Renault unveils ‘architectural’ coupe concept

RENAULT has unveiled a stunning Coupe C concept – inspired by Swiss-French architect and designer Le Corbusier – at the Villa Savoye in Poissy, north-west of Paris.

The culmination of a two-year project at the French car-maker, the muscular, gullwing-doored Coupe C concept is said to embody the ideas of “simplicity, visible and aesthetically assumed structure, geometric elegance and mastery of light” – all features of Le Corbusier-designed buildings, including the Villa Savoye which is hosting an exhibition on the automobile and modernism in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Renault describes the Coupe C as a 21st century car inspired by the modernist principles and theories of Le Corbusier, whose real name was Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris.

Its design teams began work on the project two years ago, tackling a “future-looking topic” that was unrelated to its production vehicle renewals and more of an exercise that “helps them to explore new ways forward”.

“The teams decided to investigate the topic of French cultural objects,” the company said. “Their research and inspirations soon led them back to the golden age of the automobile in the 1930s.

“The influence of Le Corbusier asserted itself as the obvious source of reflection, as a sort of conceptual prequel to the modern automobile.”

The concept’s release coincides with the 50th anniversary of Mr Le Corbusier’s death in August 1965.

“The design teams at Group Renault are proud to pay homage to the visionary architect and designer who reinvented architecture and made it more broadly accessible,” Renault said.

“His thought and value structure is one that we share at Renault.”