New 3-door Renault Kangoo be bop
While TC Euro Cars is still selling the old Kangoo here in Malaysia, the rest of the world has seen the launch of the bigger and better second generation Renault Kangoo built on the Renault Scenic chassis. Renault is obviously eager to kill two birds with one stone with the Kangoo, aiming it at both the commercial and lifestyle crowd, and this is the latest body variant of the Kangoo to appeal to the latter market segment – the 3-door Renault Kangoo be bop. Continue reading more on the be bop after the jump.
The electric Renault concept car you saw earlier as part of this blog’s Paris Motorshow coverage was based on this car. Don’t be fooled by the funky roof apparatus it has – this is a production car! The Kangoo be bop has ended up being some form of economical landaulet – which is sort of a convertible that opens up only at the rear, leaving the front of the cabin still sheltered by a roof. Another recent example of such a vehicle was the Maybach Landaulet Concept.
The Kangoo be bop also receives a “crossKangoo” treatment, with a ride height that is 20mm higher than the standard Kangoo and protective side moulding and other two-toned bodykit elements which give it a soft-roader kind of look. The convertible top in question is a sliding panel at the rear which also slides forward at an angle to create a wind-deflecting effect. The rear passenger area also has its conventional bench replaced with two raised (90mm higher) individual chairs with a 240mm space between the two chairs. These chairs are adjustable to vary boot space from 174 liters all the way to 1462 liters if they are removed completely.
Although based on the same Scenic-based chassis as the second generation Kangoo, the Kangoo be bop’s wheelbase has been shortened by 380mm, which also helps give it a reduced turning circle. It rides on MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam with coil springs and an anti-roll bar at teh rear.
A few engines will be available at launch – one petrol 1.6 liter unit producing 105 horsepower at 5,750rpm and a peak torque of 148Nm at 3,750rpm, and two diesel units – the 1.5 liter dCi engine producing 85 horsepower at 3,750rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1,900rpm, and a more powerful 105 horsepower 1.5 liter dCi engine producing its peak horsepower at 4,000rpm and a peak torque of 240Nm at 2,000rpm. These are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The more powerful diesel engine features a VGT turbo and a twin mass flywheel damper to reduce engine boom at low revs.
Look after the jump for more photos of the be bop.
PHOTO GALLERY: Renault Kangoo be bop
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo
October 23, 2008 @ 6:51 am
First…Cute.
October 23, 2008 @ 7:59 am
special for beach lover…
October 23, 2008 @ 8:15 am
Go Goo go
October 23, 2008 @ 8:19 am
Looks nice. But it looks inviting as well for bag snatchers to steal anything from the back if the rear is opened at the traffic light junction.
October 23, 2008 @ 9:09 am
cantik
October 23, 2008 @ 9:53 am
a 1.5 diesel with VGT that pumps out 105bhp + 240nm torque? that’s pretty impressive for an oil burner. similar bhp output to petrol engines of the same capacity but waaaay more torque. should be nice to drive around town.
now, will we ever see this car in m’sia? or at least a model with this engine?
October 23, 2008 @ 10:32 am
this looks a lot better than the proton van
October 23, 2008 @ 11:23 am
really cute…wat a wow factor..!
October 23, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
dangerous for those had kids..
they might jumped out of the car!
October 23, 2008 @ 1:42 pm
this is 1 car that i’m interested in
October 23, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
The back seat need extra seat belt! if not some one is going to fly out.
BTW, this is a cute car, love it
October 23, 2008 @ 6:45 pm
I love it! Bring it to Malaysia xD !!!
October 23, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
the volkswagen eos challenger
October 24, 2008 @ 12:22 am
the torque is nice! will be very frugal!
Horsepower isnt everything!!!!
LOL.
October 24, 2008 @ 6:39 pm
it has a bluff shape, could have been more furgal
October 25, 2008 @ 11:02 am
This looks cute and perhaps fun to drive?
October 26, 2008 @ 4:02 pm
cute yes, fun to drive, no