Codenamed the Z27, with the Z standing for zero-emissions due to its electric powertrain, the concept is the fourth to emerge from the manufacturer’s circle of life design strategy and as such represents the world of work.
It is designed to function as a commercial vehicle during the working week and to transform into a family vehicle at weekends.
The Frendzy is asymmetrical. The nearside has no glazing and no centre pillar but features a conventional door and a sliding door, which incorporates a 37-inch widescreen onto which the driver can project images and messages by way of a Blackberry Playbook housed inside the cockpit.
The offside still has no central pillar but includes side windows and centre opening doors.
For safety reasons, due to the silence of electric vehicles, the Frendzy has been fitted with a range of “sound signatures”. Other innovations include a flexible fabric roof to adapt to the shape of bulky loads and magnetic floor fixings to secure cargo containers to the floor when the rear passenger seat is folded away in work mode.
Renault’s design boss Laurens van den Acker said: “Frendzy is the fourth vehicle to illustrate Renault’s new design strategy. It takes an original and innovative stance on the world of light commercial vehicles – a key part of Renault’s activities.”
