2004, October 4 - Renault has unveiled its first 'concept bike' at the Mondial du Deux Roues international two-wheeler show in Paris. The new design is the outcome of cooperation between teams from Renault Design and Renault Sport Technologies. The Ublo concept offers an innovative alternative to conventional scooters. In its quest to satisfy the expectations of motorists tempted by two-wheelers, but who are held back by what they perceive as insufficient safety levels, Renault has responded with a new three-wheeler offering.

Backed up by strong active safety, protection, comfort and storage-capacity arguments, Ublo is likely to attract this new customer target in the years to come. Another new feature on the Renault stand is a utility version of the Renault Fulltime 125, dubbed Groomy. This 'utility' scooter is designed for professionals and aimed at a company's needs for fast transport of people or goods in the urban environment.

Renault is moving to a seamless mobility concept by offering cars, cycles and scooters at the same point of sale.

Renault's designers began to explore a new urban mobility concept in early 2000. This was based on a specification drawn up by Renault Sport Technologies designed to offer wavering motorists an innovative alternative, mid-way between a conventional two-wheeler and a car. This is more than just a design study, as its chief aim was to present a product that could be on the market by 2003.

To line up strong arguments with respect to primary safety, easy driving, protection, comfort and storage capacity, the designers opted to explore a three-wheeler answer, with one wheel in front and two in the rear. Although initially the brainchild of the Renault Design studio in Barcelona, this study was taken in hand and developed by the Renault Design team at the Paris Technocentre, resulting in the birth of the Ublo concept bike.

"As we have no previous track record in the motorized two-wheeler segment, we can bring a new vision to it," commented Patrick le Quément, Head of Corporate Design at Renault. "In this way, we can give it a new interpretation compared to earlier existing designs. We can, however, contribute our vast experience acquired in another field – automotive engineering – which is no doubt one of the most complex fields of human endeavour known to man."

Set on its three wheels that inspire confidence in riders by offering enhanced primary safety levels thanks to improved stability and ease of driving, Ublo features an innovative architecture designed around the idea of the bubble.

Ublo's unibody, three-wheeler design also makes great play with colour, featuring a subdued orange-red for the rear compartment and instrument panel, a mid-gunmetal grey for the lower fairings exposed to splashing, and grey for the smoked Plexiglas roof.

Ublo bears the unmistakable Renault stamp. In this respect, it presents the same approach to brand identification as the marque's four-wheel vehicles. The diamond logo is proudly displayed in the centre of the radiator grille. At the rear, the same diamond shape is set over the name 'Ublo', which features the same character-set and chrome finishing as Vel Satis.

Thanks to its overall width of just 770mm, Ublo will be able to cope with traffic congestion like any other two-wheeler.

Renault is pioneering a world first in two-wheelers with a front vertical airbag. Housed in the centre console between the handlebars and the windshield, the airbag deploys vertically during an impact for effective rider protection.

For even safer nighttime use, Ublo is equipped with a Xenon double optic lighting system in front and three stop lights in the rear, including one in the high position. To avoid increasing vehicle width, rear view vision, which is vital when riding a two-wheeler, is provided by a camera set in the Ublo's rear, above the top box. The camera gives riders a panoramic view of the situation behind on the screen centrally mounted on the handlebars.