Paul Tan's Automotive News » Renault

Renault mulling the introduction of a high-end brand

Anthony Lim — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:52:19 +0000

Segmentation is turning out to be very much the in-thing these days – if you want to move up or down in terms of portfolio, bringing about a new sub-brand is the surest and quickest way to go, it seems.

French automaker Renault is the latest to look at the option. According to French publication Les Echos, the company is mulling the introduction of a high-end brand, Initial Paris, to help expand its market offerings and reach, using Mercedes-Benz platforms.

The newspaper, which cited Renault’s COO Carlos Tavares in its report, said that the automaker is looking to make a decision on the expansion – as well as a possible move to resurrect its Alpine sports range – by the end of the year.

Renault would be the mass market brand, Dacia would sell low-cost models, while the Initial Paris and Alpine sub brands would fulfill the growing demand for upmarket and sporty models. Ah well, the more, the merrier.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Twingo R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 – a tiny tribute to a race-winning Formula 1 car

Chris Ng — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:59:15 +0000

Renault has just released a limited edition Twingo R.S. to celebrate Red Bull Racing’s 2011 Formula 1 Constructors’ world title. This is not the first Renault to get decked out like this, that honour goes to the Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7.

The Twingo R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is coloured with the same palette as the Clio R.S. version. Which means the car comes in Pearlescent Black save for some choice bits in Sirius Yellow. Additional features come in the form of chequered roof decals and Red Bull Racing logos plastered on both doors.

The inside is similar to what you get with the Twingo R.S., complete with yellow stitching. This limited edition car also wears a special numbered ‘FIA 2011 World Champion’ plaque and a Renault Sport logo inlay for the gear knob to reinforce its exclusivity.

The small Renault rides on the ‘Cup’ chassis, which is 40 mm lower than the ‘Sport’ chassis while the spring and dampers have been tightened by 10%. The car moves on 17 inch Gana wheels.

No changes were made to the Twingo R.S. engine. So it is the same 1.6 litre that generates 133 hp and 160 Nm. Fuel economy is rated at 6.5 litres/100 km and emits 150 g/km CO2.

The car will only be made to selected countries, namely Germany, Austria, France, Belgium/Luxemburg, Japan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Switzerland. Expect the same to happen to the Mégane R.S., which will be available soon.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault-Nissan buys majority stake in Russia’s AvtoVAZ

Danny Tan — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:02:08 +0000

The Renault-Nissan Alliance and state corporation Russian Technologies have agreed to create a joint venture that will takeover AvtoVAZ, Russia’s largest carmaker. The deal, which will see Renault-Nissan invest about US$750 million, gives the Alliance an indirect majority stake in AvtoVAZ, maker of Lada cars.

The US$750 million investment will give the French-Japanese car group 67.13% of the joint venture. The JV will then hold 74.5% of AvtoVAZ. The transaction is expected to be complete by 2014.

Renault has a relationship with AvtoVAZ prior to this. In 2008, it purchased 25% of AvtoVAZ and helped steer the Russian company in an aggressive turnaround. It will invest about US$300 million in the JV. Japanese partner Nissan, which does not have any stake in AvtoVAZ, will part with US$450 million.

This comes a month after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin inaugurated a US$525 million assembly complex in AvtoVAZ’s Togliatti factory, adding capacity of up to 350,000 cars per year. Now, the factory has a capacity of almost one million cars per year.

Renault, Nissan and Lada are launching a product offensive that will update all core Lada models and launch new cars across three brands, including five models from the newly inaugurated facility. In addition to Togliatti, the three brands operate plants in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Izhevsk.

With everyone’s full focus on China, Renault-Nissan is making a good move in deepening its roots in Russia. The former USSR is the fastest growing economy in Europe and has a growing population of upper- and middle-class consumers. More than 10 million Russian households already earn more than US$50,000 per year.

Total industry volume in Russia last year was 2.65 million vehicles, including light commercial vehicles. Of this, the Alliance sold 878,990 cars, including 578,387 Ladas. With a market share of nearly 33%, Russia is the Alliance’s third largest market after China and the United States.

