Renault EZ Ultimo

The epitome of future ride-sharing, as envisioned by Renault’s design vice president Laurens van den Acker, is the Ez-ultimo; a vast, 5.8m long, self-driving land yacht that sends the new era of mobility provision spiralling into the sort of territory film director Luc Besson might appreciate.

“This is a premium experience. We can make luxury accessible for everyone, which fits our DNA. It’s an extension of your lounge, very Parisian, a little Jules Verne. More intimate, more personal, more luxurious, why not?” Questions van den Acker.

Access is via a pair of vast two-part doors, unfurling to give access to the interior and its lone and very indulgent rear-facing front seat, which rotates to face the opened door for easier entry, and a rear bench seat. Gorgeous detailing abounds; moody lighting from lamps in pale gold, emerald green velvet seats, smooth marble, the herringbone parquet floor in American walnut, and controls that work with the tactile precision of a top-end stereo. It’s deliberately space inefficient, reduces the screen presence because screens equate to work and Renault wants to promote oldfashioned human interaction. And all the time the car’s signature lattice-like skin, inspired by the Prada store in Tokyo, creates a cosy cocoon of contemporary cool.

“Change is scary. It’s the job of the designer to make tomorrow better than today. Just because we’re going to be in autonomous cars, it doesn’t mean life is finished,” van den Acker insists.