Renault SYMBIOZ: the autonomous, electric car put to the test

Renault SYMBIOZ anticipates the arrival of autonomous cars by 2023.

At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault presented its vision of the car for 2030 with the SYMBIOZ concept car. Now, the French brand has allowed several journalists on board the SYMBIOZ Demo car, its first application in the form of a rolling prototype that anticipates a not-so-distant future: production of this autonomous model is scheduled for 2023.

These tests of the SYMBIOZ Demo car allow Renault to experience first-hand how an autonomous, electric and connected vehicle works in real conditions. On board the SYMBIOZ Demo car, the driver can hand over driving to the autonomous system and make the most of the time for other activities. According to Renault, journeys will become truly multisensory and personalised experiences, with a cabin able to reconfigure itself depending on the driving mode, and a vehicle integrated into the ecosystem of the driver and passengers.

“It is impossible to imagine the future of personal mobility without having ridden in the SYMBIOZ Demo car. Our development teams, which bring together engineering, design and product, have pushed the boundaries of time. This autonomous, electric and connected vehicle takes us directly to the next decade to live an unprecedented experience and discover a new way of travelling. The SYMBIOZ Demo car is a functional prototype, conceived from the outset to challenge the old paradigms of mobility. We are delighted and eager to present this vision and allow the future of Renault to be seen for itself,” says Gaspar Gascon Abellan, Engineering Director of the Renault Group.

As one would expect from Renault, a pioneer in electric vehicles for the general public, the SYMBIOZ Demo car features a 100% electric propulsion system with zero emissions. The two electric motors of the SYMBIOZ Demo car are located at the rear of the vehicle, each driving one rear wheel. The SYMBIOZ Demo car’s powertrain delivers a power of up to 500 kW and a maximum torque of 660 Nm (360 kW and 550 Nm continuous). The car goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds.

The SYMBIOZ Demo car includes a battery pack with a capacity of 72 kWh. The prototype’s architecture allows batteries to be fitted with an even higher capacity, of up to 100 kWh. This system charges 80% of the battery capacity in less than 30 minutes.

The SYMBIOZ Demo car features the famous 4CONTROL chassis with four-wheel steering, a system also found in some versions of the Renault Megane, which offers exceptional stability on the road.