I wonder if there are any Lada Nivas still running around in Malaysia.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Talisman brings Korean charm to the Chinese

Jonathan James Tan — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:21:12 +0000

This is the Talisman, another product of the Franco-Korean alliance Renault Samsung Motors that premiered yesterday at Auto China 2012. For the ever-brand-conscious Chinese market, this car wears a Renault badge but is actually otherwise the same as the Renault Samsung SM7, which went on sale in Korea last year.

A Nissan-sourced V6 engine will be offered in 2.5-litre and 3.5-litre displacements, which respectively produce 187 and 254 hp. Drive is sent to the front wheels via either a CVT or six-speed tiptronic gearbox.

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn declares the Talisman the company’s flagship in China and emphasises the significance of the car’s launch into this fast-growing market. The mid-size sedan is built in the South Korean city of Busan, and Chinese buyers will be able to get their hands on the exports by June, costing them in the region of 300,000 RMB (RM150,000).

Renault have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to join forces with a Chinese manufacturer to build cars in China. Let’s hope this Talisman will be their lucky charm.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Talisman – made in Korea, destined for China

Chris Ng — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:45:27 +0000

It seems that Renault will be launching a new car at the Beijing Motor Show that will be happening next week. It is called the Renault Talisman and it will be the flagship that will set course to boost Renault’s image in China.

Very little is known about the car other than how its rear will look like and that its birth certificate will say Renault Samsung Motors, South Korea. So, is this really a rebadged Renault Samsung SM7? Intriguing, yes?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Twingo R.S. 133 in Euro showrooms from April 23

Chris Ng — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:54:34 +0000

Can I have a show of hands that thinks this Twingo Renaultsport 133 looks like the Nissan Juke? Yup, me too. But the Twingo does not roll on the Juke’s platform but rather the previous generation’s Nissan Micra.

In any case, this is the Twingo R.S. 133’s new look for 2012, which debuted at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. It will be in showrooms from April 23 and ordering opens on April 2, not in Malaysia but in the UK. The price: £13,565 on-the-road.

Juke’s similarities aside, the Renaultsport version of the Twingo incorporates the new Renault logo with the new grille design, four lights and a front bumper that takes inspiration from the F1. At the back, the Twingo R.S. gets the black rear spoiler, a special rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser and ‘aerodynamic extensions’ on the rear wheel arches.

Inside, the Twingo R.S. receives the same treatment yellow treatment that is found in the Clio R.S. and the Megane R.S. So the steering and seats will have that familiar yellow stitching and rev counter will be in yellow.

Performance-wise, the Twingo R.S. 133’s 1.6 litre naturally aspirated engine produces 133 hp at 6,750 rpm and 160 Nm at 4,400 rpm. It accelerates to 100 km/h from zero in 8.7 seconds and maxes out at 201 km/h.

The Twingo R.S. 133 is available with the optional Cup chassis for an additional £700. The Cup chassis lowered the ride height by 4 mm, has stiffer springs and dampers, 17” Anthracite or Gloss Black alloy wheels and wider 205/40 R17 tyres.

Now that we have the Megane R.S. and the Clio R.S., could it be only a matter of time before this one reaches Malaysia as well? Don’t expect it to be affordable though.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Megane RS 250 Cup Special Edition launched – only 10 units in a limited run, RM245k

Anthony Lim — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:49:34 +0000

Ah, yet along comes another special edition, and this one is of that perennial fave, the Renault Megane RS 250. The Megane RS 250 Cup Special Edition, to give the variant its full moniker, was launched yesterday evening at the newly-opened Renault flagship showroom in Petaling Jaya.

It’s a limited run of 10 units, this one, and unveiled by Williams F1 drivers Bruno Senna and Valtteri Bottas, no less. Using the highly acclaimed Megane RS 250 Cup as a base, selected enhancements were made to the exterior and interior to give the vehicle an added level of desirability, not to mention exclusivity.

No changes to the RS 250′s powertrain output, which means that the 2.0 litre turbo mill offers the familiar 250 hp and 340 Nm in the way of figures. The new list starts with the exterior shade – the SE comes only in Glacier White, with metallic gray accents in the front and rear diffuser providing highlight contrasts.

Also new are 19-inch alloy wheels, with the open design helping to show off the track-proven Brembo brake system in a very visual manner. Inside, the cabin retains that familiar RS 250 charm, but now features elements of the GT Pack as standard, which means that leather upholstered Recaro seats and a panoramic glass roof get plonked in.

