RENAULT

2012 Renault Koleos Facelift Inspires Gordini Rendering 

 

Even though Renault’s revival of the Gordini badge has left a bitter taste to fans of the famous nameplate, the French carmaker’s decision to use the brand for upscale versions of its vehicles has proved to be successful with almost two-thirds of Twingo Renaultsport models sold in Europe and one third, in the case of Clio Renaultsport being Gordinis. Recently, Renault also applied the Gordini treatment, which consists of bespoke styling cues and equipment upgrades, to a non-RenaultSport model, the Wind Roadster. This move inspired Carscoop reader reader L il-k Amaru to render a Gordini version of Renault’s most recent new model, the redesigned Koleos SUV.
The photoshop artist started with Gordini’s traditional Malta Blue paintwork combined with distinctive white stripes and accents throughout the body, and continued with a new lower front grille, side skirts and multispoke alloy wheels.
Take a look at the larger photo below and tell us what you think.

Renault Fluence Z.E. Priced £17,850 OTR after £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant in the UK 

Following the announcements on UK pricing for the Kangoo Van Z.E. and Twizy, Renault today confirmed prices for its third pure-electric model, the Fluence Z.E. ahead of its launch in the market in 2012. The four-door, five seat Fluence Z.E. saloon will carry an on-the-road price of £22,850, which drops to £17,850 (US$28,500) after the £5,000 UK Plug-In Car Grant has been deducted.
Buyers will also have to lease the batteries with pricing set at £75 (US$120) per month based on 6,000 miles/3 years. The French firm said additional mileage and contract length details will be available closer to vehicle’s launch.
Renault said the Fluence Z.E. is the most affordable electric car in Britain (not counting quadricycles like its own Twizy or the G-Wiz) undercutting its rivals by a “sizeable margin”. As an example, the French firm gave the Mitsubishi i-Miev electric mini that costs £6,140 more than the Fluence Z.E. at £23,990 (US$38,302).
The zero-emissions French sedan is powered by an electric motor that develops 70kW (95-horses) of power and 226Nm (167 lb-ft) of instant torque on tap, with its lithium-ion battery offering a driving range of up to 115 miles or 185 kilometers.
The launch model will be offered in a single trim level called Prime Time. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, ecoMeter and Carminat TomTom Live smart satellite navigation, and charging sockets on both front wings.
The French marque has already began accepting pre-reservations for its pure electric saloon via www.renault-ze.com with a £20 reserve. 

Renault Fluence Z.E. Priced £17,850 OTR after £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant in the UK 

 

Following the announcements on UK pricing for the Kangoo Van Z.E. and Twizy, Renault today confirmed prices for its third pure-electric model, the Fluence Z.E. ahead of its launch in the market in 2012. The four-door, five seat Fluence Z.E. saloon will carry an on-the-road price of £22,850, which drops to £17,850 (US$28,500) after the £5,000 UK Plug-In Car Grant has been deducted.
Buyers will also have to lease the batteries with pricing set at £75 (US$120) per month based on 6,000 miles/3 years. The French firm said additional mileage and contract length details will be available closer to vehicle’s launch.
Renault said the Fluence Z.E. is the most affordable electric car in Britain (not counting quadricycles like its own Twizy or the G-Wiz) undercutting its rivals by a “sizeable margin”. As an example, the French firm gave the Mitsubishi i-Miev electric mini that costs £6,140 more than the Fluence Z.E. at £23,990 (US$38,302).
The zero-emissions French sedan is powered by an electric motor that develops 70kW (95-horses) of power and 226Nm (167 lb-ft) of instant torque on tap, with its lithium-ion battery offering a driving range of up to 115 miles or 185 kilometers.
The launch model will be offered in a single trim level called Prime Time. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, ecoMeter and Carminat TomTom Live smart satellite navigation, and charging sockets on both front wings.
The French marque has already began accepting pre-reservations for its pure electric saloon via www.renault-ze.com with a £20 reserve.

