The Renault Be Bop is a concept car designed for the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was shown in two versions, a sporty MPV and an SUV, which share half of their body components.
Renault Be Bop at a glance
| Shown | Frankfurt Motor Show, 2003 |
|---|---|
| Type | concept car in two versions |
| Version 1 | sport MPV, front-wheel drive |
| Version 1 engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, 225 bhp |
| Version 2 | SUV with four-wheel-drive coupling |
| Version 2 engine | 1.6-litre four from the Renault Mégane, 115 bhp |
| Version 2 gearbox | six-speed clutchless manual |
| Shared | 50 per cent of body components |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Be Bop.
History of the Renault Be Bop
One design, two characters
Renault designed the Be Bop for the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show as a single show car split into two interpretations. The first is a sport-oriented MPV with a two-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 225 bhp and front-wheel drive. The second is an SUV version with a smaller 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine of 115 bhp taken from the Renault Mégane, a new six-speed clutchless manual gearbox and an electronic coupling system linking the front and rear wheels.
Shared bodywork
The two variations share 50 per cent of their body components, which was the point of the exercise: one set of panels, two very different cars. The name was later reused for versions of the unrelated Renault Kangoo, so the Be Bop badge on a production car does not refer to this concept.
Design and features
- Two versions: a sporty MPV and an SUV built from one design.
- 225 bhp turbo: the sport version’s two-litre engine drives the front wheels.
- Electronic four-wheel drive: the SUV version couples the front and rear axles electronically.
- Clutchless manual: a six-speed gearbox without a clutch pedal in the SUV.
Renault Be Bop versions
- Be Bop sport MPV (2003): 2.0 turbo, 225 bhp, front-wheel drive.
- Be Bop SUV (2003): 1.6-litre 115 bhp with an electronic four-wheel-drive coupling.
The Be Bop’s engines came from Renault’s production range, including the Renault Mégane, and its name was later reused on the Renault Kangoo. Other concepts are on the Argos and Frendzy pages; more Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Sources
- Renault Be Bop, English Wikipedia: two versions, engines, shared bodywork