Each car comes with a serial numbered stainless steel plaque, personally signed by a Williams F1 Driver for that special touch. To commemorate the launch of the Special Edition, the first three Special Edition customers were invited to personally receive the signed plaques from the Williams drivers.

Features include that found on the base car, so track-ready equipment such as the Performance Hub, Mechanical LSD, RS monitor and Cup Chassis are standard fare. As for the price, the Special Edition goes for 15 grand more than the stock RS 250 Cup, at RM 245,000, on-the-road without insurance.

We’ve of course spent a fair bit of time with the base RS 250 Cup, with a full test drive as well as track time, and even a stint to see if it cuts the cloth as a daily driver.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 – five countries only

Danny Tan — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:26:29 +0000

True to form, Renault has come up with a limited edition car celebrating an F1 win. While there’s no more Renault F1 Team to promote, Renault is still a major engine supplier in Formula 1, powering the cars of Lotus, Williams, Caterham and champions Red Bull Racing. This hot Clio celebrates the latter’s 2011 Constructors’ title win. Expect to see Twingo and Megane equivalents soon.

The Renault Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is based on the Clio RS 200 Cup that was recently launched here. Highlights include 18-inch black Interlagos wheels with Bridgestone RE050A tyres, Profond Black body colour and Sirius Yellow on the F1-style blade, door mirror housings and diffuser. There are also Renault Sport chequered-pattern roof decals and Red Bull Racing badging on the doors.

Inside, the RB7 gets a personalised numbered plaque and a Renault Sport-badged gear lever knob. Other things are all identical to the Clio RS sold by TC Euro Cars. Automatic climate control, automatic headlights, key card/push start, yellow Recaros, and R.S. Monitor are all standard.

This car will be will marketed in five countries only, and they are France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria. So you can’t have it here, but our Clio RS is also a limited edition model from the “Ange & Démon” series. Click here for our launch report.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Megane RS: How does it perform as a daily driver?

Danny Tan — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:10:22 +0000

Much has been said about the Renault Megane RS on this website, and the big chunk of it revolves around the hot hatch’s superb handling and fun to drive qualities. That’s only natural, since the Megane RS 250 is one heck of a driver’s car, balancing deceptive turbo pace and nice fluidity and poise on B roads.

While we have never failed to mention the hot Megane’s duality of purpose, its ability to perform as a daily driver with acceptable comfort, and the decent practicality in every review, it rarely gets the spotlight. This time however, we take the car out for a stint and focus on these qualities. The car may be a blast on track (as we detailed the last time around), but can we live with it on a daily basis?

My original plan was to whisk my hot date in yellow to a romantic location far away, but like how most of these good intentions end up, the realities of life intervened. No matter, the work, errands and running around meant that I could use the Megane RS in a “real world test” as substitute to my own set of wheels. So I drove it like I owned it (maximising fuel economy is main priority), as opposed to driving like I stole it.

My backpack (laptop and camera) is with me with on every journey, and my normal routine is to open the passenger’s door on the driver’s side to place the bag. Less hassle with the Megane. With the driver’s Recaro set in my position, there’s a sizable gap behind it for my bag, simplifying my getaway routine. I’m sure this isn’t intended as a selling point, but I found it really useful.

Yours truly is in the process of moving house, and I’m doing it gradually, transporting few Tesco boxes at a time. While that small French butt doesn’t look like it can carry much, I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and width of the boot. As you can see, it took two of my boxes side-by-side, with room to sandwich in a laptop bag.

Of course, the rear seats can be folded down for more room, or long items. The load lip may be on the high side, but there’s good hatchback practicality here within a sexy shape.

I currently live in Rawang, and the NKVE is my lifeline since everything happens down south. Driving it like I own it means highway cruising between 90-100 km/h most of the time – yes, I am that slow! In sixth gear, the Megane RS does the highway speed limit at a relaxed 2,500 rpm.

Other than tyre roar (European cars generally let in more) the engine is very subdued (no exhaust drone, too), which is an important point for me. Will never understand how people can do extended highway runs on big exhausts that go BOOOORRRRRRRR!

The same highway runs also make me appreciate cruise control, which takes up the buttons on the steering spokes. Where then are the audio buttons? Controls for the stereo and R.S. Monitor (stopwatch with memory function, acceleration timer, g-force meter, turbo pressure, oil temp, torque/power figures, throttle map settings) are clustered into one stubby stalk below the wiper stalk.

