Designed solely to meet the needs of mobility operators, the new Mobilize Limo will not be available to buy as a private-use car.
Instead, this electric saloon will be offered exclusively via a subscription service. Subscribers will be able to add optional bundles (such as warranty and servicing, or charging solutions) as well as mobility options (for example, flexibility over contract length or the number of kilometres covered each year, and so on).
This is the Renault Group’s answer to a market - ride-hailing (TVDE, as they are known in Portugal) and private vehicle hire - which is expected to expand significantly in Europe by 2030, rising from €28 billion today to €50 billion by the end of the decade.
Mobilize Limo, an electric saloon
As a vehicle, it is a four-door electric saloon with dimensions close to those of a typical D-segment car: 4.67 m long, 1.83 m wide, 1.47 m tall, with a 2.75 m wheelbase. It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and is offered only in three neutral paint finishes: metallic black, metallic grey and glossy white.
Inside, the styling is restrained (although there is ambient lighting with seven selectable colours). The dashboard is dominated by two horizontal displays positioned side by side: a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.
The infotainment system supports quick smartphone pairing. Given the Limo’s intended role, drivers are expected to rely on their own mobile devices for navigation and for accessing digital platform services.
Mobilize will also provide a mobile app enabling remote access to various functions and vehicle location (locking/unlocking doors, charging status, and so on).
Inside
Because it is intended for mobility services, rear-seat accommodation is a key focus.
The rear doors open to a wide angle, and Mobilize states that the Limo can seat three passengers comfortably across the second row. One contributing factor is the flat floor: there is no intrusive transmission tunnel (and, as an electric car, there is no need for one) to get in the way.
Rear passengers also get cup holders (built into the fold-down centre armrest), two USB ports, air vents, and they can adjust the audio volume.
The Mobilize Limo’s boot, however, is less impressive. Capacity is 411 litres, which is somewhat modest given the saloon’s exterior dimensions. Under the boot floor there is an emergency spare wheel.
As you would expect of a modern car, it comes with the full suite of contemporary equipment, from LED headlights (with a distinctive light signature) to an “arsenal” of advanced driver-assistance systems. These include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.
450 km of range
Power comes from a 110 kW (150 hp) electric motor producing 220 Nm. It reaches 100 km/h in 9.6 s, while top speed is limited to 140 km/h. There are three driving modes (Eco, Normal and Sport) and three levels of regenerative braking.
Its battery has a total capacity of 60 kWh, which is expected to deliver around 450 km of range (WLTP certification still pending). Mobilize says this is more than enough to cover the 250 km per day that most drivers typically rack up in this kind of work.
Finally, Mobilize promises compatibility with the most common charging systems, both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC), without specifying charging power. However, it claims that with DC rapid charging the car can regain 250 km of range in 40 minutes.
When does it arrive?
The Mobilize Limo will be unveiled at the Munich Motor Show in the second week of September, but it will only go on sale in Europe from the second half of 2022.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment