Renault unveiling Twin'Run concept in Monaco [w/video]

Fri, 24 May 2013

During last year's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix weekend, Renault introduced us to the Alpine A110-50. This year, it's another revival called Twin'Run - the follow up to the Twin'Z but not called TwinFun, as we previously thought - a smooth blue hatch to update all those yellowed memories of the Renault R5 Turbo and Clio V6. With the same footprint as the Twin'Z, this is the other side of the 'play' theme in Renault's six-stage exploration of the stages of life through concept cars.

The Twin'Z is admittedly a neat piece of work, but the Twin'Run one - and its murderous exhaust note - has our hot breath all over it. A steel, tubular chassis provides the structure. Within it, just ahead of the rear axle is a 3.5-liter V6 with 320 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, shifted through a six-speed sequential transmission. To keep its city-car proportions stable on 18-inch wheels, the fuel tank, radiator and hydraulic system are in the front, under the hood, resulting in a 43/57 front-to-rear weight balance.

The bodywork is a mix of glass fiber and carbon fiber, the squarish headlamps and supplemental quad headlamps a nod to the R5 Turbo rally car and its light rack for nighttime stages. Inside is lots of black and red Alcantara, a gauge cluster wrapped in white lacquer and aluminum pedals whose setup is said to be motorsports tested.

The whole package weighs 2,090 pounds, and you can read all about it in the press release below. There's also a very French short film to go with it that you know involves lots of models clad in lots of leather, and those vintage forbearers.

TWIN'RUN CONCEPT CAR : THE CITY-CAR WITH A KICK!

May 24, 2013 -- Renault is unveiling the Twin'Run at the 71st Monaco Grand Prix. The new concept car cultivates the sporting spirit of the brand and celebrates automotive passion by paying homage to the legendary R5 Turbo and Clio V6.

Twin'Run, a real racing car, features a tubular chassis lifted directly from motorsport competition and a mid-engine 320-hp V6 engine based on Mégane Trophy.

Like its twin, Twin'Z, Twin'Run is a modern and playful take on the city car. Both concept cars express the fifth stage in Renault's design strategy based on the major phases in a lifetime. Each in its own way represents the "Play" stage (petal) and demonstrates the customisation possibilities of a city car fully in step with its times.

The Twin'Run concept car previews the styling of Renault's future city car.

TWIN'RUN: A PASSIONATE CONCEPT CAR GOING BACK TO ITS ROOTS
Twin'Run drove its first laps in front of spectators at the Monaco Grand Prix. Monaco, with its legendary track, is the ideal theatre for the concept car's debut. Twin'Run is a sports car through and through and further cultivates the Renault brand's passion for racing, picking up where the famous R5 Turbo and Clio V6 left off.

The public at Monaco got to see the three racers in action in a pursuit race organized to celebrate Renault motorsport history. Twin'Run led the way with Carlos Tavares, Chief Operating Officer, at the wheel, tailed by a Clio V6 driven by F1 star Charles Pic and a Maxi 5 Turbo with its celebrated driver, Jean Ragnotti, at the helm.

Twin'Run ties in perfectly with the series of concept cars illustrating Renault's design strategy. The diamonddominated front end underscores the brand identity in line with Renault's new styling approach. Like Twin'Z, Twin'Run gets blue paint in reference to the "Play" petal of the fifth stage in the brand's design strategy.

Twin'Run's stomping ground is the world of motorsport.

TWIN'RUN: COMPACT, POTENT AND PLAYFUL !
Twin'Run, has a compact, ultra-dynamic body. The wheels set in the far corners, minimal overhang and high waistline underscore the dynamic feel and promise a great drive.
"Twin'Run is a cocktail of energy, passion and athleticism, rekindling the memory of emblematic Renault racing cars. Following its twin, Twin'Z, a stylish urban concept car, Twin'Run shows that personalisation is a core strategy at Renault."
Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design at the Renault group

BLUE AND RED
The blue paint finish on Twin'Run features taut, graphically drawn lines with emphatic shoulders enhanced by touches of red on the strip running all the way along the body and above the rocker panel, as well as two red bands on the roof.

Red also figures at the front, where it underlines the grille and air intakes, and on the ultra-slim door mirrors and the tips of the rear airfoil. A red surround emphasises the circumference of the black and white wheel rims.

