Month: March 2024

Renault will continue to have internal combustion engines in its range for the next decade, as it hopes to offer consumers a separate lineup of EVs. The “two-leg” strategy was revealed by brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive. The approach hopes to allow the automaker to react to market trends following a slowdown in EV adoption.

Unlike others, Renault has been relatively cautious in announcing their EV ambitions. In 2022, group CEO Luca de Meo predicted that Renault’s European lineup would consist solely of EVs by the end of the decade, but added a caveat that it would ultimately depend on market conditions. On a wider scale, the company stated that it didn’t foresee a world where gas and hybrid vehicles represent less than 40 percent of the market in 2040.

Now, it appears that Renault is less bullish about its EV outlook. Speaking to Automotive News Europe at the Geneva International Motor Show, Cambolive stated that the brand would instead offer an EV and an ICE (with hybrid tech) in every segment.

Related: Mercedes Latest Automaker To Slow EV Push, Will Keep ICE Alive Into The 2030s

“For me, the question is not [going EV-only in] 2030 – we will follow the trends with two very competitive offers in our lineup, on both legs,” said Cambolive. The move will see models such as the new Renault 5 EV being sold alongside the ICE-powered Clio, with both occupying similar positions in the small-car segment.

Renault isn’t the only one tweaking their product forecasts. Last week, Mercedes Benz backtracked on a prediction that EVs would account for 100 percent of sales by 2030, instead highlighting the continued development of ICE and hybrid tech into the next decade.

Meanwhile, Renault and Chinese manufacturer Geely are in the process of forming a 50-50 joint venture that will see the two groups develop combustion and hybrid engines. The partnership will produce engines for brands from both Renault and Geely, including Volvo, Proton, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Punch Torino, and they may even supply third parties.

Is this what the future of sports bikes could look like? This eye-catching design, conceived by famed designer Frank Stephenson, who led the styling teams for iconic cars like the first Mini hatch under BMW and the McLaren P1, is named the FSD 59 and was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland last month. While it remains a design study and has not yet been brought into the real world, it is quite compelling.

The team behind the FSD 59 says they aimed to create a bike that could adapt to different riding styles and preferences, bringing together the best aspects of sports bikes, supersport cruisers, and high-end commuters.

Watch: What Do You Think Of Frank Stephenson’s Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale Redesign?

When viewed from the front, the FSD 59 stands out thanks to its small LED headlight and bulbous bodywork void of any of the wings and appendages of many current sports bikes. It also sports a removable windshield and has a panel that runs above the handlebars and flows seamlessly back to the seat. This shape means there are no gauges in the traditional position and instead, there is an AR-enabled head-up display, giving the 59 a unique look.

Frank Stephenson Design‘s bike has been conceived to feature an electric powertrain, meaning there is no need for a fuel tank. The company describes it as being “light and agile without being too aggressive or compromising on comfort and safety.”

“Our team has been working hard behind the scenes to present this to the world and we are very excited to share it. We look forward to announcing more news on this in the future,” Frank Stephenson said of the bike.

Since Stephenson launched his namesake company in 2018, he has designed space capsules, supercomputers, supercars, eVTOLs, watches, and baby seats. It remains unclear if the FSD 59 will ever reach production.