2011 Frankfurt Show Preview: Renault Reimagines Kangoo with Frendzy Concept 

After the sporty DeZir rear-wheel drive coupe, the funky Captur three-door crossover and more recently, the practical R-Space minivan, Renault is ready to share its latest concept model with the Frendzy, which was unveiled today ahead of its world premiere at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show later this fall. The Frendzy is a fresh take on the small van segment where Renault is currently represented by the Kangoo series that is available in both leisure and commercial versions.
Laurens van den Acker, Renault’s head of design, said: “[The] Frendzy is the fourth vehicle to illustrate Renault’s new design strategy, a series which started with DeZir. It takes an original and innovative stance on the world of light commercial vehicles - a key part of Renault’s activities”.
Reflecting its dual role as a vehicle for both pleasure and commercial activities, the Frendzy sports an asymmetric body style.
The passenger’s side is for work as there’s no glazing or centre pillar, just one conventional door and one sliding side door that incorporates a 37-inch widescreen display, which is used to display messages or adverts. The driver’s side is for the family and comes complete with side windows, still no centre pillar, but with centre opening doors.
At the back, there’s a split tailgate with the interior offering as much as 2,250 liters of load space if the rear seats are unoccupied.
On the inside, Renault made extensive use of wood and metal with the cockpit designed around a futuristic theme with plenty of lights that change color depending on the use of the vehicle.
On the more practical side, the Frendzy features a fabric roof that adapts itself to the shape of bulky objects. According to Renault, there are magnetic fixings that allow the load to be secured to the floor while the front seat folds forward in order to free up space.
The concept model is 4,091mm long, 1,872mm wide and 1,743mm tall. Power comes from an electric motor delivering 40kW or 60HP and 226Nm of torque that offers the Frendzy a top speed of 130km/h (81mph).

New Renault Twingo RS 133 and Clio RS 200 Silverstone GP Limited Editions 

 

British consumers will have one more choice when it comes to Renault’s Twingo Renaultsport 133 and the Clio Renaultsport 200 hot hatches as the French firm has added yet another trim level to their range in the form of the ‘Silverstone GP’ limited editions. Named after the country’s most famous motor racing circuit and home of the British Grand Prix, both models were specifically created for the UK market, with only 50 of each offered for sale from July 1.
Both the Twingo RS 133 and Clio RS 200 ‘Silverstone GP’ sit on a lowered Cup Chassis and feature a silver metallic paint and contrasting ‘Deep Black’ details, including 17-inch alloy wheels (‘Speedline’ on the Clio), roof and door mirrors.
The two limited edition hot hatches also feature extra-tinted rear windows and Silverstone GP B-pillar badges inscribed with the new grand prix circuit map, while the Twingo benefits from a matching ‘Deep Black’ rear spoiler, fog light surrounds and a new full stainless steel exhaust system as well.
Inside, both models gain a unique numbered interior plaque (1-50), Renaultsport Monitor onboard performance tracking system and grey and black Renaultsport carpet mats, while the Clio also features Renaultsport Recaro front seats, Bluetooth and multi-functional TunePoint for portable music players.
In addition, owners will also receive a free Renaultsport Experience at Silverstone to try out their cars.
On-the-road pricing has been set at £14,995 for the Twingo RS 133 version and £19,995 for the Clio RS 200 model. 

Renault Koleos SUV Refreshed for the 2012 Model Year 

It’s only three years old, but it’s apparently time for the Renault Koleos compact SUV to receive its first facelift. The changes include an exterior makeover and new interior trim, plus noticeable CO2 and fuel consumption savings in the case of the crossover model’s range of diesel powerplants. The first thing you’ll notice on the updated model is the brand new fascia, evidently inspired by the newly launched Latitude sedan, which like the Koleos, is the product of Renault Samsung Motors in Busan, South Korea.
The styling changes up front include new headlights, a larger single frame grille with chrome accents plus a redesigned bumper, fenders and hood. Other exterior tweaks include the new exterior mirrors that now incorporate LED indicators, fresh alloy wheel designs and the introduction of the pictured “Cayenne Orange” finish.
Inside, the Koleos benefits from a new selection of upholsteries and trims and the introduction of a restyled speedometer housing and display.
Depending on market, the latest Koleos is available with the 150HP or 175HP version of the firm’s M9R diesel engine, or with the 170HP (TR25) petrol engine.
For the new model year, updates to the range of diesel engines and transmissions have resulted in lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with the two-wheel drive version powered by the dCi 150 engine now rated at 148g/km and the dCi 175 unit at166g/km.
The Koleos is also available with a Nissan-developed all-wheel drive system.
The French firm’s crossover is offered in 40 countries on five continents and is produced at the Renault Samsung Motors plant in Busan, South Korea. 

