(July 7, 2011) PARIS — Ahead of the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show later this year, Renault today revealed details of its latest concept vehicle, Frendzy.

The Frendzy concept is an electric commercial vehicle that takes its inspiration from unconventionally shaped aircraft and appears to target the Ford Transit Connect Electric.



The latest concept to be produced under the leadership of Laurens van den Acker is designed as a perfect multi-talented vehicle. As a commercial business vehicle which can double up perfectly as a comfortable car, it meets the requirements of business users on the one hand and those of families on the other.

The quirky-looking workhorse lacks a center pillar and gets one conventional door and one sliding door with a 37-inch display that can flash advertising messages or such information as the battery-charging method.

The name is supposed to call up images of a "multi-faceted friend," said the French automaker.

Exterior designer, Deyan Denkov: "The concept of an asymmetric body design was the most logical way to express this vehicle’s two roles. From the very start, I wanted to move away from the traditional format for commercial vehicles and, in doing so, show that this type of vehicle could also be more emotional, more dynamic and more attractive. I took inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including unconventionally shaped aircraft such as the Airbus Beluga and the Antonov 224.”

Unlike most EVs, which are silent, the Frendzy gets a broad range of sounds, including a sporty note. Renault says that the sound program lets people in the vicinity know whether the Frendzy is "in business or passenger-car mode, thanks simply to its sound signature."

The electric concept is equipped with a 60-horsepower electric motor and lithium-ion batteries.

The cabin is supposed to look like a futuristic workbench with a "molten metal" look. The cabin gets leather latticework seats and lots of wood trim. The single-piece rear seat is integrated into the floor. Sensors located on the door sills can log the loading or unloading of packages tagged with RFID (radio frequency identification) chips with information such as destination address.