This may look like a cheap plastic prop for a science fiction movie set but Renault's new concept car is in fact revolutionary. Every little, unusual looking feature is there for a very good reason and it's not just to make other drivers green with envy.

The florescent windows maximise heat absorption and the chassis is coated in a double layered body panels that act like a Thermos flask. All this reduces the need for heaters and as such the vehicle's weight is lessened, reducing costs once on the road.

There are even more clever, economical and ecological features hidden beneath the bonnet. These include a 70kW electric motor which powers the car completely, putting out 226Nm of torque from the lithium-ion batteries.