'Wind' wraps around latest Renault concept

French carmaker Renault will unveil its new 2-litre roadster concept car at next month's Geneva motor show.

Called "Wind", it has been built to test public reaction. If it goes into production it is likely to be built by Renaultsport, which makes the high-performance versions of the Clio and Megane.

The car's interior is an example of Renault's "touch design" concept, boasting a cabin that seems to be cloaked in leather with controls that put the emphasis on ergonomics and simplicity.

"The exterior combines the sensuality of flowing lines with the dynamism of chamfered contours," says Patrick le Quement, Renault's senior vice president of corporate design. '

"The interior is reminiscent of a well-fitting glove. The result is a breath of fresh air in the world of roadsters."

Renault says the Wind design is made up of two defining lines, the first running along the side of the car, curving into the front and rear wings and sweeping round the wheel arches, the second enveloping the cabin and underscoring the impression of protectiveness.

The powerful headlamps also contribute to the car's appeal, says Renault. The elongated shape extends along the bonnet, taking inspiration from previous concept cars like Vel Satis and Talisman.

Despite their simple looks, the headlamps conceal complex technology. A powerful jet of blue-tinted light flows through a long transparent tube stretching across vertical glass covers. The arc of the panoramic windscreen extends around the sides of the car to incorporate the side windows. The cabin can be covered with a fabric roof including a rounded rear glass window that continues the oval theme.

The pleated leather seats, tobacco in colour, are fixed, in tune with the roadster spirit, while the steering wheel and pedal assemblies are adjustable and fold away automatically when the door is opened for easier access.

The central section linking the backs of the two front seats is made of carbon fibre covered in foam and leather.

It can be unhooked and turned inside out, forming a saddle shape that provides a third seat in the rear of the car.