HOMMAGE TO A PRESTIGIOUS FORERUNNER
The "5" on the doors refers to the R5 Turbo, the emblematic 1980s rally car.

A host of details pay homage to this illustrious forerunner, including the design of the headlights and the generous haunches at the back. The four additional, extra-flat headlights with LED technology are a modernday take on the light racks used in nighttime rally specials. The fully customisable light sequences are controlled by an in-car system. The development of this system was a real challenge as the designers had to provide a powerful light source in a lamp measuring just 25 mm deep.

"Twin'Run embodies the mad genius Renault has been known for over the decades, to the delight of motor sports enthusiasts. No one has forgotten the R5 Turbo and the Clio V6. Twin'Run is the true heir of those racing cars that had so much appeal."
- Axel Breun, Head of Concept Car Design

TWIN'RUN: A REAL RACING CAR
Twin'Run was developed with the assistance of Tork Engineering / Poclain Vehicules, a French firm specialised in the preparation of chassis for competition. The concept car is a real racing car that has benefited from that competition expertise. The bodywork in composite material covers a multi-tube steel chassis powered by a mid-engine engine derived from Mégane Trophy.

A V6 ENGINE FOR COMPETITION
Twin'Run is fitted with the V4Y engine from the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which is used on the road for Laguna, Espace and Latitude but also used in competition with Mégane Trophy. Mounted longitudinally ahead of the rear axle centerline, the V6 3,498 cc power plant delivers 320 hp at 6,800 rpm and torque of 380 Nm at 4,850 rpm. The engine is full-bodied and generous from low revs, delivering linear acceleration and providing excellent traction around bends and in acceleration.

The V6 is mated to a SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox with limited slip differential, enhancing Twin'Run stability and traction in curves. The twin metallic clutch is also borrowed directly from competition.

The air intake vents are positioned at the level of the rear wheel arches. Air extractors in the rear quarter lights help keep the engine cool.

The cooling system has received special treatment with polished aluminum pipes set visibly into the cabin floor. The engine is separated from the driving position by a plexiglass panel.

To ensure good weight distribution despite the mid-engine architecture, various components were positioned under the bonnet. These include the fuel tank, the radiator and the hydraulic system. The concept car is well balanced with a 43/57 weight distribution.

COMPOSITE BODY
The bodywork in a glass-polyester composite has also benefited from racing expertise. This includes carbon fibre for the front blade, roof, rear vent and wheel arches.

Carbon fibre technology combines aesthetics and efficiency, while keeping costs down

COMPETITION AERODYNAMICS
The two-box architecture of Twin'Run creates lift at high speeds. The aerodynamics have received special attention with a vent channeling the air flow under the car and a fixed airfoil for enhanced aerodynamic support at high speeds.

A RACING CHASSIS
Twin'Run rests on a multi-tube high-performance steel chassis derived from aeronautics and used in competition. The chassis was developed entirely by Tork Engineering.

The ground link is provided by front and rear axles fitted with double-wishbone suspension with independent pivots. The four pivots, in solid aeronautical quality aluminum, deliver high performance on the track. For filtering and body stability, Twin'Run is fitted with OHLINS spring shock absorbers at the front and rear.

The axles have an anti-roll bar with a diameter of 22 mm at the front and 25 mm at the rear. Roll is perfectly controlled for agility and responsiveness.

The aluminum wheel covers with a special hub with a central bolt can be dismounted in three parts and fit 18" Michelin tires.

DESIGN INTELLIGENCE INFORMED BY THE WORLD OF MOTORSPORT
The design process has been led by a continuous effort to avoid reinvention with a common sense approach. The chassis has been made of a combination of track-proven elements, allowing to develop quickly a very efficient racing car...

JEAN RAGNOTTI: AN EXPERT VIEWPOINT
Rally champion Jean Ragnotti was involved in the final tuning of the chassis system of Twin'Run. He shared his impressions with us while taking a look back at the R5.

"Following this first drive, I'd say that this is a sound car with a strong pedigree. It's easy to control. You can feel straight away that it's a sports car. In terms of balance and ride, it brings the R5 Turbo to mind to some extent. The gearbox is smooth and you've got powerful brakes. Excellent traction with a responsive engine delivering full power at all revs, rounder and with more torque than the R5 Turbo, making it particularly efficient and easy to drive, unlike the R5, which required more technique.

