Electro-pop music pioneer Jean Michel-Jarre brought a welcome breath of fresh air – and Oxygene – to the launch of the all-electric Renault Scenic family crossover.
To the familiar but remixed opening strains of Jarre’s groundbreaking album Oxygene, the covers came off the battery-powered Scenic E-Tech, which French bosses say can help make electric cars ‘mainstream’ for traditional families.
It is set to cost from under £40,000 with UK pricing and specifications to be announced in early 2024 ahead of the first cars arriving later in the year.
And Jarre has been commissioned by Renault to help create the ‘sound’ for the electric fifth generation Scenic, as well as make sure the car’s audio quality impresses.
Renault’s new electropop-tuned EV: This is the fifth-generation Scenic E-Tech – an electric car that makes a very unique sound
That’s because its drivetrain sound to alert pedestrians – and the tone it makes when the owner opens the door to sit inside – has been composed by Jean Michel-Jarre (pictured), whose Oxygene album in 1976 sold more than 18million copies
The new Scenic – continuing a line begun in 1996 – was launched at the IAA Mobility international motor show in Munich. Renault was one of the few non-German car-makers, save for a number from China, exhibiting there.
Composer Jean Michel-Jarre, whose Oxygene album in 1976 sold more than 18million copies and whose record-breaking concert in Paris’s Place de Concord in 1979 attracted more than a million people, was commissioned by Renault to collaborate on the ‘sound’ of the five-seater EV.
Speaking exclusively to This is Money, Jarre said he was delighted to have been asked. He said: ‘It is quite a challenge starting form a blank canvas to create a sound for a car that is otherwise completely silent.’
Renault said he had worked closely with the company’s design teams to develop ‘two types of sounds’.
One is a vehicle sounds for pedestrians ‘to warn people that the car is approaching when it is moving at less than 20mph’ and the second a ‘welcome’ sequence which plays when you sit in the car.
‘They analysed every detail, down to the last decibel, to create sounds that capture the Renault brand’s spirit, are instantly recognisable in our cities’ soundscapes and convey a feeling of movement,’ Renault added.
Renault said he had worked closely with the company’s design teams to develop ‘two types of sounds’
One is a vehicle sounds for pedestrians ‘to warn people that the car is approaching when it is moving at less than 20mph’ and the second a ‘welcome’ sequence which plays when you sit in the car
Jean-Michel Jarre and his teams participated in the development of the new Scenic E-Tech electric’s audio system, for an amplified and immersive sound experience, in partnership with Renault’s premium sound supplier Harman-Kardon
Will it fit in my garage? Renault Scenic E-Tech
On sale: 2024
Price: from under £40,000
Length: 4.47m
Width: 1.86m
Height: 1.57m
Wheelbase: 2.78m
Power: electric motor
Emissions: Zero
Motors/batteries/ range:
125kW motor (170hp) powered by a 60kWh battery with 260 mile range
160kW motor (200hp) with 87kWh battery and 379-mile range
In addition, Jean-Michel Jarre and his teams participated in the development of the new Scenic E-Tech electric’s audio system, for an amplified and immersive sound experience, in partnership with Renault’s premium sound supplier Harman-Kardon.
‘In particular, five listening modes were developed to optimize sound rendering according to the source listened to, including a ‘podcast’ mode introduced to respond to the growing use of listening to this type of media on board’.
Electric cars have sparked a boom for composers – with film composer Hans Zimmer performing a similar function for BMW.
Renault describes the new zero-emissions Scenic as a ‘reinvention of the iconic model’ with a striking new design, spacious cabin, and pure-electric drivetrain.
It is available in three trim levels: Techno, Esprit Alpine and Iconic.
Two powertrain configurations are available to customers: a 125kW motor (170hp) powered by a 60kWh battery pack with a range of 260 miles or more, and a 160kW motor (200hp) with an 87kWh battery pack for a longer 379-mile range.
The French car giant also pointed to the new car’s green credentials with up to a quarter (24 per cent) of the Scenic E-Tech electric’s materials being recycled, and 90 per cent of its mass – including the battery – capable of being recycled.
It’s also leather-free. Renault said: ‘There is no leather whatsoever in the all-new Scenic E-Tech electric.
‘On the steering wheel, for instance, it has been replaced with a grained coated fabric, and on the seats with recycled fibres.
‘These materials have a smaller carbon footprint than leather and do not diminish perceived quality, feel or comfort. Renault has confirmed its plan to phase out leather entirely by 2025.’
Renault describes the new zero-emissions Scenic as a ‘reinvention of the iconic model’ with a striking new design, spacious cabin, and pure-electric drivetrain
Two powertrain configurations are available to customers: a 125kW motor (170hp) powered by a 60kWh battery pack with a range of 260 miles or more, and a 160kW motor (200hp) with an 87kWh battery pack for a longer 379-mile range
A large panoramic glass roof, developed with specialists Saint-Gobain, uses the latest technology to change the opacity of the glass one segment at a time to suit all occupants.
It also has a a heat pump as standard to help recover energy and maximise range.
Sitting long and low on the road at 4.47 metres long, 1.86m wide, 1.57m high and with an extended 2.78m wheelbase and generous interior proportions, Renault says the new Scenic helps ensure ‘family-friendly roominess and comfort’.
To boost its sleek lines and aerodynamic efficiency the car features front air curtains, flush pop-out doors, and optimised wheel designs.
Busy families with active lifestyles need lots of load-lugging space for shopping, sports kit and general ‘stuff’ and the new Scenic delivers that with a practical 545-litre boot which increases to 1,670 litres with the rear seats folded.
The interior lighting can also be fine-tuned to suit your mood with four selectable ‘multi-sense modes’ that also customise the cabin mood with Living Light.
For today’s hi-tech and always connected addicts there’s also storage for smartphones and tablets, fold-out stands, cupholders and USB-C ports.
An OpenR Link multimedia system with Google built-in provides more than 50 apps via Google Play.
The interior lighting can be fine-tuned to suit your mood with four selectable ‘multi-sense modes’ that also customise the cabin mood with Living Light
The car’s OpenR Link multimedia system features Google built-in. This provides more than 50 apps via Google Play
A large panoramic glass roof, developed with specialists Saint-Gobain, uses the latest technology to change the opacity of the glass one segment at a time to suit all occupants
Busy families with active lifestyles need lots of load-lugging space for shopping, sports kit and general ‘stuff’ and the new Scenic delivers that with a practical 545-litre boot which increases to 1,670 litres with the rear seats folded
A powerful onboard electronic journey planner considers battery pre-conditioning requirements and weather information to enhance accuracy and simplify the charging.
Renault explained:’ The system uses Google Maps to automatically start pre-conditioning the battery when the car is nearing the charging points selected in the app. The battery is therefore at an ideal temperature on arrival, so you can charge it faster, or more.
‘Lowering the optimal temperature to 25°C, while adjusting the battery’s chemistry, enables The all-new Scenic E-Tech electric to deliver charging performance characterised by an improved charging curve and a longer plateau.
‘As a result, you can get up to two hours of range on motorways (equivalent to approximately 50 kWh with a 150 kW charge) by charging for 30 minutes.’
To help keep drivers and their passengers safe, more than 30 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are available, including a new ‘Safety Coach’.
The new model goes on sale next year with prices expected to start from under £40,000.
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