1992 Renault Zoom Concept

The Renault Zoom was a highly innovative electric concept car developed in partnership with Matra and introduced at the 1992 Paris Motor Show. Designed for city and suburban use, it featured a unique variable wheelbase that could be extended to 2,650 mm during driving for stability and comfort, or retracted to 2,300 mm when parked to ease urban congestion and fit into tight spaces. Despite its compact two-seat design, the Zoom offered surprising comfort and equipment, including a navigation system, stereo, and hands-free phone.

One of its standout features was its Elytron scissor-style doors, which opened on a 9-degree inclined axis and required minimal side clearance, making it highly practical in narrow parking spots. The Zoom’s power came from a 25 kW electric motor capable of 33 bhp and a top speed of 75 mph, with a projected range of 93 miles—suitable for daily urban commuting. It had front-wheel drive via a continuously variable transmission.

Renault and Matra designed the Zoom with sustainability in mind. Its composite body panels were self-colored to eliminate the need for paint, and its chassis and door structures incorporated recycled materials. Some parts of the body even featured a self-healing skin capable of molecular reassembly to repair scratches. The vehicle was built to be 90 percent recyclable overall.

Though Renault anticipated the Zoom could be priced similarly to a mid-range Clio and targeted annual sales of up to 100,000 units, the infrastructure for electric vehicles was not yet mature enough in the early 1990s, and the car never reached production. Despite this, the Zoom remains a significant early example of practical urban EV design and later inspired developments like the MIT CityCar and the Hiriko folding EV.