Locally Made Right-Hand-Drive Renault Duster to Launch in India 

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is gradually expanding the availability of its Duster small SUV, originally branded as a Dacia, to more international markets. Following the recent presentation of the Renault Duster for the South American region at the Buenos Aires Motor Show, today, the French firm confirmed its launch in India. To be sold under the Renault marque, the right-hand drive [RHD] version of the Duster will be fully produced at the Renault-Nissan Chennai plant in India and rolled out across the local market in the second half of 2012. The RHD Duster will also be available in the UK starting from next year.
The Duster is crucial for Renault and partner Nissan’s plans to expand their portfolio and increase sales in the all-important Indian market.
Aside from the small SUV and the recently launched Fluence compact sedan, Renault plans to reveal three more vehicles in India by the end of 2012 including the Koleos SUV, a compact car built on an Alliance platform that is said to represent the core range model, plus a yet-to-be announced fifth model.
Renault India said it is also working on expanding its dealer network, which currently includes 14 dealerships. The company said it aims to increase that number to 40 by the end of the year and to 100 at end-2012 covering 55 cities or 90% of the market.


BY THE NUMBERS:
RENAULT IN INDIA COMPRISES:- an Alliance plant with a capacity of 400,000 vehicles/year by 2015 (Chennai)
- an Alliance engineering centre, Renault Nissan Technology and Business India Pvt Ltd (Chennai)
- a sales subsidiary, Renault India Private Ltd (Chennai)
- a logistics and export centre for Renault and Nissan parts (Pune)
- 14 dealerships in 14 cities in May 2011 (100 planned by Dec-2012)

THE INDIAN MARKET
- 20% annual growth (1.2 million vehicles in 2005, 3 million expected by end 2011)
- the fourth largest global market by 2015
- 60% of first-time buyers and 57% of car buyers are under the age of 35 (2009 figures)

Renault Samsung Debut New SM7 Saloon in South Korea 

 

The Renault-Nissan alliance’s South Korean subsidiary Samsung has presented the production version of its SM7 sedan model, which was displayed as a thinly disguised concept car at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show this past April. Putting aside some minor details such as the lower parts of the front and rear bumpers, and the less extravagant choice of alloy wheels, nothing else has changed from the concept model.
The new SM7 will replace its Nissan Maxima-based namesake as the company’s top offering in the South Korean market, with sales set to start this summer. Renault Samsung has not yet provided details on the available engine range but the lineup will most likely include a pair of Nissan-Renault-sourced V6 gasoline units.
The SM7 sits atop of the SM5 sedan, which is also available in Europe as the Renault Latitude. For the time being, the French carmaker has no plans to import the SM7 to Europe. 

New Renault Duster for South America Debuts at Buenos Aires Motor Show

The Renault-Nissan Alliance’s low-cost Dacia Duster SUV has lost its Romanian badges to cater to the needs of the South American market where it will be sold under the Renault brand. Redesigned for the local market, the Renault Duster SUV makes its regional debut at this week’s Buenos Aires Motor Show. It will first launch in Argentina and Brazil during the last quarter of the year, with more countries to follow after. Production will take place at Renault’s Curitiba plant in Brazil.
The logo change also brought some minor modifications to the Duster including a new front grille, different wheels painted in dark gray and a latest-generation four-wheel-drive system. In addition, Renault upgraded the interior with a restyled dashboard.
Commenting on the presentation of the Renault Dacia, Steve Norman, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, Renault, said:
“Renault Duster is really adapted to Latin American markets. It surprises with its dimensions, larger than those of the competition, and its excellent abilities. This special version, with exclusively designed interiors, new colour schemes and a new grille, will make 4x4s affordable for more and more customers in Brazil and Argentina. For Renault, in America, we can really say that there will be a before and an after Duster.”
Alongside the Duster, Renault is also introducing a phase 2 versions of the Dacia-based Sandero and Sandero Stepway, together with the pure electric Fluence sedan.