There’s a button everywhere you feel, plus a jog dial, which takes some learning, but once you’ve mastered what does what, it’s convenient. The trip computer is controlled with buttons on the wiper stalk tip, so your hands don’t have to leave the wheel.

The Megane RS is a performance hot hatch, so we often harp on yummy stuff such as the Cup chassis, Recaros, LSD and four-pot Brembos, but it’s also rich with amenities one would expect from a premium badged exec.

Auto lights and wipers, bi-Xenons with LED DRLs, tyre pressure monitor, keyless entry with push start, dual-zone air con, stereo with Bluetooth/USB/AUX, wing mirrors with defrost and front/rear parking sensors are all standard. And it’s five-star EuroNCAP rated with front, side and curtain airbags. That’s quite a list, if you ask me.

Are we ignoring the elephant in the room, space for occasional family duty? The Megane RS’ three-door only hatch format may not be ideal for those with ageing parents, but it’s possible. I loaded the Megane with my parents and family for dinner and we managed.

Admittedly, three abreast behind was pushing it a little, but headroom and legroom is passable. Those behind don’t have much of a view out, though. We’re not saying it’s a great family car, but the Megane is more than a two-seater with token rear seats – those things are usable!

Since this is all about living with the car, we did some research on maintenance as well. The Megane RS has a 10,000 km service interval, and the first service costs RM537, the second one RM842 and the 30k km service RM958. This French lady takes in six litres of ELF fully synthetic engine oil per service at RM295, while an oil filter goes for just RM38. We think that these figures are reasonable, and very affordable for anyone buying a car in this price range.

All in all, I did 415.9 km in the Megane RS over a few days and averaged 9.7 litres per 100 km over mixed conditions. Not bad considering the performance on offer, and certainly better than my own ride. As mentioned, I didn’t manage to go anywhere far with the Megane, but colleague Anthony did. Read his account below. For the more exciting aspects of the Megane RS’ repertoire, read our road and track review.

Anthony says:

I wasn’t supposed to write about the Megane RS 250 – all I was supposed to do was assist in returning the car, since Danny wasn’t able to. Having picked it up on a Sunday night, I ventured to take the yellow canary out for a tango, since it was an unknown entity to me and I was curious to find out if it was every bit as entertaining as it has been claimed to be.

Firm, even a bit brutish in how it parades it wares, were my first impressions of the car, spent taking in as many lonely roads as possible that very night; after all, it was then or never, given the scheduling. The car seemed happy to be charging along, displaying all the positives said about it to a T. Still, based on that drive alone, there was little to suggest that it’s as good a daily driver as it is a demolition charge on the cheap.

In the end, however, I managed to cover more mileage than Danny did (around 470 km), and in just over a day or so, all brought about by the need to drive up to Ipoh to visit a lawyer about a family-related matter. I decided to utilise the Megane RS for the task, and TCE was happy to oblige by sparing the car a day longer.

I set out keeping to the national speed limit for most of the journey up, and the Megane RS wasn’t too fussy about having to be bridled as such. Granted, it wasn’t the most comfy way to do the run, but the Megane has good temperament and isn’t as jarring as one would think (which is what I’d assumed). Noise levels are decent, with the tyres contributing most of it.

There was even a fair amount of in-town driving managed in Ipoh, and the Megane didn’t feel unwieldy in such conditions, even in heavier traffic conditions. The clutch has workable bite and useful travel, and the car remains nicely tractable and poised at low level speeds, so ambling along is accomplished easily enough.

Five different stops were made, and about the only minus I’d say about it would be it’s not the best to have if you need to hop in and out of it on a continuous basis, the ingress and egress aspects in a coupe being evident. Or just maybe, I’m getting old.

The return trip was done in far faster fashion, taking around an hour and 15 mins point to point. By the time I got back to KL, it had been nine hours since I started out, and I had gotten thoroughly accustomed to the Megane’s ride – it didn’t even feel that firm any more (certainly, the VW Polo GTI’s is firmer).

Blasting along on the return had demanded more attention and focus, but though tired, it wasn’t a case of being completely drained by what turned out to be a very rewarding drive back at speed.

