Renault has begun the new year with a landmark achievement in electric mobility, as its experimental demo car Filante Record 2025 successfully covered 1,008 kilometres in less than 10 hours without recharging, setting a new benchmark for real-world EV efficiency.
The record run was completed on December 18 at the UTAC test track in Morocco, where the electric concept achieved an average speed of 102 km/h while consuming just 7.8 kWh per 100 km. Notably, the car used an 87 kWh battery, identical in capacity to the one found in the Renault Scenic E-Tech electric, underlining the feasibility of long-distance electric travel at sustained highway speeds.
At the end of the run, Filante Record 2025 still retained 11 per cent battery capacity, theoretically allowing it to travel an additional 120 kilometres at speeds above 100 km/h.
Real-world efficiency focus
Unlike traditional range records achieved at very low speeds or with oversized batteries, Renault set out to prove efficiency under motorway-like driving conditions. Drivers were tasked with maintaining an average speed of over 110 km/h, including technical stops and driver changes, while completing the 1,000 km target in under 10 hours.
The challenge was initially scheduled for October 2025 in France but was postponed due to adverse weather. Favourable conditions in Morocco eventually enabled the successful attempt.
Aerodynamics and lightweight engineering
Renault credited the record to an extreme focus on aerodynamics, weight reduction and material optimisation. The vehicle weighs just 1,000 kg and incorporates carbon fibre, aluminium alloys and 3D-printed components, alongside advanced steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems.
Wind-tunnel testing earlier this year revealed opportunities to significantly reduce aerodynamic drag. Engineers reworked wheel fairings, airflow interfaces and air inlets, cutting the drag coefficient from nearly 0.40 to around 0.30, a critical factor in achieving the efficiency milestone.
Custom-developed low rolling resistance Michelin tyres further contributed to the record-setting performance.
Heritage-inspired electric laboratory
Beyond engineering, Filante Record 2025 also pays tribute to Renault’s history. Its ultraviolet blue finish references the brand’s 40 CV record car of 1925, while design cues nod to the Étoile Filante of 1956 and the aviation world. The cockpit features a fighter-jet-inspired canopy and a Formula 1-style driving position.
Renault describes the vehicle as a “laboratory on wheels”, designed not only to break records but also to inform future production EVs.
Human effort behind the record
Three Renault Group drivers — Laurent Hurgon, Constance Léraud-Reyser and Arthur Ferrière — shared driving duties over nearly ten hours, completing 239 laps of the four-kilometre circuit. Renault highlighted the collective effort of engineers, designers and partners including Ligier and Michelin as central to the achievement.
Shaping future EVs
Renault said the insights gained from Filante Record 2025 will directly influence the development of upcoming electric models, particularly in improving efficiency at sustained highway speeds — a key concern for EV customers worldwide.
A three-episode mini-series documenting the journey, technical challenges and behind-the-scenes pressure of the record attempt will be released in the coming weeks.
With this achievement, Renault has reinforced its claim that long-distance electric mobility without frequent charging is already achievable, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of efficient, real-world EV performance.
