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Renault has shown off its new Zoe electric car for the first time, and the new model will boast a one-charge range of up to 390km on the WLTP emissions and economy test.
That's thanks to a new, larger, 52kWh battery which powers a new 100kW electric motor.
Renault claims that the Zoe is the most commonly-seen electric car on European roads right now, with more than 150,000 sold so far. This new one will keep existing owners happy, as it looks more or less identical to the outgoing version, aside from more heavily sculpted bumpers and a more pronounced 'grille' (not that it needs one) on the front. It also gets the distinctive Renault-group C-shaped LED daytime running lights. The main headlights are also now all-LED.
Inside, Renault claims to have made a big leap in quality, fit, and finish and a standard the new Zoe comes with a ten-inch digital instrument display, to go with the 'Easy Link' central infotainment screen, which stretches to 9.3 inches in top-spec models. The interior also features soft materials made from recycled plastics and old seatbelt material. There's also a wireless charging tray for your mobile.
At the front, the charging point is still hidden behind the Renault diamond badge, as before, and as well as a standard 'Type 2' connector, there's now also a plug for connecting rapid 50kW chargers.
At the rear, there are scrolling LED indicators for the tail-lights.
That 390km range is an increase of around 20 per cent on the WLTP range of the outgoing Zoe, and it can be charged at a speed that adds as much as 85km per half-hour on the plug. On a rapid CCS charger, that rises to as much as 187km per half-hour charge. From a 7kW wall box at home, a full charge takes around nine hours, which means you can still fully top up your Zoe at home overnight, and Renault says an eight hour slow charge will get you 300km of useable range.
The new 100kW electric motor is equivalent to a 135hp combustion engine, and has a hefty 245Nm, of torque. That's good enough for a 10-second 0-100km/h run, and the Zoe can crack on from 80 to 120km/h in just 7.1 seconds, 2.2 seconds faster than the old model.
There's also a new 'B-Mode', developed from Nissan's e-Pedal system, which ramps up the level of regenerative braking and allows you to drive the new Zoe on one pedal for most of the time. The car is shifted between park, reverse, and drive with a new e-shifter, which is touch-sensitive, rather than a moving lever.
Available driving aids include traffic sign recognition, auto high-beam lights, blind spot alert, speed limit warning, lane departure alert and steering intervention, and automated parking.
There's also a new smartphone-friendly Easy Connect system which allows you to monitor and control the car by remote, including pre-heating or cooling the cabin while charging, sending route planning from phone to car, and encouraging eco-friendly driving.
"New Zoe makes you want to go further. We've designed a new generation of Zoe: at the forefront of electric performance and more useable than ever. New Zoe highlights Groupe Renault's commitment to 100 per cent electric mobility for all" said Gilles Normand, Director of the Electric Vehicle Division of Groupe Renault.
Sales of the new Zoe will start before the end of this year.