So, to answer the question as posed by Danny, would the Megane RS 250 be able to be used as a daily driver? I’m inclined to believe it can, but then again, I’ve always had an affinity for stick shifters, and don’t have to fight my way through morning madness on an everyday basis. Its ability to behave in composed fashion at low-level speeds does stand it in good stead, for those who have to. Probably not if you’re doing recurring door-to-door deliveries on a daily basis, but for everything else, what a tool.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault ZOE electric car launched – 210 km NEDC range

Danny Tan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:05:49 +0000

Renault has officially launched the ZOE electric car at Geneva. To go on sale later this year, the ZOE was designed as a pure-electric car from the ground up, and to be affordable, to Europeans at least.

In line with Renault’s “electric mobility for all” theme, the ZOE is priced close to that of a diesel-engined city car in markets where tax incentives are available. As discussed in our i-MiEV test drive report, government incentives are vital to make expensive EVs more reachable by the masses.

In France, the ZOE starts from €15,700 (after tax incentive of €5,000) and in the UK, where a subsidy of £4,333 is available, tax-paid prices start from £13,650.

That’s for the car. The cost of leasing the battery starts from €79/month (price for a 36-month contract and a distance travelled of 12,500 km/year), inclusive of comprehensive breakdown assistance, which covers flat batteries.

Apparently, more than 60 patents have been filed for ZOE’s design. Renault has developed the ‘Range OptimiZEr’ that combines three major innovations (new-generation regenerative braking, a heat pump and Michelin Energy E-V tyres).

This combo gives the ZOE a range of 210 km, the highest among production mass market EVs. In real world conditions such as in suburban use, owners will generally achieve around 100 km in cold weather and 150 km in temperate conditions.

The heat pump provides good thermal comfort without affecting the vehicle’s range. It operates in the same way as reverse-cycle air-conditioning, and consumes very little electricity – approximately 2 kW of cooling or 3 kW of heat with just 1 kW of electricity. The cabin temperature is not affected by the heat from the motor.

The Michelin Energy E-V tyre is making its world premiere, too. Developed through a four-year research and innovation program conducted jointly by Renault and Michelin, the tyre’s rubber compound, tread design and sidewalls have been engineered to withstand ZOE’s high torque and address the specific demands of EVs. Available in 15- and 16-inch versions, this tyre is fitted to all ZOE models.

The ZOE comes with Renault’s patented Caméléon charger, compatible with all power levels up to 43 kW. Charging batteries at a charging station can take between 30 minutes and nine hours. For example, ZOE can be charged in an hour at 22 kW. This intermediate power level extends battery life and puts less pressure on the power grid than the fast-charging of batteries at 43 kW.

The ZOE’s synchronous electric motor with rotor coil has a power output of 65 kW and maximum torque of 220 Nm. The car is fitted with ‘Z.E. Voice’, an alarm that warns pedestrians that the ZOE is approaching. ‘Z.E. Voice’ can be heard from 1 to 30 km/h and the driver can choose between three sounds. It can be switched off.

Like all EVs, cute little ZOE emits no CO2, NOx, CO or fine particles. Not the kind of Renault hatchback we’re used to here, but just as impressive!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Twingo Mauboussin – a sparkly choice indeed

Anthony Lim — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:12:16 +0000

Apparently, this one was designed to celebrate Valentine’s Day, though it was only launched earlier this week. It’s called the Twingo Mauboussin, and it’s a limited edition all dressed up to appeal to women buyers.

The hatch, reworked in cooperation with celebrated jeweller Mauboussin, gets a unique Tourmaline Brown metallic paint job, as well as half-leather, half chocolate-coloured cloth upholstery. The air vents and air-conditioning controls are also finished in Tourmaline Brown, as are the floor mats.

As expected, the Mauboussin logo is played up to the hilt, to be seen on the door panels, headrests and protective mats, and decals on the bonnet, tailgate and sides highlight the label further. All Twingo Mauboussin customers will also receive a silver Mauboussin pendant watch named “1960, je t’aime”.

Two engine variants are available for the limited series Twingo, in this case a dCi 85 eco2 or 75 hp 1.2 LEV 16V eco2 – besides France, the version will also be available in Italy, Austria and Morocco.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Sport is Official Sponsor of MegaLAP Time Attack

Danny Tan — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:00:56 +0000

Renault Sport has signed up as the Official Sponsor for the MegaLAP Time Attack Series, which commences on February 26 at Sepang International Circuit. Renault Sport is the motorsports and performance brand of French manufacturer Renault, distributed by TC Euro Cars in Malaysia.

We’re sure that followers of this website will be familiar with Renault Sport, the outfit responsible for hot hatches Megane RS 250 Cup and Clio RS 200 Cup, the latter launched yesterday and available for viewing at Bangsar Shopping Centre.

TC Euro’s involvement in MegaLAP is to increase the awareness of the performance Renault Sport line-up by supporting activities within the market-segment (read serious enthusiasts) that would find RS vehicles a serious choice of performance car.

“MegaLAP s the perfect platform for Renault Sport to get in touch with like-minded enthusiasts. Renault Sport cars are built for driving enthusiasts by driving enthusiasts. We feel MegaLAP participants are indeed spirited drivers that would enjoy such a vehicle,” said Reza Mutalib, GM of TC Euro Cars, who added that he expects to see some RS owners competing at MegaLAP.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Clio RS 200 Cup – Angel & Demon edition, RM199k

Danny Tan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:48:41 +0000

TC Euro Cars, guardian of the Renault brand in Malaysia, gave the new Clio RS a media preview at Bangsar Shopping Centre this afternoon. The Clio Renault Sport 200 Cup, to give it its full name, is the younger brother of the Megane RS 250 Cup that we love, and the hottest version of Renault’s B-segment supermini. It’s not the first of its kind to be sold here – TCEC brought in the previous “197″ model without the Cup chassis.

The Clio RS 200 Cup is essentially the same car as before, but with a new front end design and tweaks here and there to improve the car. The car comes with F1 inspired aero bits, including front-wing air-extractors, a rear diffuser and a front splitter.

Often hailed as the most fun supermini to drive by the UK press, the Clio RS comes with an independent steering axis front suspension layout, said to be segment exclusive.

The Cup chassis brings a ride height lowered by 7 mm, uprated damper calibration (+27% front, +30% rear), increased torsional rigidity (+10%) and a closer ratio steering (7.5% quicker). All these combine for more feel and more grip. Oh and those brakes are four-pot Brembos.

Under the hood is the familiar F4R RS 2.0-litre engine, probably one of the final few high revving NA engines one can buy before the world gets taken over by forced induction.

Over the one in the old Clio RS, it gets slightly more power (203 hp) and 20% more low-end torque (below 3,000 rpm) thanks to a new cylinder head, continuously variable intake valve timing and engine mapping tweaks. Max torque is 215 Nm at 5,400 rpm. Both max power and torque are made 150 rpm lower than before.

To further improve drivability, the first, second and third gear ratios of the six-speed manual gearbox (sorry, no auto) have all been shortened for better acceleration. 0-100 km/h is done in 6.9 seconds, while the top speed of 225 km/h is 10 km/h higher than before. Rounding things off, combined fuel consumption of 8.2 litres/100 km is 0.7L better than before.

TCEC has elected to bring in the “Ange & Démon” limited 666-unit run version, which means every unit sold here will be a numbered limited edition.

Unlike the standard Clio RS Cup seen in our pics, the Angel & Demon car comes with black wheels, red painted Brembos, leather wrapped Recaros (like those on the Megane RS GT pack) and a choice of pearly white (pretty much like the car here) or “Matt Hologramme Grey” paint. This means that the Clio RS is the only car sold in Malaysia with factory matte paint. Also, the Clio will come with the cool R.S. Monitor, as found in the Megane RS.

The Clio RS 200 Cup retails for RM199,000 OTR without insurance. Order one now and your Angel or Devil will arrive in April. You can head over to BSC for a closer look.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Twingo R.S. – sporting up the facelifted tyke

Anthony Lim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:58:24 +0000

The second-generation Renault Twingo had a souped-up Renaultsport edition, so it’s no surprise that the facelifted Twingo, which made its debut in Frankfurt last year, is to get a similar job.

Called the Twingo R.S., the car retains the same 133 hp as before from a normally-aspirated 1.6 16V R.S. engine, with 160 Nm of torque on call. It’ll come as standard with a Sport chassis, but there’s an optional Cup chassis, which lowers the ride height by 4 mm. Other kit includes large 280 mm-diameter front and 240 mm-diameter rear brake discs, with the R.S. Monitor on-board telemetry system available as an option.

Exterior design cues include a dynamic grille design with four lights and a front bumper incorporating an F1-style blade – this detail, which now runs across the Renault Sport range, recalls Renault’s success in F1. At the back, there’s a tailgate-mounted lip spoiler, a special bumper incorporating a diffuser and aerodynamic extensions on the rear wheel arches.

A Design Pack is also available, and this one includes grey/dark gunmetal grey door mirror housings, F1 blade and R.S. lip spoiler, plus chrome details for the fog light surrounds. The hallmark Sirius Yellow finish will be available as an option from the end of May, and the car can also be specified with new 16-inch ‘Emotion’ alloy wheels, complete with ‘R.S.’-badged centre caps.

Inside, there’s the trademark Renault Sport yellow stitching on the steering wheel, seats and dashboard cowl, while the dashboard, radio console, rev-counter housing and lateral air vents all come with gloss black inserts. For further contrast, the top of the steering wheel, seat backs and cushions, rev-counter surround and manual climate control controls are picked out in white.

The Twingo R.S. goes on sale from the middle of next month in Europe, and will be marketed in 20 countries. There’s also a Gordini R.S. version to pick from, if the R.S. sounds a bit too flashy.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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Renault Megane RS 250 beats its previous Sepang lap record by five seconds!

Danny Tan — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:05:17 +0000

The Renault Megane RS 250 recently revisited Sepang and in the process, rewrote its personal best laptime of the F1 track in the hands of Denis Lian. If you remember, Denis, a brand manager at Wearnes Singapore with some race experience, did 2:43.02 with a stock Megane RS 250 in November 2010, just before the car was officially launched here.

That was a great lap time for a stock hot hatch, but the folks at TC Euro Cars were quietly confident that they could do better with a clear track and favourable conditions. So they invited the Singaporean down to Sepang for another go, this time with semi slick Toyo tyres on the same stock standard unit.

The unit was and still is TCEC’s only test car, abused by customers and journos alike, with 30k km on the clock. Standard alignment settings (no funny cambers), shocks and brakes, with only the brake pads recently changed. As stock as they come, which is intentional on TCEC’s part – they want to prove that the Megane RS is a master of road and track straight out of the box.

“You can drive the car back as is, pick up your wife and kids, and they wont complain about the loud exhaust, stiff suspension – all the things normally associated with a car of heavy tune,” Reza Mutalib, GM of TCEC told me. We know the Megane well, and it’s hard to disagree.

Anyway, the target was to beat 2:40, so it was a job well done with a best time of 2:38.16. Very impressive. If you’re wondering, Denis did the deed at the recent exclusive Renault Sport track day for owners and prospects. He was there early, and “work” was finished when I reached in the morning. According to him, it wasn’t as straightforward as hitting the track and trying until he hit the mark.

Apparently, the Toyo Proxes R888 rubber used has a sweet spot, and performed the best at 37 PSI front, 38 PSI rear when hot, with performance dropping off outside of that window. So Denis had to be consistent to perform when the window opened.

The Megane RS 250 is capable and great fun on track. You can read my non professional view of the car on track here, but here’s what Denis had to say. “The brakes are overspecified, and more than adequate for the car. They’re easy to modulate and there’s a nice feel and linear fashion to how it works.”

But that’s not what he likes most about the Megane RS, which is brought in with the Cup chassis as standard. “The chassis is very neutral. While it resists understeer very well, the back still works,” referring to the lively rear end of the Renault on the limit. “It reaches the traction limit in a linear ‘flowy’ manner, and lets go progressively. You can see this in Turn 13 to 14, a nice flowing rotation, like a rear wheel drive car,” he enthused.

“It’s unusual for a modern FWD car, very old school, but without the snap oversteer,” Denis noted. If you think the chap is being very generous, he has this to say: “I’m a good judge because I don’t like FWD cars!”

Is this the best time the Megane RS can do at Sepang? Denis thinks that a further two seconds can be shaved off with full slicks, but the reason they chose semi slicks is to demonstrate that owners can get a lot more out of the RS without going to the extreme. Judging from the seriousness I witnessed at the track day, I think many of them already know that for a fact!

Our impressions of the Megane RS on road and track can be found here and here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +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, 27 May 12 13:03:42 +0000.

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