The Renault Argos was an open-top two-seater concept car first shown at the 1994 Paris Motor Show. It was designed by Jean-Pierre Ploué under the direction of Patrick Le Quément and displayed purely as a design study, with no performance figures published.
Renault Argos at a glance
| Shown | Paris Motor Show, 1994 |
|---|---|
| Type | open two-seater design study |
| Designer | Jean-Pierre Ploué, under Patrick Le Quément |
| Engine | 1.2-litre four from the Renault Twingo, 1,239 cc |
| Gearbox | electronically controlled automatic |
| Weight | 750 kg |
| Doors | sliding rearward into the rear fenders |
| Roof and screen | none, no superstructure at all |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Argos.
History of the Renault Argos
A pure design study
The Argos was created by Renault and shown for the first time at the 1994 Paris Motor Show. It was the work of Jean-Pierre Ploué under the direction of Patrick Le Quément, and Renault displayed it as a design study without performance figures.
Unusual engineering
The concept’s structure and design were innovative: the doors opened by sliding backwards to nestle in the rear fenders, there was no superstructure, roof or even windscreen to interrupt the lines, and the door mirrors retracted into the front wings, deploying only when the engine was started. These details were meant to show how far the shape could be taken rather than to preview a production car.
A Twingo underneath
For all its show-car looks, the Argos was powered by the 1.2-litre, 1,239 cc four-cylinder engine of the Renault Twingo, mated to an electronically controlled automatic transmission. At 750 kg the car was very light for an automobile.
Design and features
- Sliding doors: they opened rearward and nestled into the rear fenders.
- No windscreen: the body had no roof or superstructure at all.
- Retracting mirrors: they folded into the front wings and deployed with the engine.
- Twingo power: a 1.2-litre engine and automatic gearbox in a 750 kg body.
Renault Argos versions
- Argos (1994): the single concept car shown in Paris.
The Argos was one of the design studies that led towards the Renault Twingo, whose engine it used. Other concepts are on the Altica and Be Bop pages; more Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Sources
- Renault Argos, English Wikipedia: design, doors, engine, weight
