Renault has ended 2025 with a striking demonstration of how far electric-vehicle efficiency can be stretched, after its Filante Record 2025 demonstration car travelled 1,008 kilometres on a single charge at sustained highway speeds. The achievement, validated at UTAC’s proving ground in Morocco, is being viewed as a milestone not because of a breakthrough battery, but because it highlights what intelligent design, aerodynamics and weight reduction can deliver using near-production technology.
Highway-speed run under real-world conditions
The record attempt took place on 18 December at UTAC Ceram’s Oued Zem test facility, a high-speed circuit selected for its long, smooth loops and predictable winter weather. Over 9 hours and 52 minutes, the Filante covered 1,008 km while maintaining an average speed of 102 km/h—an important distinction from low-speed “hypermiling” records that bear little resemblance to everyday driving.
To maintain consistency, three drivers rotated stints behind the wheel, carefully managing speed, wind conditions and temperature changes throughout the run. When the car completed the distance, onboard data showed the battery still retained around 11 per cent charge, suggesting that significantly more range was theoretically possible at similar speeds.
Production battery, exceptional efficiency
Perhaps the most notable aspect of the project is what Renault did not change. Instead of fitting an experimental battery, the Filante Record 2025 uses the same 87 kWh battery pack found in the production Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric. In road-going form, the Scenic offers a WLTP range of roughly 620 km. On the Moroccan test loop, however, the Filante recorded an average energy consumption of just 7.8 kWh per 100 km—around half of what many long-range EVs consume at motorway speeds.
The dramatic difference lies in the vehicle surrounding the battery. The Filante is a low-slung, narrow, single-seat machine with a long, tapering tail and enclosed cockpit, more akin to a land-speed record car than a family crossover. While its electric motor is related to the Scenic’s unit, every aspect of the body and structure was optimised for minimal mass and drag.
Renault Filante: Lightweight design and refined aerodynamics
Renault engineers targeted a mass of around 1,000 kg, far lighter than most long-range EVs, which typically weigh between 1,700 and 2,200 kg. Achieving this required extensive use of carbon-fibre reinforced plastics, thin-wall aluminium components and 3D-printed structural parts that removed material wherever it did not contribute to strength or safety. The lower mass reduced the energy needed for acceleration and helped maintain speed efficiently over nearly ten hours of continuous driving.
Aerodynamics proved equally critical. Through intensive wind-tunnel testing and computational simulations, Renault reduced the car’s drag coefficient from roughly 0.40 to about 0.30. The Filante features faired-in wheels, a smooth underbody, a very low frontal area and a long, boat-tailed rear section designed to minimise turbulence. Cooling intakes were kept small and carefully shaped to limit airflow disruption.
Michelin also developed bespoke, low-rolling-resistance tyres for the project, using a narrow profile and specialised compound tuned for prolonged high-speed efficiency. At motorway speeds, reducing rolling resistance is essential, and Renault credits the tyres as a key factor behind the exceptionally low energy consumption.
A rolling laboratory for future EVs
Beyond the headline numbers, the Filante Record 2025 served as a rolling testbed for technologies likely to appear in future production vehicles. The car employs steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems, replacing mechanical linkages with electronic controls. This approach allows greater flexibility in packaging and weight distribution, while also enabling precise control strategies that optimise energy recovery and efficiency.
During the record attempt, engineers monitored speed, state of charge and environmental conditions in real time, making fine adjustments to keep the car operating in its most efficient window without dropping below realistic highway speeds. Renault has emphasised that, despite being conducted on a closed track, the run still faced real-world variables such as crosswinds and temperature changes.
What it means for mainstream electric cars
Renault is positioning the Filante project as a statement about the future of electric-vehicle development. Rather than relying on ever-larger, heavier and more expensive batteries to extend range, the company argues that substantial gains can be achieved through lighter construction, cleaner aerodynamics, efficient tyres and smarter control software. In this context, Renault has framed the Filante as evidence that “efficiency is the new performance” in the EV era.
While the Filante Record 2025 itself will never reach production, the lessons learned are expected to influence upcoming Renault models, particularly in Europe. More ambitious aerodynamic targets, stronger weight-reduction programmes and closer collaboration with tyre suppliers are likely outcomes. Given that the Scenic E-Tech Electric already delivers competitive range from its 87 kWh battery, Renault’s record suggests there is still significant efficiency headroom to be unlocked in mainstream family EVs—without a fundamental change in battery chemistry.
As pressure mounts on carmakers to deliver longer range without escalating costs or environmental impact, Renault’s Moroccan record may ultimately be remembered less for the distance covered and more for the design philosophy it champions.
