Pages

29 Aug 2014

Renaultsport RS 01 Race Car - Is Renault Missing a Trick?

Renaultsport has released photos and information about the new RS01 race car, but surely a road car would make more sense.

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

This is the Renaultsport RS 01. It has a carbon fibre monocoque with a steel roll cage and is designed exclusively for racing.

The RS 01 weighs 1,100kg and has a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V6 engine derived from the Nissan GT-R which produces 493bhp and 443lb ft of torque.  It's rear wheel drive and the gearbox is a 7-speed semi-automatic sequential unit.

The car has been designed for the track, indeed Renaultsport's Design Director, Éric Diemert, says: "...the reach of Renaultsport R.S. 01 had to extend beyond the range to make it an iconic brand model. This is why it looks nothing like a production vehicle."
Well it will be an iconic brand model but it does look like a production vehicle.  Surely it would have been better designing a road car that looked and went like the RS01.

It wouldn't be beyond the bounds of reason for Renault to bring a very similar looking car to the road, after all many car companies like Audi and Lotus have managed it.  Take a look at the Alfa Romeo 4C to see how much a reasonably expensive sportscar with a carbon monocoque can do for a brand's profile.

Renault is missing a trick if the RS 01 remains a track-only car.
Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

Renaultsport RS 01
Renaultsport RS 01

By Matt Hubbard