By: Caleb Jeanniton
With the Paris Motor Show opening its doors to the public on October 4th, car manufacturers from all over the world have been preparing to showcase their best offerings. This global event not only highlights exciting cars that you can buy today, but it also gives the audience a preview of what to expect in the future. It has become increasingly common for the concept cars that emerge from car manufacturers to incorporate both autonomy and electric powertrains in some capacity.
Renault, a car manufacturer on the forefront of autonomous and electric vehicle development, has carried on with this trend by unveiling a new concept car called EZ-Ultimo. This fully electric concept boasts Level 4 autonomous capabilities. Such a high level of automation essentially removes the need for traditional driver controls such as a steering wheel, pedals, or even a windshield in some cases. Without these constraints, the team at Renault was encouraged to experiment with a design language vastly different from what we are used to seeing on the roads today.
This begs the question, if the driver is no longer the primary focal point of automotive form, what is? Renault believes the greatest emphasis, aside from the autonomous technology of course, should be on passenger comfort. The best way to do this, according to Renault, is to have the EZ-Ultimo “presented as an intimate cocoon in which everything is done to make passengers feel like in a living room — typical of a Haussmannian-style apartment, an initial reference for the designers.” The interior of this concept is stunning. The design team at Renault have made beautiful use of marble, velvet, leather, wood, and soft lighting to craft their vision of future luxurious mobility.
EZ-Ultimo was created around the predictions of lower rates of car ownership in the future. The rise of shared mobility means that one day you might find yourself in an EZ-Ultimo, commuting around town. Trips to the grocery store might have just become a bit more relaxing.
To find out more about Renault’s latest concept, check out these sites:
https://group.renault.com/en/news/blog-renault/renault-ez-ultimo-inspired-by-french-design/
https://carbuzz.com/news/renault-ez-ultimo-concept-could-be-tomorrow-s-nissan-altima
