Remember the Zoe e-Sport? It was launched by Renault two and a half years ago as a concept for a true supermini hyper hatch with battery-electric power.
We haven’t heard anything about it since 2017 – until now, that is. The French automaker’s EV chief, Gilles Normand, told TopGear that there could be a business opportunity. However, the outgoing battery technology won’t do justice to such a car, but Renault is working on their next-gen batteries and this could open up more possibilities.
Also Watch: Renault’s Mad Zoe E-Sport Is A 460hp Pocket Rocket That Begs For Production
“The e-Sport was more to test the water, to show that EVs are not boring. It was a communication tool that hit its purpose very well. The reaction was very strong. People were telling me ‘we are interested, can you do something like this?’”, he said. “We have not yet come to a conclusion, but it did click in my head that the reception to this concept was so positive, and some of our competitors have identified some window of business for something like this.”
With a sturdy construction, more power than the newer and bigger Mercedes-AMG A45 S and supercar acceleration, the Zoe e-Sport Concept was praised by those lucky enough to have sampled it. The two electric motors produce 460 PS (454 hp / 338 kW) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of torque. Tipping the scales at 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs), including the 450 kg (992 lbs) battery, the show car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 3.2 seconds.
