This Monday the Geneva Motor Show hosts the international presentation of the new Renault 5, the latest electric model from the French manufacturer, along with which we will meet a very special guest. This is Reno, a virtual assistant that will accompany the driver at all times to improve the user experience and offer different solutions throughout the journey. Reindeer is a blue and yellow rhombus, whose image is clearly inspired by the brand logo, and has been developed by Renault’s scientific director, Luc Julia, also creator of Apple’s Siri.
Future Renault 5 E-Tech drivers will be able to activate Reno at any time by simply saying: Hello, Reno! This virtual assistant works through an application and can help the user with any daily aspect that may arise while driving. From how to optimize battery use on long-range trips to suggesting the driving mode that best suits each journey – sport, comfort, eco or custom – Reno’s goal is to allow users to concentrate only in the pleasure of driving.
Reno is an eminently visual virtual assistant designed with the ability to recognize speech. “When we started designing it, we wanted it to be beautiful enough so that users would want to interact and dialogue with it,” explains its creator, Luc Julia. Understanding is the added value of this avatar, since it detects the needs of each driver and guides them in finding solutions to satisfy them in real time.
The Renault avatar, which we could see for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in 2022, has an intuitive interface, as well as voice, facial expressions and gestures that make it the perfect co-pilot and a more efficient and versatile than classic manuals. Reno will collect user data over time to understand their preferences and always be able to offer them the most appropriate functionality for each user, so there is room for evolution.
Reno’s proposals are suggestions focused on improving driving, but the decisions will always fall on the driver’s side. “We are excited to be able to see Reno in real cars and we are of course waiting for user feedback on how we can improve it,” added Renault’s scientific director.
The new R5 is a 100% vehicle with an engine with 100 kWh of power (136 HP) and 400 kilometers of autonomy. It is a car manufactured in Douai, with 22% recycled materials and 85% recyclable parts. While waiting to know the official details, it is known that it will have a bidirectional charging system, so the energy stored in its battery will be able to power other external devices. In terms of design, there are nods to the original Renault 5, such as the square shape of the headlights, logos in numerous places or on the loading lid, which emulates the old ventilation grille on the hood.