"An efficient car with surprisingly good vertical comfort, including in zones of high compression where we're still a long way from the travel stops. All we need to sharpen our attacking edge a bit more are racing tyres. There's a slight roll but no understeer. A gradual performance, no surprises, taking corners easily. This concept car is a worthy heir to the Maxi 5 Turbo."

Note:
Jean Ragnotti has been the celebrated rally driver of R5 Turbo within the 80s. He won 3 famous races of the World Rally Championship driving the Renault supercar : MonteCarlo Race in 1981 as well as the 1982 and 1985 Tour de Corse races.

He still has the opportunity to drive its "fetiche" R5 Turbo or Maxi 5 Turbo for exhibition sessions all over Europe.

A CABIN DEDICATED TO PERFORMANCE
Twin'Run has the cabin of a sports car, as indicated by the tubular chassis and SPARCO seats fitted with safety harnesses. Nevertheless, the emphasis placed on interior design extends well beyond anything normally seen in the world of motorsports.

The door panels and dashboard are upholstered in black and red "alcantara effect" suede. The padded bucket seats, upholstered in three shades of alcantara and carrying the Twin'Run signature, underline the French touch of this concept car.

The driver gains a motorsports steering wheel and sequential gear lever with a high-mounted layout for fast gear changes. The joint welded handbrake is positioned on the same level as the gear lever for demonstration figures such as a 360° rotation.

Under the driver's feet, the aluminum pedal assembly is a motorsports model. Designed for easy heel-toe moves, it has been tried and tested on many track vehicles (Lodgy Andros / Duster No Limit)

Positioned in a white lacquer console, the instrument cluster is dedicated first and foremost to driving, as on any sports vehicle.

Twin'Run features a 5.5 inch LCD screen positioned just behind the steering wheel. The red and blue multi-page display shows the vehicle speed, gear speed and engine speed, as well as fuel pressure, clutch pressure and oil pressure.

Two red pressure gauges with centrally positioned needles show the oil temperature and water temperature, a last nod to the R5 Turbo.

TECHNICAL DATA
Dimensions:
l x w x h: 3,680 mm x 1,750 mm (1,970 mm with door mirrors) x 1,493 mm
Front track: 1,522 mm
Rear track: 1,497 mm
Fuel: 40l
Unladen weight: 950 kg

Body:
- Composite, glass fibre/polyester

Engine:
- From the Alliance Renault-Nissan (Renault V4Y / Nissan VQ35)
- mid-engine longitudinal mounted
- V6 (60°) – 24 valves – 3,498 cm3
- Bore – travel: 95.5 mm x 81.4 mm
- Injection / ignition: built-in management system SODEMO EV14
- Max power 320 hp at 6,800 rpm
- Max torque 380 Nm at 4,850 rpm
- Max engine speed 7,500 rpm

Transmission:
- Rear-wheel drive
- 6-speed sequential gearbox + reverse
- Limited slip differential
- Twin metallic disc clutch Ø184mm

Chassis:
- Steel multi-tube 25CD4S
- Composite glass-polyester bodywork
- Double wishbone suspension at front and rear
- OHLINS two-way spring-damper combinations, front and rear

Brakes:
- Front brakes, vented discs Ø356 x 32 and 6-piston calipers
- Rear brakes, vented discs Ø328x30 and 4-piston calipers

Wheels and tires:
- Front: 7.5'' x 18'' alloy wheels and Michelin tyres 205/40 R18
- AR: 8.5'' x 18'' alloy wheels and Michelin tyres 245/35 R18

Performances:
- 0 - 100 kph: 4.5s
- Top speed: 250 kph

PARTNERS
- Tork Engineering / Poclain Véhicules (chassis, body)
- Michelin (tyres)
- Sparco (seats)
- Sabelt (safety harnesses)

PROJECT TEAMS
RENAULT
- Axel Breun (Director, concept car design)
- Philippe Ponceau (project leader)
- Csaba Wittinger (exterior design)
- Laurent Negroni (interior design)
- Nathalie Granger (colors and materials)
- Nicolas Merlhiot (graphics)

TORK / POCLAIN Véhicules
- Richard Tur (Director)
- Charles Door (project leader)
- Hervé Garnier (electronics engineer)

By Jonathon Ramsey