In 1954, French aeronautical turbine manufacturer Turbomeca partnered with Renault to create a record-setting gas turbine-powered car named the Renault Étoile Filante (Shooting Star). Developed and tested in a wind tunnel over 1954 and 1955, the no-door streamliner featured a Turbomeca Turmo gas turbine producing 270 hp at 28,000 rpm. In 1956, it achieved an average speed of 191 mph (over 307 km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Renault restored the car in the mid-1990s, making it operational again, and it now resides in Renault’s Historical Cars Collection. A private collection in Mexico also houses a second example.
In 2016, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the initial record run, Renault returned the Étoile Filante to the Bonneville Salt Flats, this time fitted with an electric motor and driven by Nicolas Prost, son of Alain Prost. Now, Renault has introduced the Filante Record 2025 concept, an electric demonstration car that offers a fresh take on the single-seater streamlined body design. Measuring 5.12 meters in length, 1.19 meters in height, and weighing just 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds), this ‘laboratory on wheels’ focuses on maximum energy efficiency rather than speed.
When realized, the Filante Record 2025 aims to set a new record for power consumption and range using a standard 87-kWh battery pack, the same capacity as that in a standard Renault Scenic E-Tech electric crossover. Developed to test new technologies, the concept features bespoke friction-reducing tires, as well as steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems.
Renault drew inspiration for this new electric car from two historic models: the 40 CV des Records (1925) and the Étoile Filante (1956), both of which hold significant records for the brand. The company plans to pursue a new efficiency record during the first half of the year, with the prototype making an appearance at the Rétromobile Motor Show in Paris from February 5 to 9, 2025.
Sandeep Bhambra, Director of Advanced Design at Renault and Ampere, explained, “We designed this vehicle as a sculpture in motion. Inspired by fighter planes and the speed records of the nineteenth century, this vehicle aims to reflect both performance and timeless elegance with every inch of the surface crafted to capture the light and showcase the body lines, which appear to melt into the air. The blue tinted windows and color palette further underline this light and airy impression. The design as a whole seeks to convey an impression of both its flow and lightness.”
