2004 Renault's Wind Roadster Concept

A quick look around the Wind's cockpit and it's easy to see that the major controls are out of plain view. Under Renault's

Under Renault's "touch design" theme, the controls of the Wind are put into use simply via touch recognition. (Photo: Renault)

"touch design" theme, the controls are put into use simply via touch recognition, meaning that the driver or passenger doesn't necessarily need to look at a specific button or knob to find out what functions can be operated. For instance, to the left of the driver is a small pod that pops out of the door. This little module contains the controls to change the heating, ventilation, air conditioning as well as the pathways for the air. To the right, mounted between the driver and passenger is another module that controls the audio, communications and navigation system. By placing these controls in an ergonomic manner that is intuitive, drivers can operate the Wind without

Packed between the front wheels is the Renault tried and true compact 2.0-liter inline four. (Photo: Renault)

having to take their eyes off the road. As a final "touch," the Wind's pedals have been crafted from anodized aluminum.

Unlike the Sport Spider, the Wind's engine is located between the front two wheels. Open the elongated hood and packed between structured walls is a compact 2.0-liter inline four. Pulled straight from the Mégane, Laguna and Espace, it's a basic yet reliable powerplant. In this form it produces a simple 135 horsepower.

Although this seems quite small against such cars as the Lotus Elise 111S and upcoming Pontiac Solstice, which each offer an additional thirty to forty horsepower, the Wind's curb weight of 850 kg (1,874 lbs) should ensure decent performance on the road. The transmission this engine is hooked up to is a six-speed automatic gearbox. While this isn't what most would probably expect in a lightweight sports car, at