This isn’t one of those cars you can buy in the future. We’re behind the wheel of the electric blue Renault Zoe e-Sport, which is a one-off prototype. The Zoe e-Sport showcases Renault’s Formula E racing technology - it packs two Formula E motors into the front and rear axle, which make 460hp of pure electric power together and this power is distributed through all four wheels.
The car features a tubular chassis that’s built by racing specialist Tork engineering and the car is quite light because the body is made using carbon fibre. There are massive 20-inch alloys that are under big flared-out wheel arches. There’s a massive front air dam, carbon-fibre spoiler, and rear diffuser, which adds to its sporty appearance.
Like a pure-bred race car, you get a double wishbone suspension front and rear, pro Öhlin dampers that are four-way adjustable, AP racing brakes and mechanical differentials on both axles with a 45/55 front/rear split. On the inside, this car is also all racing car. There are a pair of Recaros with 6-point harnesses, a single screen that gives you information like power flow, and a trio of chunky rotary switches for picking drive modes. Obviously, there is nothing in here that you would get on a normal car, like air-conditioning. Anything that was unnecessary weight had to go. According to Renault, this car can hit 100kph in 3.2sec and can get to 210kph in just 10sec. That means it’s faster than the Porsche Turbo.
Start the car and you can hear various wooshes and whirrs as it comes alive. Once you pick Drive, you can engage the highest voltage setting (for max power) using the rotary controls on the dashboard. All it takes is a prod of the right pedal and the e-Sport lunges forward- there is absolutely no delay in power delivery. The relative lack of sound in comparison to a combustion engine car takes a little getting used to and you only hear a steady hum from the electric motors and cooling fans. There’s no loud, manic scream to the redline, no interruption of power with gearshifts, everything you’re accustomed to on a regular sports car is missing. What you do get is a strong, seamless and linear shove forward.
The car handles like a go-kart and the 20-inch super-soft Michelins have loads of grip, it feels absolutely glued to the tarmac. It’s not the best handler around corners, but this car wasn’t designed to set lap times, it was made to showcase tech. If the e-Sport is anything to go by, the future of electric mobility will ensure that enthusiasts also get their share of the cake.
