Paul Tan's Automotive News » Renault

Megane RS 250 shines at exclusive Renault Sport trackday

Danny Tan — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:53:21 +0000

Track days are a luxury for the car enthusiast, especially since there are no smaller (and cheaper) circuits around the Klang Valley, and our only hope is a Formula 1 circuit. A lucky bunch of people recently got to enjoy a track day – these folks are the owners of Renault Sport cars. The event was arranged and sponsored by distributor TC Euro Cars, a subsidiary of Tan Chong Motors.

“People who buy a RM230,000 car with a manual transmission mated to a 250 hp engine are definitely driving enthusiasts; it is with our customers in mind that we felt that what better place to enjoy the full capability of Renault Sport cars than on a Formula 1 track,” said TCEC’s GM, Reza Mutalib.

From what we heard, TCEC is also planning to have a number of exclusive track days in 2012 to further accommodate the growing RS family. We heard about this trackday from a contact who owns a Renault Sport, so we called up TCEC to see whether we could come along for the ride.

Over 60 people showed up at Sepang, the bulk of them owners of the Megane R26, Clio RS and Megane RS250. There were also some who had booked the hot Megane and waiting (im)patiently for their cars to arrive. These soon to be owners had a taste of what their future ride can do on track as they were given demo laps, and from their smiles and expression, not one regretted his decision!

I asked, and apparently the car has been sold out for months. New stocks that are expected to arrive by the end of the month are mostly booked, too. Not that I have the bank balance…

If you haven’t already gathered from our test drive report, we adore the Megane RS 250 for its superb performance (not just speed, but handling and flow) and comfort as a daily driver (unlike say, a Civic Type R). It also amazed me that Renault Sport managed to better the Megane R26 in about every aspect, and the old timer is a cracker, mind you.

Back to the track. Before I drove, I strapped myself in the passenger seat with Denis Lian, who is of course the pro who set the Sepang lap record for the Megane RS 250 at 2 mins 43 secs last year. Denis not only used every ounce of the car’s grip and brakes, but every inch of the track as well – and this is what separates racers from the regular enthusiast. After that we swapped seats for a chance for him to laugh at my skills.

He didn’t (because he’s nice, not because I’m good), but instead gave me pointers as we took on full laps of Sepang. My first full throttle of the day was at the exit of Turn 2 on to the right sweeper and straight before standing (literally) on the brakes for T4. Unlike the R26 and Golf GTI, the Megane RS doesn’t feel as fast as it really is, probably due to the much improved refinement.

But make no mistake, this car is very quick even if it doesn’t kick. We also recently found out that it actually makes much more than the stated 250 hp – click here to read.

Traction out of corners is superb in this LSD equipped car, as I discovered in T4, and one can confidently lean into the following S bends without the fear of Megane throwing you off the road. It will lose traction eventually, but the process is progressive, and you’re likely not to be caught unawares, unless one’s fully drowned in adrenalin, or just plain foolhardy.

Next up was a dab of the brakes before aiming for two apexes in a U. The Megane RS does allow for some degree of roll, which is not a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of “work”. The way the suspension “breathes” on the road (as opposed to hopping around) was evident here as I clipped the raised kerbs, without my head hitting the roof or bum shifting in the Recaro.

The final corner before the back straight really brought out the reactive nature of the chassis. This is one FWD car that can dance and flow along, and not just rely solely on grip from the nose. The straights saw me reach about 190 km/h before starting to brake at the 100m mark.

Those four-pot Brembos with 340 mm slotted discs are incredible, to say the least, marrying strong bite and a nice easy to modulate natural feel. 100m isn’t much when one’s hitting 200 km/h, and I’m happy to report that I made the corner with room to spare.

By the way, the Megane RS 250 comes standard with the R.S. Monitor, which displays real-time data (stopwatch with memory function, acceleration timer, g-force meter, turbo pressure, oil temp, torque/power figures) plus the option of five throttle map settings.

Didn’t really have time to play with all that, but I left the g-force meter on, and as you can see, we pulled about 1.2g of lateral acceleration. We achieved the same on the road in our earlier test drive.

Amazing performance on track for a car that’s so usable on the road. With the car and now the track days, these Renault Sport owners have double happiness. As for me, I left the track one part happy, two parts envy!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Stock Renault Megane RS 250 Cup makes almost 300hp!

Harvinder Sidhu — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:07:30 +0000

When we talk about high-performance hot hatches, only few come to mind. These few include the Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco R, the Ford Focus RS, the Mazda 3 MPS and as the title suggests, the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup. Just like its competitors, the RS 250 is often referred to as a hot hatch which you can drive to work on the weekdays and at the same time, something which you can bring to Sepang on the weekends and practice your driving lines

Under the hood lies a 2.0 litre 4-pot turbocharged (twin-scroll) unit which has over 25% of new parts compared to its predecessor. 0 – 100 km/h can be achieved in 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 245 km/h. As highlighted in the “250″ designation of this French beauty, it makes 250 hp at 5,500 rpm at-crank and 340 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm with 80% of it available from 1,900 rpm. Or does it?

There are two ways to look at horsepower. One is at-crank (direct output from the engine) or on-wheel (horsepower measured on-wheel after transmission losses). The latter would naturally be lower than at-crank and auto makers use the former in the spec sheets. Most of the time, it is very hard for an owner to get similar horsepower figures when they carry out their own dyno tests. The conditions have to be right and the right fuel has to be used. So, you can safely say that most of the numbers are slightly optimistic.

Interestingly, with the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup, it’s the other way around. We were recently at a dyno session where the RS 250 was being tested, and it turns out that the RS 250 can actually give you an on-wheel horsepower figure that is almost similar as the at-crank figure showed in the brochure! The demo vehicle used in the video is an all-original unit, with no modifications whatsoever and it was used for media as well as customer test drives by Tan Chong Euro Cars and the vehicle has already clocked 25,000 kilometers.

During a test at GT Auto in Sunway, using RON97 fuel, the car actually achieved 248 hp and 355 Nm of torque on-wheel. After a simple math work, we managed to come up with an equivalent at-crank figure of approximately 295 hp which is almost similar to the at-crank number of the Ford Focus RS! The 295 hp number was derived from the 16% transmission loss calculation (from crank to wheels). Now we all know that the actual numbers will run off a little, but 45 hp is no joke.

Furthermore, reliable sources have confirmed that higher on-wheel horsepower figures were also achieved in two other units (you can view the dyno charts in the gallery). It was also said that the Renault Sport cars are tuned to work well in various climate conditions and ambient temperature. These sportier Renaults can also run on RON 95 fuel and the engines are built on a mass production line and that slight variances in horsepower from one engine to another is common.

It was also said that due to the slight differences, Renault Sport is being rather conservative with the published figures. Moreover, tests were also carried out overseas and these tests also confirmed that the RS 250 actually produces more power than promised. EVO UK also carried one out and they learned that their RS 250 media car recorded 270hp at-crank. You can check out the video here.

Other than a power mill with interesting figures, the Megane RS 250 comes with a sports-tuned chassis and suspension setting which helps give it its sharp maneuverability and chuckability, with comfort still in mind although there is a hint of acceptable stiffness to it. Suspension features include a 10mm lowered chassis as well as uprated dampers, springs and anti-roll bars.

Strong stopping power is also vital for a vehicle of such nature and this is provided by Brembo. The front wheels tease 340 mm vented and slotted discs along with 4-pot calipers. The brake tune strikes a good balance of stopping power and reliability in terms of maintaining brake pressure even during demanding driving scenarios such as pushing the car’s limits on the track.

No fancy or sophisticated dual-clutch transmissions here, just a good old, precisely weighted six-speed cog box which works well in shifting gears. All you need to do is acquire the skills of heel and toe, a dying art if you ask me, to ensure smoother shifting. There is also a mechanical LSD working in the background. Overall, the RS 250 retails for RM229,800 OTR without insurance and with that additional 45 hp, it gives the RS 250 better value for money.

If you want to learn more about the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup, you can read a full test drive review right here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Clio R.S “Ange & Démon” – be good, and bad

Anthony Lim — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:52:09 +0000

We wrote earlier about the Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider limited edition, which goes on sale in the UK; here are the photos of the identical Clio R.S. “Ange & Démon” limited 666-unit run version that will be sold globally.

Effectively, the Angel and Demon, as it is called, is a dead ringer to the 200 Raider in terms of specifications – the matte paintwork, black roof, black 18-inch Interlagos alloy wheels, Bridgestone RE 050A tyres and leather-upholstered Recaro bucket seats etcetera etcetera, it’s all to be found here.

In fact, the only thing that’s different is the “Ange & Démon” logo on the left hand side of the rear quarter window pillar to identify it (and the numbered badging for the devilish series), replacing the Raider badge seen on the UK car.

Orders for the vehicle have opened, and the edition makes its public debut at the Lyon Motor Show in France on October 7, with the first vehicles in the showrooms for Halloween, though this one won’t turn out to be a scary prospect ….

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider – limited edition in matte

Danny Tan — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:10:40 +0000

This is the Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider, a limited edition of the hot hatch. With a limited run of 50 cars for UK customers, the Raider packs in more equipment than the standard Clio RS 200 and wears distinctive matte paintwork.

A first for Renault, Raider is finished in matte Renault i.d. paintwork. The choice of Stealth Grey or Diavolo Red is contrasted by a gloss black finish to the roof, rear spoiler, F1-style front blade, rear diffuser and door mirrors. Gloss black is also applied to the 18-inch ‘Interlagos’ alloys, one inch larger than the standard 200 wheels.

The rims are wrapped with Bridgestone RE 050A tyres, as used on the record-breaking Megane Renaultsport 265 Trophy. Naturally, the acclaimed Cup chassis – featuring a lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers, quicker steering ratio and red finish to the Brembo brake callipers – is standard. Exterior changes are capped by extra-tinted rear side/tailgate windows and a Raider badge.

Inside, leather Recaros are complimented by the zinc grey finish to the centre console and fascia inserts. There’s a white rev counter as focus point. Bluetooth, USB connectivity, automatic climate control and Renaultsport carpet mats are also included. Customers can order their Raider with a no cost choice of either Renaultsport Monitor or Carminat TomTom Live satellite navigation.

A numbered plate identifies the number in the 50 production run. Outside of the UK, Renault is selling the 666-unit “Ange & Démon” limited edition, which is pretty much the same thing.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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2011 Renault Koleos facelift – more images released

Paul Tan — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:38:17 +0000

Renault has released a set of new images previewing the 2011 Renault Koleos facelift that will make its public debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Koleos is available in Malaysia with the sole option of a 2.5 litre engine, a CVT gearbox and 4X4, but internationally there are quite a few variants available.

There are both 2WD and 4WD models, CVT, 6-speed manual or 6 speed auto depending on model, and instead of the 2.5 litre 4 cylinder, you also have the choice of a M9R diesel in 2 different tunes – 150 PS and 175 PS.

Look after the jump for a huge photo gallery.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renaultsport Megane RS 250 Cup with Stage 2 tuning package – meatier at 320 hp and 488 Nm

Anthony Lim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:31:45 +0000

This should definitely be of interest to Renaultsport Megane RS 250 Cup owners – 320 hp and 488 Nm running off the car compared to the stock 250 hp and 340 Nm should sound very much like a symphony to them ears.

Those are the numbers promised by a Stage 2 tuning package just introduced by UK-based performance specialist RS Tuning. The 320 hp at 5,500 rpm is dyno proven, and the maximum torque kicks in at just 3,250 rpm. Lots of tractability on call, what with over 350 Nm of the torque available from between 2,500–6,250 rpm.

It isn’t cheap, not at £2,499 (RM11,920) for the whole road legal (with sports cat) package, especially when you’ve also got to factor in shipping and taxes, but the outlay bags an alloy Forge Motorsport high flow intercooler, a choice of sports catalyst or cat bypass pipe (which cheapens things a bit), a Milltek stainless steel performance exhaust system and a specially developed RS Tuning ECU remap for the 250’s F4Rt engine.

There’s no timing data currently available for the RS Tuning RS 250 Stage 2 upgrade package, but the company says that road and track testing has revealed supercar style levels of in-gear and outright acceleration. For those who can afford it, the exercise should deliver an absolute stonker.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Formula Renault 3.5 single-seater to debut in 2012 World Series by Renault season

Anthony Lim — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:53:45 +0000

Next season’s World Series by Renault will see the competitive debut of the new Formula Renault 3.5. The latest version of the single-seater – developed by Renault Sport Technologies and its various technical partners – will be more powerful than its predecessor and boast a number of cutting-edge features, whilst complying with the latest safety regulations and fitting comfortably within season budgets.

The maker says that the car will share even more common features with a Formula One car, making it the ideal vehicle in which to prepare drivers for the demands of F1. It will feature a new Dallara chassis, which is an evolution of the current frame with radically different front and rear wings and cockpit, but 70% of the Renault 3.5’s parts are brand new, compared to the outgoing car.

The new car’s two main innovations are with its Drag Reduction System (DRS), similar to the one used in F1, and the absence of a battery and starter. In addition to its new, Zytek Engineering-developed 530 hp V8 mill, the 3.5 also gets a new gearbox, a pneumatic clutch control and a state-of-the-art electronic system. It will also wear cutting-edge carbon brakes and new tyres specially developed by Michelin.

In all, the new car is 50 hp more powerful and 15 kg lighter than the current model, despite the discipline’s latest, more stringent safety measures. It also features anti-intrusion panels and a considerably improved power-to-weight ratio.

The new car went through its development phase in June, July and August, and was tested on several European circuits. In tests, the new car has already proven to be 2.6 seconds quicker than the pole time set by the current car at the Motorland Aragón meeting earlier in 2011.

Once data collection from testing has been validated, Renault Sport Technologies will move on to the production phase, with a view to making their first deliveries in January 2012 ahead of the season, which is due to begin in March.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault plans vehicle production in China in 2016

Anthony Lim — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:14:43 +0000

According to reports, Renault is gearing up for China, and in a big way – the company is drawing up a strategic plan to launch production in China in 2016, says its COO Carlos Tavares.

Tavares was quoted as saying that the French automaker is preparing its strategic plan for China, and that will include a manufacturing component, adding that it is a reasonable goal to expect production to begin in five years time.

The reports add that Renault’s likely partner in such an enterprise would be Dongfeng Motor Corp, which is already in a joint venture with Nissan. According to a J.D. Power survey, the Japanese automaker was the second-best selling brand in China for the first half of 2011, with more than 386,000 vehicles sold.

Renault, on the other hand, has managed to sell only a few thousand imports in that same period, but that all looks set to change. It is expanding its network of dealerships in China to 80 outlets, up from the 50 now, and is set to open additional showrooms next year, but the coming growth in its dealer network isn’t just aimed at selling more imported cars in China, according to Tavares.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Twingo facelift to debut in Frankfurt

Anthony Lim — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:53:35 +0000

Renault has released the first image of its refreshed second-generation Twingo, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The automaker says that the A-segment offering is the first production vehicle to feature cues inspired by the brand’s new design identity, as seen on the likes of the Frendzy Concept.

As is the case, the face gets a large dose of treatment, with a clearer demarcation of bonnet and bumper lines and a Renault logo that has been enlarged and centred in a more vertical position. There are no details, but its arrival at Frankfurt should take care of that.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault-Nissan to independently develop cars for India

Anthony Lim — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:40:59 +0000

According to reports, the Renault-Nissan Alliance has announced in a statement that it will be independently developing several passenger cars for the Indian market, which will include entry-level designs. This follows on an announcement made by Bajaj Auto last week that it has effectively canned a project to develop a low-cost minicar model for the Alliance members.

Initial plans for the minicar had Bajaj Auto, India’s second-largest motorcycle manufacturer by sales, teaming up with Renault and Nissan in a JV project on a 50:50 basis, with Bajaj holding half the stake and Renault and Nissan sharing the other half – the effort was to see Bajaj introduce the low-cost model next year to compete with the Tata Nano in its home market.

With several differences coming about, the three companies then decided to settle on a partnership that would have seen Bajaj developing the model and Renault and Nissan responsible for its branding and marketing.

Now, that’s off too – Bajaj’s MD Rajiv Bajaj stated that the company has shelved the minicar project because it found the venture commercially unviable. “From 2007 until 2009, we had an initial plan with Renault and Nissan to develop a low-cost small car which would be like the Nano,” Bajaj was qouted as saying, but during a meeting in November 2009 he told Carlos Ghosn that the minicar was unviable.

Bajaj stated that the partnership with Renault and Nissan continues intact, adding that his company will unveil a low-cost commercial vehicle – which will have passenger applications as well – in New Delhi in January that will also be showcased to both Renault and Nissan which, should they decide to go ahead with the project, will develop the passenger application aspects of the platform.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault 4 – no ordinary old-fashioned van, this one

Anthony Lim — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:10:35 +0000

Click to enlarge

Yes, if you think that it looks like something harking back to the 60s, you’re positively right, because it is something from the 60s. It’s a Renault 4, apparently the the world’s third-best selling model of all time (with 8,135,424 cars, vans and utes sold in more than 100 countries between 1961 and 1992, no less), but this is a La Quatrelle (or 4L) with a difference.

Click to enlarge

This one is set to take on the challenge at Speed Week taking place at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah next month, with the aim to get said R4 to crack 280 kph. Decidedly insane? Well, not for the trio of childhood mates with a need for speed – the Les Triplettes de Bonneville, as they are called, have armed themselves with a recently completed Renault 4 F4 van variant (with the model name Fourgonnette), built with assistance from Renault Classic.

Click to enlarge

Externally, it’s identical to the original vehicle, give or take a front mud-guard, exiting exhaust pipe and minuscule ground clearance. This one has a parachute (no ejector seat, yet), and a 290 hp Renault 5 Turbo race engine, suitably borrowed from a race-winning museum-piece.

Click to enlarge

In addition to the race-tuned mill, the gearbox, steering, suspension, brakes, wiring and fuel system have all been sourced specifically for this event by Renault Sport Technologies in order to comply with the Southern Californian Timing Association regulations.

Click to enlarge

Weighing in at 720 kg, the front-engined, front-wheel drive salt flat charger – dubbed Saline4Fun – also boasts a roll cage, race harness and seat and a fire extinguisher. Hopefully, the last won’t be needed.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Dual personality: Renault Frendzy Concept for Frankfurt

Danny Tan — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:50:40 +0000

Renault’s recent concept cars tell a story. After the notion of ‘love at first sight’ expressed by Paris 2010′s stunning DeZir, discovering the world with Captur (Geneva 2011) and starting a family with R-Space, here comes the Frendzy, which represents “the world of work” in Renault’s design strategy. This “human life cycle” series is directed by Laurens van den Acker, Senior VP of Design at Renault and the man behind Mazda’s Nagare design.

The Frendzy concept was conceived as a light commercial vehicle (think Kangoo) that can double up as a comfortable passenger car. On the passenger’s side, there’s no glazing or centre pillar, just one conventional door and one sliding side door which incorporates a widescreen display. This is the world of work. The driver’s side, complete with side windows, still no centre pillar, but with centre opening doors, represents the world of the family.

“The concept of an asymmetric body design was the most logical way to express this vehicle’s two roles. From the very start, I wanted to move away from the traditional format for commercial vehicles and, in doing so, show that this type of vehicle could also be more emotional, more dynamic and more attractive,” said exterior designer Deyan Denkov.

“I took inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including unconventionally shaped aircraft such as the Airbus Beluga and the Antonov 224,” the Bulgarian revealed.

Inside, the Frendzy has a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that controls the 37-inch screen on sliding rear door, unique ‘sound signatures’ inside and out, fabric roof that adapts to shape of bulky objects, magnetic fixings for stuff to be secured to the floor, slate board in rear cabin for children to sketch on, touch-sensitive pad for rear passenger movie watching/gaming and ambient lighting.

The driver’s side of the cockpit is designed around the theme of a futuristic “work bench” featuring a structure which appears to be made from molten metal. The use of wood in the cabin is from the idea of “camping” – it’s a symbol of warmth and strength.

The Frendzy is of course an electric vehicle. The powertrain is carried over from the Kangoo Van Z.E., although the charging point hidden under the front Renault logo is identical to that shown on the ZOE Preview.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Williams dumps Cosworth for Renault engines from 2012

Danny Tan — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:52:58 +0000

Williams and Renault have struck a deal that would see the Formula 1 team use the latter’s engines starting next season. This move revives the “Williams Renault” name that should be no stranger to F1 fans – Renault supplied factory engines to Williams from 1989 to 1997, and that fruitful collaboration (Red Bull’s ace designer Adrian Newey was in the mix, too) won four drivers’ and five constructors’ titles.

Fans would remember the glory days of the Camel/Canon sponsored car and the famous Rothmans liveried Williams, but the car of today, which uses Cosworth’s V8, is no longer a front runner. Will this reunion power them up the field again?

“Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams’ history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past. We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today’s announcement will help us to do,” said team principal Frank Williams, who also thanked Cosworth for being “a fair and reliable partner both on and off the track for the past two years”.

Co-owner Patrick Head shared a bit more. “A lot of these engines are very close in their ultimate performance, some of their characteristics will vary quite a bit. With Team Lotus one can see changing with engine, it didn’t light their performance up. We are never a team that looks for excuses but if someone says how much (of the deficit) is in the car and how much in the engine, the difficulty with the current engine and with the other teams running it,” he said.

“With the Renault engine in the back of a car from Milton Keynes at the moment, if someone went around saying it is not a decent engine… The Renault engine seems to be very good across the board,” he added, referring to champs Red Bull.

This deal is for seasons 2012 and 2013, with an option to continue when V6 engines are introduced in 2014. With Williams on board, Renault will be powering four teams on the 2012 grid, including Red Bull, Team Lotus and Lotus Renault GP.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Koleos facelift to enter market later in the year

Anthony Lim — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:17:47 +0000

Renault has announced that its facelifted Koleos will enter the market later in the year. The primary changes to the model, which was launched in 2008, are with exterior styling elements as well as with the interior trim.

The front end of the Koleos has been revised, with the air-intakes positioned either side of the Renault logo on the current model making way for an elegant chrome grille, and the vehicle also features new, slimmer headlights as well as LED indicators on the side mirrors.

The initial version’s distinctive rear-end styling continues on as is, though a new exterior colour called Cayenne Orange has been added to the shade lineup. Mechanically, the Nissan-derived all-wheel drive transmission soldiers on, as does the two-wheel drive option.

No changes too with the three powertrain choices available in the outgoing Koleos – the 150 hp and 175 hp versions of the 2.0 litre M9R diesel and 170 hp 2.5 litre TR25 petrol engines will be used in the facelift, though in the case of the diesels, work on the vehicle, engine and gearbox has resulted in appreciable reduction in CO2 emissions.

A selection of new upholsteries and trims have come about to enhance the interior, while the dashboard and instrument lighting have evolved too, with the introduction of a modern, more stylish speedometer housing and display.

The Koleos, which has made its way to 40 markets on five continents since it was launched, will continue to be made at the Renault Samsung Motors plant in Busan, South Korea. The vehicle was introduced in Malaysia last year.

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Mégane R.S. 265 Trophy sets a new FWD lap record of 8’08” at the Nürburgring

Anthony Lim — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:15:41 +0000

Records are meant to be broken, and with that do we come to a new one set by Renault’s latest wunderkind, the Mégane R.S. 265 Trophy. The car has set a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car at the Nürburgring, almost three years to the day the Mégane R26.R established its lap record for a FWD production car at the Nordschleife in June 2008, with a time of 8 minutes 17 seconds.

Last week, the R.S. 265 Trophy clocked 8 minutes 8 seconds to break the R26.R‘s record, which has stood since then. The time posted at the Nürburgring puts the Mégane R.S. Trophy on par with an extremely prestigious list of supercars, with a level of performance rivalling that of vehicles with power outputs of up to and beyond 500 hp.

“The Nordschleife is a legendary course. Its difficulties are extremely varied, ranging from fast and even very fast in places to much twistier and slower portions. Turns like ‘Karusell’ and ‘Pflanzgarten’, for example, make huge demands of the car and driver alike, yet the Mégane R.S. Trophy is very much in its element here and feels particularly reassuring despite the uncompromising nature of the terrain,” said Laurent Hurgon, development driver at Renault Sport, who took the R.S. 265 Trophy out on its record-setting lap.

“The limited slip differential allowed me to accelerate hard out of the countless turns without understeer. The carefully-tuned Cup chassis, the dampers, the fade-resistant brakes, the Recaro seats, the power of the 265 hp engine, the ready availability of torque between 2,500 and 5,000rpm and the car’s Bridgestone RE 050A (235/35 R19) tyres allowed me to make the most of the car’s enormous potential, especially into and out of the corners. It is this package which enabled me to post such a quick time round this circuit, which you must always approach with a certain degree of humility,” he added.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Samsung SM7 based on Nissan Teana unveiled

Paul Tan — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:28:56 +0000

Renault Samsung has unveiled the first shots of the production Renault Samsung SM7, which was previewed just in April as the Renault Samsung SM7 Concept. This Teana-based sedan is intended for the Korean market, but apparently it might just make it to certain markets with a Renault badge.

The production car sheds much of the funkiness that the concept had, which were all the cues that hid the concept car’s Teana origins well. The production version looks much more identifiable as a restyled Nissan Teana.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of both production and concept cars.

PRODUCTION

CONCEPT

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy limited edition – 15 hp and 20 Nm more than RS 250 Cup

Anthony Lim — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:20:29 +0000

Those salivating at the idea of a Renault Sport Mégane RS 250 Cup will be dropping buckets at the sight of this one – it’s called the Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy, and it’s the fastest ever road-going Renault.

The car, which will make its world debut at the World Series by Renault in Nurburgring next weekend, has 15 hp more than than the RS 250, as well as 20 Nm of extra torque at 360 Nm.

Naturally, it has improved performance statistics, if slightly so – the newcomer does the 0-100 kph sprint in exactly six seconds, compared to the 6.1 of the RS 250, and top speed is up from 245 kph to 254 kph. Meanwhile, the 360Nm is usefully available across a broad rev band between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm.

To achieve these gains, Renaultsport has upped the engine’s maximum turbo pressure to 2.5 bar, up by 0.2, together with the air intake being revised to take account of the higher pressure and running temperatures.

Features on this one include Recaro seats with yellow seatbelts and detailing, Renaultsport Monitor on-board performance tracking and an optional gloss Renault i.d. Diamond Black roof.

The 265 Trophy wears gloss black 19-inch Speedline alloys with red rim, high-performance Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres, ‘Trophy’ red decals on the F1-style front blade and doors, and LED daytime running lights.

The exterior shade welcomes the return of Liquid Yellow i.d. metallic paint, reborn from its original use on the Clio Renaultsport 182 and V6 255, and on the R26 and R26.R. If yellow’s not your flavour, black and white options are available.

Elsewhere, the new 265 Trophy retains the essence of the Mégane Renaultsport’s award-winning recipe, including the critically acclaimed Cup chassis (stiffer springs, dampers and anti-roll bar and grooved brake discs), mechanical limited slip differential, Brembo brakes, as well as the innovative PerfoHub independent steering axis front suspension set-up, which virtually eliminates torque steer.

Deliveries of the Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy commence next month, but it’s all going to be rather exclusive with this one – the car will be a limited production run of only 500 examples worldwide. Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Sport teases hotter Megane RS on Nürburgring!

Danny Tan — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:11:49 +0000

Renault Sport, the sporting arm of Renault, has released a teaser video for what seems to be a hotter version of the Megane RS 250 Cup, which we absolutely adore in this office. The video asks us to look forward to June 17 for the reveal.

In this 1 minute 27 second clip, the boys from Dieppe are shown preparing a red Megane RS (with those sexy 19-inch spider wheels that are ill suited for our roads) for a run on the most challenging circuit in the world – the Nürburgring. The Megane is then seen blasting past the famous section of the ‘Ring where the tarmac is full of graffiti, seemingly digging into it with only three wheels!

Two men are named – Philippe Merimee, Suspension Setting Systems Manager and Laurent Hurgon, Development Driver – but perhaps the more significant cameo is that of the Megane R26.R, the hottest variant of the previous gen Megane. That limited edition stripped out version of the already excellent R26 established a new lap record for a FWD car at the ‘Ring with a time of 8m17s back in 2008.

If they use the same formula on the more powerful new Megane RS (250 hp/340 Nm vs 230 hp/310 Nm), that time is bound to be topped by the upcoming king hot hatch. By how much? We’ll know on June 17.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault starts production of ‘Energy dCI 130′ engine – world’s most powerful 1.6L diesel, inspired by F1 tech

Danny Tan — Thu, 19 May 2011 04:04:30 +0000

Click to enlarge

While the modern diesel engine is still a bit of a novelty here, it’s the default engine in Europe, and is usually the volume seller in many a model range, luxury ones included. There’s no sign of this trend waning, and we’ve seen CO2 figures pushed down and power figures pumped up over the years. Now, Renault has what it hails as THE diesel engine family boasting high tech for regular cars.

It’s called the Energy family, and the first to appear is the dCi 130, a 1.6-litre diesel that will be launched in the Scenic and Grand Scenic MPVs before powering the Megane range. This unit will supersede the long serving 1.9 dCi 130 (F9Q) in line with the downsizing trend.

The 1.6L Energy dCi 130 is the world’s most powerful engine of its size, Renault says. It makes 130 hp and 320 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm, 80% of which is available from 1,500 rpm. That’s about the same as what the Focus TDCI’s 2.0L Duratorq makes, but with max twist produced 250 rpm lower, so it’s an impressive effort.

At the same time, combined-cycle fuel consumption is 20% better than the 1.9 dCi engine it replaces, while CO2 emissions have been slashed by 30 g/km. Renault says that with the Energy dCi 130, the Scenic/Grand Scenic will be the most frugal MPVs on sale with CO2 emissions of 115 g/km and fuel consumption of 22.7 km/l. Compared to before, potential range on a full tank is up by 300 km.

Working from a clean sheet, the Energy is said to carry over a number of technologies developed and fine-tuned by Renault’s F1 engine den at Viry-Chatillon. Philippe Coblence, the design office manager for this R9M project, used to work at Viry.

The F1-inspired features include a so-called ‘square’ architecture. The engine is said to be square when the piston stroke is similar to the diameter of the cylinder (bore), an arrangement which allows large-diameter valves to be housed in the cylinder head for more efficient filling of the combustion chambers. This helps performance. Other measures are transverse water flow cooling technique that allows for a smaller, less energy-consuming water pump. This has been combined with a double water jacket arrangement for the cylinder head.

Super-finishing and special surface treatments as well as UFLEX oil control ring technology also feature in the Energy. The U-shaped geometry is highly flexible and enables the ring to adapt to bore distortion to achieve the best compromise between efficiency and friction. “The principle is comparable with that of a multi-blade razor. It adapts naturally to the contour without having to exert high pressure on the cylinder wall. The result is maximum efficiency and less friction,” Coblence explains.

This ‘unprecedented high-tech package’ contains over 30 patents, according to Renault. Of course, existing tech from higher up engines such as VGT, Stop & Start plus cold-loop, low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) are present. Alliance partner Nissan, which co-funded this project, should also benefit greatly from it.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Twizy – looking to bowl over the scooter crowd

Anthony Lim — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:51:43 +0000

Renault has announced the pricing and opened reservations for its electric Twizy, which is due to go on sale at the end of the year in Europe. There are three versions in all, a 5hp model called the Twizy 45 and two 17 hp variants, the Urban and Technic.

The Twizy 45, as its numerical moniker suggests, has a speed capped at 45 kph, which means it can be driven without a licence in certain countries. With pricing starting from 6,990 Euros for the model, its price – in Europe – also means that young drivers will now be able to afford a vehicle that is safer than a two-wheeler.

As for the faster (80 kph) Twizy twins, which happen to be on display at the ongoing Barcelona Motor Show, the tax-paid prices for the Urban and Technic will start from 7,690 Euros and 8,490 Euros respectively, with a monthly tax-paid cost of the battery lease for both versions being 49 Euros.

The four-wheeled Twizy sits two occupants in tandem, one behind the other like on a scooter or a bike, with wraparound bodywork and side deflectors to ensure enjoyable open-air motoring, but protected from the elements.

Renault adds that it offers greater safety compared with a two-wheeled vehicle, thanks to an extensive list of active and passive safety features. It also allows easier parking, with its compact dimensions (it’s 2,337 mm long, 1,191 mm wide and 1,461 mm tall). The Twizy sits on 13-inch wheels, which wear 125×80 front and 145×80 rear rubbers.

The Twizy’s lithium-ion battery fully charges in just 3.5 hours using a domestic electrical supply via a spiral cable stowed behind a flap at the front. Twizy’s low weight (450kg, including the 100kg battery) helps it get an operational range of around 100 km per charge.

Accessories for the vehicle include an all-purpose, 50 litre capacity bag, a Parrot audio kit (including Bluetooth connectivity, plus a USB connector, a jack socket and an Apple connector), rear parking sensors, additional protection against the weather and a range of customisation options such as coloured alloy wheels and decals, stuff that’ll make your ride Twizy to spot. Sorry, couldn’t resist!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Nick Heidfeld writes encouraging open letter to Kubica

Danny Tan — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:46:33 +0000

When Lotus Renault GP needed to find a replacement for the injured Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld was the the most solid option. The German with the nickname ‘Quick Nick’ didn’t take too long to show that he’s still sharp despite being without a regular race seat since the end of 2009 when BMW pulled out of F1.

At last Sunday’s Malaysian GP, Heidfeld managed to hold on to third place with Mark Webber hot on his heels, giving Lotus Renault their second podium finish in as many races (Petrov was third in Australia). After the event, Heidfeld has written an open letter to his former BMW Sauber teammate, who is undergoing rehabilitation now. Here’s the letter as it appeared on Heidfeld’s official website.

Dear Robert,

Have you seen that? I printed your logo on the front of my helmet, and the Polish flag on the side. I wanted you to see that and to let you know that I’m thinking of you. I wanted to show your fans that you are a part of Formula 1 and of this team. This 3rd place is also yours! During the race I had often been thinking of you. Crossing the finish line, happiness totally flooded my head. I know what you are thinking right now: “Lotus-Renault has built such a wonderful car this year. I want to get back as soon as possible and drive it!” You can do it, I wish you all the best for your rehabilitation. Get well soon!

Yours

Nick

Kubica is reported to be recovering well, and has surprised doctors by putting weight on his foot and clasping an object in his hand. Let’s hope for a continued speedy recovery for Robert!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Samsung SM7 Concept – 2nd-gen on the cards

Anthony Lim — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:24:30 +0000

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The unveiling of the Renault Samsung SM7 Concept at the Seoul Motor Show means only one thing – the replacement for the first-generation SM7, which was introduced in 2004 in the Korean market, is due.

Click to enlarge

The upcoming replacement is set to be introduced in the latter half of 2011. The original sat on a Nissan Teana/Maxima FF-L platform, and the second-generation offering will be no different, underpinned by a D platform meant for the Teana/Maxima.

Click to enlarge

No specifications have yet been announced for the vehicle, which features a design concept called “Man in Tuxedo,” but engine options won’t run far from that offered for the Nissans wearing the same legs, undoubtedly – the current SM7, built in Busan, comes in 3.5 V6 and 2.3 Neo VQ versions.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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TC Euro Cars introduces dedicated Renault Sport engineers, owners to get personalised service

Danny Tan — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:19:11 +0000

TC Euro Cars, the importer and distributor of Renault vehicles in Malaysia, will have delivered about 50 units of the Megane RS 250 Cup (read our review here) by the end of April. By the end of this year, it’s estimated that 130 Renault Sport vehicles will be roaming our streets. Doesn’t sound like much, but for niche performance cars with manual transmissions, that’s an encouraging sum.

