Like the Wind concept of just a few months ago, the most arresting aspect of the Fluence is its styling. An experiment in design, it strays away from conventional
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| The Fluence is an experiment in design, straying away from conventional concepts. (Photo: Renault) |
concepts such as the Modus². Directly relating to the concept's name, a sense of fluid smoothness is gathered. This is a car that looks as if it could cheat the wind on its way to acing its aerodynamics tests. Without any protrusions in the form of headlights, bumpers or surface contortions, the front end dips downward as its gathers inward like a Renault F1 car, paying tribute to the racer's airfoil front wing in the process. For this reason the brand's corporate grille with its two offset intakes is not present on the Fluence. Instead the diamond logo is centered in the middle, similar as on the Wind. Air intakes for the engine are strategically mounted in areas of air dam to provide adequate ventilation. LED headlamps automatically direct their light left or right in corners to illuminate the road ahead, depending on steering angle.
Now that I think about it, the name Fluence might have a greater reference to the many influences that seem to have invoked the muse of the design team. Obvious
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| The rear styling of the Fluence concept is truly unique. (Photo: Renault) |
similarities to both familial and rival sports coupes include the Chrysler Crossfire - one look at either car's rear end styling treatment confirms this, with twin center-mounted rectangular tailpipes, a tapered liftgate, heavily rounded bumpers and flanked fenders. Another car seems to have also contributed to the Fluence's styling, Volvo's YCC concept car. While it is probably unlikely that it did, having just debuted not too long ago in Geneva and then New York for its North American unveiling, its boattail style rear end carries the panoramic roof and rear glass section at an elevated height while pinching the two rear fenders and decklid together to match the height. This raised section is highlighted by darker paint traveling from the roof to the tip of the tail. The effect from the front quarter is similar to the waterfall fenders and straight-edge trunk seen on Bangle's BMW 5, 6 and 7. For Renault, the Fluence could very well be hinting at a new styling trend.
