The Renault Zoe Could Turn Into The Unlikeliest Renault Sport Hot Hatch Ever

Would you buy a Renault Zoe? Thought not, but what if there was a Renault Sport version? According to quotes we’ve spotted, that’s a real possibility – and it could arrive by 2020.

The boss of Renault Sport has been quoted by Autocar as saying that the French company has begun to examine whether a Renault Sport Zoe is both technically possible and commercially viable. The Zoe e-sport electric hot hatch concept we saw in March could apparently be a taster of something real – despite only being able to run flat-out for 15 minutes per charge.

The move comes as Formula E pushes battery technology onwards quickly enough to bring new ideas closer to reality. The e-sport concept’s 460bhp came courtesy of a massive battery that is proving to be the main obstacle to making such a car handle even reasonably well, let alone well enough to be worthy of the Renault Sport tag. Autocar quotes Patrice Ratti, Renault Sport chief, as saying:

“We are thinking about doing a Zoe RS but it is a big study that will take time. The performance of batteries has improved to the point that it is now feasible, which certainly wasn’t the case a few years ago. So the studies have begun.

“A Renault Sport car also needs to handle well and that is the challenge. To have the weight of the batteries and still achieve the agility we pride ourselves on is a tough task. Renault has established leadership in electric vehicles and we plan to maintain and develop that. The incredible acceleration of electric cars – that fits perfectly to Renault Sport.”

Via: Autocar