Renault Zoe ZE 40 Charges Up To Take You Farther


If you've been holding off on switching to an electric car because the current crop just can't go far enough without stopping to recharge, we have good news. Because battery technology is constantly improving, giving the latest EVs much farther range. And the latest comes from Renault.

At the Paris Motor Show today, the French automaker has announced the new Zoe ZE 40 – a revised version of its sleek little electric hatchback. In 40 spec, the Zoe boasts a new battery pack that's rated by NEDC standards to power the vehicle for 400 kilometers (or nearly 250 miles) on a single charge. Renault says that in real-world conditions, it'll go a good 300 km (186 miles) before needing to plug in again.

Either way you look at it, that's not too shabby. It's not as far as the Tesla Model S or new Chevy Bolt will travel, but it's a check of a lot better than electrified versions of conventional cars like the Fiat 500e, Volkswagen e-Golf, or Kia Soul EV – none of which even break into double digits when it comes to range. And it's that much better than the existing model, which was NEDC-rated at 240 km (150 miles) until now, and at 210 km (130 miles) before 2015.

 Along with the new battery, Renault has also updated the Zoe with new color choices (red or grey), electric folding mirrors, two-tone 16-inch alloys, and fresh interior upholstery and trim. There's also a chic-looking new Edition One version with leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bose audio system, and a unique shade of grey paint.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as ...
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu...
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel...
Read more