Russian automobile manufacturer LADA has joined forces with F1 team Renault for the 2010 season and the entire Renault unit which includes its 2010 F1 car will be endorsing the Lada logo. The logo will appear on the monocoque sides of the R30 Renault F1 car as well as the team uniform.
It is no hidden fact that Lada owns a major share in the F1 Renault unit and even Russian PM Vladimir Putin has announced that Lada will sponsor the Renault F1 team in 2010 and even the financial participation in the project could increase later on. It seems fitting for Renault F1 unit to embrace the Lada branding for that at least gives the French automaker a chance to exist in the F1 arena.
Renault can now boast of a complete lineage of panel and leisure activity vans outmatching its competitors with the addition of the latest Kangoo Express Maxi. With three Kangoo sizes now available for the buyers, Renault offers a complete range of automobiles set to meet business user needs. The Kangoo Express Maxi is the range topper (given its size) as it is 39cm longer than the Kangoo Express and it is available in both two and five seater options both the business and the family users. Talk about load volume and the Express maxi offers an extra cubic meter compared to the Kangoo Express. Under the lid is a 1.5 dCi 85 engine which averages 5.3 litres/100km and a healthy 6 litres/100km in urban conditions. TomTom’s Carminat system will also feature in the Express Maxi offering users a top-notch sat nav experience.
The auto world will be in Geneva next month and Renault is definitely not missing the bus! Renault will showcase its affordable Wind Coupe at the Geneva motor show which measures 3830mm-comparable to the outgoing Peugeot 206CC. Also, it is important not to confuse the Wind with the Megan CC as it is a two-seater coupe. The affordable Wind will feature a couple of engine options which include a 100hp 1.2L engine from the Twingo GT and the 133hp 1.6L engine from the Renaultsport Twingo. Renault Wind has a roof that folds down in 12 seconds but the retractable roof integration has in no way affected the luggage compartment which accommodates 270 liters, much more than the Twingo hatchback. As per Renault, the car is readily available and sales of the Renault Wind Coupe could begin before summer.
Renault is ready for the New Year with the 2010 version of the SM5 Sedan which happens to be the third generation model. The sales for the model in South Korea will begin in late January but Renault Samsung wants people to anticipate the release and hence the first official pictures of the third generation model have been released. The 2010 model houses the 2.0L petrol engine from Nissan which is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. A turbo diesel option will also be added to the SM5 line-up that has been developed at a cost of $340 million over a period of 36 months. Geared with some great advanced features like adaptive xenon headlights and massage front seats, the new model is expected to be an international success right away. What’s your take?
Ultra small electric vehicles are the future for the green minded and those who’d like to slash their monthly gas bill and their carbon footprin. Renault realizes it, hence why the French have announced the production of the Frankfurt-introduced electric vehicle, the new Twizy Z.E. (Zero Emission) Concept in Spain. It will be the Renault Valladolid plant located 150 km North West of Madrid where the small electric vehicles will be produced.
Renault is committed to bringing smaller non-polluting commuters to the market (especially Western Europe) by 2011 and the Twizy will be the first product courtesy of the long term future plan. What is special about the Twizy is its Pearlescent white body coating and luminous matrix displays which can function as head- or tail- lights. You can also use these lights to create faces that communicate the driver’s emotions.
Power comes from a 20 hp electric motor which renders 70Nm of Torque. The motor is connected to a lithium-ion battery pack and this combination gives the commuter a 100 Km range.
A glimpse at the image gives you a good enough hint why Renault is going to charm the masses with the new Koleos White Edition. But there is more to it than a color change, like the Dynamique equipment level in a standard model. That measn Bluetooth capability, DVD navigation, a Bose sound system, a gloss black trim for the dashboard and a two-tone leather finish. On the outside you will find chrome skid plates, tinted glass for the rear windshield and a rear lip spoiler. Being a compact SUV, the alloy wheels are inevitable and hence the Koleos is equipped with 18-inch aluminum variants. The base model will be priced at €29,350. We’re droooooling!
It took a long time coming but what is good to know is that the Renault Fluence has been finally readied for production and in a couple of months, the car will be up for sale. Just to refresh your memories, the Renault Fluence Concept was first revealed in 2004 at the Louis Vuitton Car Elegance Classic in England. The sedan which is more about passenger space than anything else will come with seven different engines to choose from, which includes two petrol and 5 diesel variants. The top of the line in the petrol segment will be a 2.0-litre variant capable of producing 140hp. As far as the diesel variant is concerned, the top version will be a 110hp model with a dual clutch transmission. For some reason we don’t like the back of the car very much.
It seems that Renault has decided to launch a Coupe Black Editions following the success of the Hatch and the Estate Black Editions. But the latest from the French automaker’s stable— Laguna Coupe Black Edition, comes with nothing except for a few simple cosmetic changes that slightly alter the looks of the car. Available with three metallic paints, including Pearlescent Black, Cassiopee Grey and Platine Grey, 17-inch Talisman aluminum alloys, twin chrome exhaust pipes, hands-free Renault Card automatic door lock/unlock and engine start-up system and also a few entertainment options in the form of 40W 3D sound system built by Arkamys, the car is pretty smart and includes Bluetooth, CD, MP3, and an audio connection box.
But no changes under the hood mean that you still need to live with the 2.0-liter dCi engine with 150 hp (and that seems to be a bit of a dampener). With 0-100 km/h in a leisurely time of 9.5 seconds, the €29,500 spent on the Coupe Black Edition is more for the looks than performance… Let’s see how well the latest special version from Renault fairs!
Trying to be ahead of any other hatches in the European market is no easy task, but Renault seems to have the right ingredients for an amazing car. Just a few days ago in Geneva, the latest Renault Megane RS has been unveiled to the public and everyone seemed to love it. Inspired by the Trophy racer Megane, the new RS is definitely meaner and faster. With an agressive front grille splitter and big arches, a center-exit exhaust within the diffuser, bulging side sills and some intriguing two-tone alloys, you’ll have to admit that even if it’s a French car … it’s a damn good looking one.
But my bet is that you’d like to know what makes that kitty roar. Well there’s a 250-horsepower 2.0-liter 16-valve turbo engine under the hood, a sharper chassis available in “Sport” and “Cup”, fully defeatable stability control and an improved steering, it’s quite a contender to Ford’s Focus RS. We’re definitely sold on the new design. A hot looking racer … [via TopGear]
Just like Ferrari, McLaren or Toyota, Renault took the time to unveil their new 2009 R29 car for this year’s F1 Championship. Though the financial crisis got them too, the French managed to get a new sponsor – Total, who pumped some money for a new design that only needs to proves itself on the track. At the official presentation, Flavio Briatore got Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet to pull the cover off of the yellow beast and to pose together. Do you think they have a chance for 2009?
Based on the Sandero Stepway, Renault unveiled their latest Sand’up concept car at the Sao Paolo Auto Show today, in Brazil. It’s a 2+2 coupe/convertible (or given its design, simply call it a SUV or pick up) that features movable panels that are supposedly going to change the vehicle configuration as needed. For example the back transforms into a bed …
Under the hood of the new Sand’up is a 1.6 liter engine that runs either on gasoline or ethanol (largely available in Brazil) and sports 110 hp and 148 Nm of torque. We have no official info, if that concept car will ever make it into production, but it does sound like a good addition, don’t you think? – via WCF
