theme park and be able to drive this around a track (like a go kart track). :)
Griffin
I never would have thought "F1" when I saw it.
My first thought was, "Are you sure- Is this the right picture with the article?"
If you put a little fake rotor on the roof will that make it like a flying car?
The little rides outside supermarkets look more like real race cars...
The Wall-E motif would be more plausible by itself. At least that would just be hollywood foolishness.
That probably sounds harsh but I just get disgusted knowing that this is all car companies can do is waste money on styling foolishness instead of building better cars.
Why aren't there any diesel-electric hybrids? Is that so hard?
If two guys can build the Avion and get 113mpg going from Canada to Mexico,why are we mucking around with this sort of foolishness?
This thing probably cost more than the Avion.
Get my drift?
Bruce Williams
As the owner of a Planet Electric, a 50 MPH golf cart, I love the concept. Being able to ride around our community golf cart paths then go outside the gate to the mall in the same vehicle fits our needs perfectly.
The Skud
Insaaaane! Probably. Fun! Definitely. As an inner-city and (very) occasional commuter, it would be quite effective. I can relate to the wish-list as I drive a small Japanese 3 cylinder hatch. The main city I travel to suffers from the handicap of virtually every exit route going steeply uphill, I would love one of these to kick in at the base of the hill as you leave the speed limit ... WHEEEE! I once had a Cortina sedan with a Mazda rotary engine transplant, the effect would be the same - instant power when you need it, not 10 turbo-lag seconds later.