Not only do these lucky enthusiasts get to enjoy one of the best hot hatches on sale today, they now also get personalised service from dedicated Renault Sport engineers, introduced by TCEC at their PJ service hub this morning. How personalised? Well, lets say that RS owners have their cell numbers and can call them at any hour of the day!

According to TCEC, the RS engineers (Mr Zulhelmi and Mr Luqman) will serve as the single point of contact for all Renault Sport vehicle maintenance and repair related matters. Every RS vehicle that leaves the workshop needs to receive a “Quality Control Certificate” by the RS engineers, failing which the car will need to be rechecked.

The duo are also tasked with overseeing all maintenance and repair work carried out on Renault Sport models, ensuring that all the components are operating within manufacturers’ spec. Optional parts, future models, community events – these are the guys to ask.

RS engineers have at their disposal a fully-equipped Renault Technical Assistance vehicle (Kangoo with RS livery) for off-site repairs. They also have direct access to the Renault Technical Center in Korea, with support from Renault Sport in Dieppe, France.

The main Renault workshop in Malaysia is a dedicated 15-bay facility in Section 13, PJ. There are 11 other outlets across the country with the capability to service Renault cars. These outlets are Nissan centres equipped with the necessary CLIP diagnostics and tools to service Renaults.

It was also revealed that the Tan Chong parts centre near Batu Caves holds RM3 million worth of Renault parts, and parts ordered this morning will arrive the following day within the country, as it rides on Nissan’s well established network.

Read more on the RS engineers after the jump.

Zulhelmi is a certified Renault Co-Tech (technical coordinator) with 12 years of experience in the automotive industry. Having graduated from the then Federal Institute of Technology, Zul has spent seven years of his career specialising in Renault vehicles under TC Euro Cars. He has overseen Pre-Delivery Inspection of all new vehicles, as well as being the Technical Trainer for new Renault models and technologies. He is also the technical advisor for all Renault branches in Malaysia.

Armed with a qualification from the Malaysia France Institute in Automotive Maintenance Technology, Luqman has six years of practical experience in the automotive industry. He brings with him a broad based work experience, having worked for national, German and Japanese automotive players specialising in vehicle maintenance, repair and trouble shooting. He also has extensive knowledge in Renault spare parts and Renault Sport models, having worked very closely with the Renault Service Hub since his employment in TC Euro Cars.

Future plans for the RS engineers include international exposure in major Renault Sport markets. Specialised Renault Sport training in these markets will allow our RS engineers to tap into the experience of other RS engineers around the world, to better serve Malaysian Renault Sport customers.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renaultsport to be a standalone brand with unique models

Danny Tan — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:55:48 +0000

Renault’s performance division that churns out highly-rated hot versions of the Clio and Megane, Renaultsport, is set to be a standalone brand, with its own unique models. However, this new strategy doesn’t mean that RS will stop tweaking Renault’s hatchbacks – we can expect more cars like the Megane 250 Cup in the future.

“Renaultsport is key to Renault’s strategy. It already has excellent loyalty and is perceived by some owners as a brand in its own right, and we can develop that further,” Renault product manager Beatrice Foucher told Autocar UK.

“We will continue working on derivative versions of the Megane, for example, because that’s a terrific car and excellent for us. But we also need specific models only for Renaultsport. We have started working on that; we’re thinking of small volumes, where there are good business models.”

The mag’s well-placed sources say that this new strategy will be spearheaded by a convertible version of the beautiful DeZir concept from Paris 2010. That car, the first to show off Renault’s future face, is an EV with lithium ion batteries and Kevlar body panels. Does this mean that Renaultsport’s future is electric, or will the mooted model revert to a conventional powerplant?

We’ve had a few gems from Dieppe-based Renaultsport here in Malaysia – the Clio RS, Megane R26 and the Megane 250 Cup – and hope that there’s more to come from the expert tuners. We hear that the new Clio RS is on the way, stay tuned!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Lotus Renault GP: Aiming for the top step of the podium

Danny Tan — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:36:53 +0000

Lotus Renault GP team principal Eric Boullier is in town, together with Lotus brand ambassador and ex- F1 driver Jean Alesi and Gino Rosato, Director of Corporate Operations at Group Lotus. GL organised a brief press conference at Pavilion KL this afternoon, and the lunch function was joined by LRGP’s reserve driver Fairuz Fauzy.

There wasn’t much time as they were rushing to attend the next function (launch of the F1 Malaysian GP, also at Pavilion) and there was a big media group, but we did get a few words out of the tired visitors.

Jean Alesi (left) jokingly offers his services to Eric Boullier’s Lotus Renault GP

Frenchman Boullier, who in the past managed A1 Team France, reiterated that Lotus Renault’s target this year is to be challenging for a podium spot. “We aim to win some races and be a regular on the podium,” he proclaimed. Eric’s predictions for the season opening race in Australia? “I can see Red Bull and Ferrari in front, then I hope we’ll be leading the troops,” he said with a smile.

Boullier, who did not want to comment on the Lotus name row with Team Lotus, was consistent. We previously carried this quote from him: “We want to win with this car. To win you need to be a regular podium finisher – and then you will win – and that is our target”. He also said that while we can’t look too much into the test sessions that the teams went through so far, this week’s test in Barcelona would be close to the car’s real performance.

Jean Alesi, who could pass off as a younger Sylvester Stallone, explained his role in Lotus to us. The ex-Ferrari and Benetton driver said that he’s happy to be part of something new.

“It’s a great opportunity. Lotus Cars is an iconic brand and everything is starting from scratch,” referring to the brand turnaround led by Dany Bahar. “I’m extremely happy – it’s the beginning and you’re part of it,” he went on.

Alesi’s role is to help develop the Exos Type 125 “F1 for customers” car. Gino Rosato explained that the Frenchman was chosen as “he’s one of the most passionate driver’s in the business”. Alesi isn’t involved in the F1 team, but “if Lotus needs me I’ll be available,” he said with a naughty smile to Boullier.

Some press members asked the panel if Fairuz Fauzy will get a chance to drive for the team, and here’s what Boullier had to say: “Fairuz is realistic. He’s with us to learn from a big team. We believe he can race one day”.

