Renault Zoom
The Renault Zoom was a concept car created by Matra and Renault and was first introduced at the 1992 Paris Motor Show.
The small two-seater car[1] had a length of 2,650 mm (104.3 in) and a width of 1,520 mm (59.8 in). The Zoom was powered by a 45 kW (61.2 hp) electric motor. It was unique in having fold up rear wheels resulting in a shorter length 2,300 mm (90.6 in) when parked. Width remains constant at 1.52m, which means Zoom is 230 mm (9.1 in) higher in retracted wheelbase configuration. Two beetle-wing doors mounted on inclined axes reduce lateral bodywork clearance to a minimum and make Zoom easy to use in the tightest of spots.
![](../I/m/Renault_(Matra)_Zoom_short.jpg)
The Zoom was an urban and suburban concept car born of common research by Renault and Matra into modern electric vehicles. Zoom was a relatively early venture into the world of city runabouts and utilised an electric power system in addition to a variable wheelbase. The engine is 90 percent recyclable. A communication centre mounted between the two seats houses a hands-free telephone and power-up control for Carminat navigation system.
The concept for a variable wheelbase city car was revisited by the MIT CityCar and applied in the development of the Hiriko folding two-seat urban electric car.[2][3]
References
- ↑ The Car Book. DK. 2011. pp. 290–291. ISBN 978-1-4093-7871-6.
- ↑ Steven Ashley (2012-07-13). "Shrink-to-Fit Car for City Parking". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
- ↑ "City Car: Hiriko Electric Fold-Up Car for Crowded Cities". ABC News. 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-01-01.