What's the news?
The Renault Zoe, which last year was Europe's best-selling electric car, is getting a motor upgrade for 2018 with the arrival of the new R110 motor. The same size as the outgoing R90 motor, it gets an extra 12kW, bringing the total power output to 80kW, or 110hp.
Peak torque is the same 225Nm, helpfully available from 0rpm onwards, and Renault says that the new motor trims two full seconds off the car's motorway acceleration from 80-120km/h.
Elisabeth Delval, Assistant Programme Director, Renault Zoe, said: "Thanks to this power boost, ZOE is even more responsive and versatile when used for journeys out of town. In addition to being able to enjoy the pleasure of driving a ZOE, drivers will also benefit from the longest range available for a mass-market electric car."
The new motor has been developed by Renault's team at its Cleon plant in Normandy, in just two years, and manages to squeeze out its extra power with no increase in weight or size.
As well as the new motor, the Zoe is getting an upgrade to its R-Link infotainment system, which now comes with Android Auto compatibility, and which means that users can integrate such apps as Waze, Deezer, Spotify, TuneIn, Skype, Messenger, and Audible into the car's dashboard via their phone.
On the outside, there's a new colour option; a dark metallic purple called Aconite and that can be paired with a new Purple Interior Pack which includes a violet satin finish for the dashboard trim strip and air vent, gear lever base, loudspeaker surrounds, top stitching along with black and violet fabric upholstery.
Irish pricing, specs, and arrival date aren't confirmed yet but the updated Zoe will go on sale across Europe in the summer of 2018.