Renault Frendzy Concept Tasked With Weekday Work, Weekend Leisure

PARIS – Renault’s concept car for the upcoming Frankfurt auto show, the Frendzy, is a small delivery van carrying a load of ideas.

Renault to feature Frendzy concept car at Frankfurt auto show in September.

Its asymmetric design, with a sliding back door on the right side and sedan doors on the left, underscores the electric vehicle’s dual role as a work vehicle Monday through Friday and a family car for the weekend.

Features in the Frendzy’s work-vehicle mode include sensors in the door openings that read information on chips inside packages as they are being loaded. The driver knows what’s on board and where it’s going by checking the BlackBerry tablet nested in its holder. An exterior LED screen can display an advertisement for the van owner’s business, cheers for a favorite soccer club or a pictogram showing the progress of the EV’s recharging.

Concept-car flourishes are more obvious on the Frendzy’s “family” side. A video screen and blackboard for the kids in the back seat might be an iffy investment if used only occasionally on weekends, especially on road trips limited by the EV powertrain. The Frendzy also edges outside the box with an ambient interior color of green during the work week that changes to orange on the weekend.

Less quirky, and more serious, are its different acoustic warnings for pedestrians.

Renault worked with the French Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique / Musique to develop a variety of sounds, some for work and some for family, that warn pedestrians when an EV is moving too slowly to emit much tire noise.

The issue is a concern among both advocates for the blind and general safety-oriented groups.

The Frendzy is the fourth of six announced Renault concept cars under the guidance of veteran designer Laurens Van Den Acker.

The concepts are organized around an imaginary life cycle: falling in love (the Dezir concept), discovering the world (Captur), having a family (R-Space) and working (Frendzy).

The two yet to come, probably at next year’s Geneva auto show, will reflect the themes of relaxation and attaining wisdom.

The Frendzy concept uses the same setup as the electric Kangoo ZE delivery van coming this fall: a 60-hp motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. The van, 158 ins. (40 cm) long, weighs 3,124 lbs. (1,420 kg).