Renault's latest concept has plug-in hybrid hydrogen power

Not content with presenting the new Renault 4 electric SUV at its home motor show next week, Renault has unveiled its latest extravagant “demo car” ahead of its world public debut at the Paris show (October 14-20).

Dubbed the Renault Emblème, this edgy Volkswagen Arteon-sized shooting brake has been created to showcase a way for Renault Group to achieve its target of net zero carbon by 2040 in Europe and 2050 worldwide.

It features a similar hydrogen fuel-cell plug-in hybrid drivetrain to the Scenic Vision concept from 2022, though it’s claimed to take the approach “one step further”.

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The French carmaker claims the Emblème produces 90 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions across its lifetime than an equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

Research conducted by Renault Group and Ampere calculated the amount of greenhouse gas emissions certain cars create during manufacturing and then over 200,000km of driving.

It found a Captur with a petrol engine creates 50 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the Megane E-Tech electric crossover creates 24 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Renault says the aim of the Emblème project is to create a production car that produces only five tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime, including manufacturing.

Under the bonnet, the Renault Emblème is powered by a 160kW electric motor that is claimed to incorporate “no rare earths”. It’s fed by a 40kWh nickel metal cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery.

Under EV power alone, the Emblème is claimed to have a range of “several hundred kilometres”.

However, there’s also a 30kW hydrogen fuel-cell that’s fed by a 2.8kg compressed hydrogen tank. It acts like a range extender like the now-defunct Holden Volt and BMW i3 Rex.

Renault hasn’t detailed a total range for the Emblème, though the Scenic Vision was claimed to offer up to 800km of range.

The French carmaker does, however, claim the Emblème is capable of travelling up to 1000km as quickly as an ICE vehicle. This is possible by two hydrogen refuelling stops that are claimed to take less than five minutes each.

The Renault Emblème measures in at 4800mm long, making it longer than the Koleos, 1520mm tall and rides on a 2900mm wheelbase. It has a target weight of 1750kg, including the batteries, as well as a drag co-efficient of 0.25Cd.

On the design front, the concept crossover SUV features many sharp lines, deep scallops, and bold curves. It blurs the lines between a regular wagon and coupe.

At the front there’s an illuminated Renault badge, plus fins on the bonnet and bumper to channel air towards the windscreen and behind the wheels.

On the side there are digital side mirrors, aero-style wheels, and receded door handles.

Around the back there’s a dramatic tail-light setup including an illuminated Renault wordmark, plus an active diffuser to balance airflow and minimise aerodynamic drag.

At this stage it’s unclear if a Renault vehicle like the Emblème will ever actually make it to production.