- It is "highly probable" that Renault will put its midengine DeZir concept car into production, says a senior insider at the company.
- Renaultsport sub-brand is strong enough to allow for "two or three" unique models in addition to the range of hot hatches, of which the DeZir could be the first.
- The DeZir most likely will appear as a convertible rather than the closed-roof concept car.
PARIS — It is "highly probable" that Renault will put its midengine DeZir concept car into production, says a senior insider at the company.
The DeZir, unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show last fall, was originally built solely to signal a new design direction for Renault following the installation of Laurens van den Acker as new design boss.
The DeZir previews the new face of Renault, and is also said to indicate the look of the next-generation Clio supemini, despite the very different silhouettes of these cars.
However, the excellent reception the DeZir itself garnered has prompted Renault to seriously consider building it. No final decision has been taken, but a business case is under examination as part of a strategy to build on the success enjoyed by the company's Renaultsport sub-brand, which currently offers high-performance versions of the highly regarded Twingo, Clio and Megane hatchbacks.
Renault Brand Manager Beatrice Foucher believes that the Renaultsport sub-brand is strong enough to allow for "two or three" unique models in addition to the range of hot hatches, of which the showroom-bound DeZir could be the first.
If it does make production, the DeZir most likely will appear as a convertible rather than the closed-roof concept car, and it will probably be powered by a version of the 197-horsepower 2.0-liter engine from the Renaultsport Clio, complete with six-speed manual transmission.
Details of the core construction of the car have yet to be confirmed, but the concept was built around a tubular steel spaceframe wrapped with kevlar exterior panels, to produce a total weight of 1,830 pounds, when equipped with a battery-electric drivetrain.
There's no word on pricing, although the same senior insider says that it "won't be cheap," with a figure of around $48,000 discussed.
The production DeZir will probably be built at Renaultsport's Dieppe factory in northern France, where the company's previous two-seater, the 1995 Renault Sport Spider, was also assembled.
An electric version of the DeZir is a more distant possibility — Foucher says, "my dream is that we'll be able to sell EV sports cars" — but it's not thought to be in Renaultsport's immediate plans even though parent company Renault has embarked on a major EV initiative that will soon see the rollout of no fewer than four battery-electric models.
Inside Line says: Building the DeZir would be a great way to glamorize Renault's tarnished image, and a boost for its successful Renaultsport sub-brand, but boss Carlos Ghosn won't let it happen if it doesn't turn a profit. — Richard Bremner, Correspondent
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