The Malaysian added that this new position is an upgrade for him. “It’s a move forward for me. I will learn a lot from a more experienced and stronger team. My target is to do well in GP2 this year,” he said.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault R-Space: Putting sexy and romance into an MPV

Danny Tan — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:49:31 +0000

First we saw the sexy DeZir coupe, then the Captur crossover, now we’re looking at R-Space, which sees Renault’s fresh design language applied on a compact MPV. Led by former Mazda Nagare man Laurens van den Acker, the design team sought to combine sensuality with a monospace architecture. The result is flowing and organic, unusual for a people carrier.

Measuring 4.25 metres in length, the R-Space is more compact than a Scenic. The front end adapts the new visual identity as seen on the DeZir/Captur that’s centred on the large Renault lozenge. Inspired by the human body, the honey-gold body panels are shaped as sculptured volumes – as a result, eyes are drawn to reflections and the play of the light rather than the lines themselves.

This is an R rated MPV. “With R-Space, it was the pent-up energy in tensed muscles that inspired me. I wanted to make people feel the urge to caress the body, to make it sensuous – despite the fact that this is an MPV aimed at families,” reveals Fabrice Pouille, exterior designer.

The coach doors open wide like the Opel Meriva, except that this concept doesn’t have B pillars. The forms of the dash and seats are similar to the DeZir concept’s. The driver enjoys a cockpit-like environment, while the interlinking shape of the front seat backrests are an idea of a couple in love. The latter leaves one in no doubt that this is a French car!

The rear section revolves around children. It’s a play space formed from a simple and universal shape – the cube. 27 miniature motors power an array of height-adjustable hexahedrons, allowing four settings to be programmed, from an all-flat surface, to a booster seat, a table or a random configuration (only when the vehicle is parked) for children’s games.

You’ve got to admire their creativity. Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Megane RS 250 Cup wins “Best Sports and Convertible” and Judges Choice award

Anthony Lim — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:20:56 +0000

Now, it may just be three months into the game locally, but there’s no denying that the Renault Megane RS 250 Cup has made some serious inroads with the performance car crowd and built up an erstwhile cult following.

Now, it’s winning awards too. The 250 hp and 340 Nm hot hatch has picked up its first local gong, taking the “Best Sports and Convertible” award at the recent CIMB Autoworld COTY awards.

It’s not just the enthusiasts who lick their chops at the sight – and thought – of this one. The judges thought so too, bestowing the Judges Choice Award on the French tyke ahead of 30 other machines.

And it’s easy to see why everyone’s head over heels over this capable canary, really; the 2.0 litre turbo mill on this one gets the RS 250 Cup into the century from standstill in just 6.1 seconds and offers the car a 245 kph top speed.

That’s not the only draw, of course. With a Cup chassis that features a 10 mm lowered ride, uprated springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, as well as a veritable list of flash and whizz items on the kit list (Recaro seats, four-piston Brembo brakes, a mechanical LSD, RS Performance Hub and a short shift six-speed manual transmission, among a host of things), the RM230,000 pocket rocket is certainly not short of flash, as well as dash.

With the only setback being that there isn’t enough cars to go around to satiate the hungry hordes, you can expect the Megane RS 250 Cup to pick up more glittering prizes as it goes along.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Renault Captur to go into production as a crossover Clio

Paul Tan — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:22:31 +0000

Renault will be putting the Renault Captur concept into production – it will join the Renault family as part of the next generation Clio range, making it somewhat like a “CrossClio”. The next generation Clio will debut in 2012, and other than the Captur-derived crossover body, it will also come in wagon, 3-door and 5-door variants.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Nick Heidfeld: ‘I don’t think I could have done any better’

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:35:29 +0000

Already the favourite to replace the injured Robert Kubica at Lotus Renault GP, Nick Heidfeld strengthened his case by topping the time sheets on Day 3 of testing at Jerez, Spain. It was an impressive showing by the veteran German driver considering that it was his first taste of the R31 and his first time back in an F1 car since November last year. He is justifiably happy with the outcome.

“I’m pleased with the job I did, very pleased. I don’t think I could have done any better, and I didn’t do any mistakes,” said Heidfeld, who was Kubica’s teammate at BMW Sauber.

“We already started today to try and improve the car, find directions, where the problems are, where the strengths are. I’m obviously trying to do the best job today so I can drive in the future, but I’m also just using it as a normal test and trying to develop the car,” he told hacks at the track.

“The car is already very different to how it was this morning, suiting my driving style a lot more. It is still not ideal – I hope there is more to come from the feeling I have – but it’s a good base,” added Quick Nick.

“Today we had the chance to give Nick time in the car and we carried out a big evaluation. Our first feelings are very positive: he worked well with the team, gave good feedback and improved the car during the day. We managed to cover 86 laps and the times are encouraging, which is also thanks to Robert and Vitaly’s early feedback and the hard work of everybody in the team,” praised team boss Eric Boullier.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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Robert Kubica is out of ICU, two operations set for today

Danny Tan — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 05:57:33 +0000

Robert Kubica, who is seriously injured from a rally accident, has been released from intensive care and will be moved to a trauma unit in Santa Corona Hospital as he continues to recover. Although the Pole cheated death when the armco speared the cabin of his Skoda, injuries include a partially severed right hand and injuries to his right leg and arm.

Kubica underwent surgery on Sunday after arriving at the Italian hospital and there are more scheduled for today and early next week. “His general condition is good, so much so we can programme two operations on Friday. Next week we expect to perform the last operation on the patient,” Dr Giorgio Barabino told the BBC.

“He started to feed himself today, and everything is moving. Now is the time for sticking all the bones together and educating the muscles, but we don’t know how long that will take. All I know for now is that for the next three months for sure he won’t be back. After that, it could be four, five six. He needs at least three months to recover physically, and then we see,” team boss Eric Boullier said.

On Kubica’s replacement, it’s all down to how Nick Heidfeld performs at Jerez this weekend. “Nick is here to be evaluated. Once we have finished our assessment of him, if we are happy with Nick, then we keep Nick. If we are not, we go to Barcelona and we test some other drivers,” Boullier added.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 12 Feb 12 09:17:05 +0000.

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