Renault Trezor Concept: Dream Cars Are Made Like This

Good old-fashioned fantasy cars have become few and far between at modern-day auto shows. Indeed, most cars spinning around on turntables these days have at least some chance of production. Meanwhile, wild, imaginative, razzle-dazzle creations with four wheels and zero chances of being built have all but disappeared. But at the 2016 Paris auto show ^[1], Renault did its part to add some of that old-school excitement to its home country's preeminent auto show with its wild, fantastical Trezor concept, a one-door, two-seat GT that's both drop-dead gorgeous and utterly impossible, just like concept cars ^[2] from the good old days ^[3].

It Wants to Drive Like Lovers Do

This is not to say that the Trezor is a pointless exercise. Renault promises the Trezor's styling paves the way for elements that will be found on future production models, namely its "warm, simple, sensual lines," clearly defined face, and C-shaped LED light signature. The Trezor also appears as one "petal" of Renault's Life Flower design strategy, which bases vehicles around life stages: in this case, falling in love.

This could explain the Trezor's "smooth and silken" nose and its all-red interior—real subtle, Renault, not to mention the blunt, curved front-end panel that is textured . . . for her pleasure? Variable-geometry hexagonal hood vents provide cooling, while the front and rear lighting elements span the width of the car, with the rear lamps utilizing fiber optics that stack and twist to intensify the light during braking.

The Trezor's single-piece, canopy-style door is its most interesting design element, spanning the width of the car and stretching from the nose to the rear bulkhead. The single-piece wraparound windshield/side-window treatment is particularly beautiful (and, sadly, unlikely), and the decision to use red-tinted glass was to "ensure a warm cabin," said Renault.

Cabin heat may not be a problem if its two occupants understand the premise of this car, although climbing in gracefully over the body sides may be, especially if either of them is wearing a short skirt and/or heels. Once inside, however, they'll sink into plush, furniture-inspired seats and face a dashboard made of red-colored ash wood structural beams. Information and controls are handled by a wide OLED touchscreen, ahead of which are a pair of integrated leather-covered stowage compartments for whatever fun items our two lovebirds might want to bring along.

Electric Light

The electric powertrain that motivates the Trezor is derived from Renault's successful e.dams Formula E race car, complete with that car's brake-energy recovery system. With 349 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, the rear-wheel-drive Trezor is said to be able to hit 62 mph in less than four seconds, thanks in no small part to the car's relatively svelte 3527-pound weight.

The Trezor gives its driver a choice of three operating modes: Neutral, Sport, and of course, Autonomous. In Autonomous mode, the exterior lighting changes to signify that the car is driving itself, while inside, the rectangular steering wheel extends in width, giving the occupants an unencumbered view of the screen, according to Renault.

Just how much of the Trezor's crazier bits make it into future production models remains to be seen, but we can be sure this one-door wonder won't. Ever. Which likely makes seeing this bona fide fantasy car at an auto show a special event. Just like old times.

View Photos View Photos ^[4]^[5]