The new Renault Latitude is an interesting new sedan from Renault just unveiled today, and is part of a new range of Renaults that I personally consider as slotting in between the very low end Dacias and the regular Euro Renaults such as the Megane.
The Latitude joins the previously unveiled Fluence as a series of new cars that aren’t too cheap but at the same time is able to offer the kind of things that markets outside the typical Eurozone appreciate.
The car itself is based on the latest generation Renault-Samsung SM5 that was just unveiled end of last year, much like now the Fluence was based on a smaller Renault-Samsung product. The design is a little plain but still manages to be sleek at the same time.
It’s based on the Laguna III chassis and measures 4,890mm long by 1,830 mm wide and 1,490 mm tall.
There are some equipment to suit it being a D-segment car such as bi-Xenon adaptive directional headlamps, fragrance diffuser air conditioning, triple-zone air conditioning, a driver’s seat with massage functions, premium audio from Bose, and etc, but the full specs list haven’t been released yet. The Latitude is undoubtedly a lower cost car compared to the Laguna and will go on sale in markets such as Russia, Asia, Africa, Turkey, Gulf, Australia and Mexico. An Euro version of the car will be showcased at Paris 2010.
Renault is currently a real niche player in Malaysia, mainly selling its range of fun to drive Renault Sport cars, other than the Kangoo of course. The Renault Sport cars are joined by the Koleos SUV and the Laguna Coupe but even these don’t really sell in high volume, probably because of the high prices.
Tan Chong seems like the play safe kind of company to me so I don’t expect them to try to charge into the volume market where cars like the Fluence and this new Latitude can come into action in the C-segment and D-segment respectively. Which is a pity as they look like decent cars. The Fluence is the largest car in its class, beating the Civic in wheelbase.
Look after the jump for more photos of the new Renault Latitude. Renault have yet to release any interior photos of the car as of yet but I suspect it’ll be quite close to the Samsung SM5 so I’ve added a gallery of that car as well.
GALLERY: Renault Latitude
[zenphotopress number=999 album=1178]
GALLERY: Renault Samsung SM5
[zenphotopress number=999 album=702]
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looks like lexus…..hmm…nothing impressive….
true, esp the front grill….reminded me of a 1995 Lexus LS400
reminds me more of the next gen kia optima actually….
When is Nokia – Proton N900 coming out ?
In Korea, Samsung is not just a cell phone brand, they have finance, insurance, heavy industry, properties, electronics, resorts….
samsung conglomerate.
Samsung = south korea GLC.
Main competitor is private-owned LG.
frankly speaking, it looks so much like Lexus LS460L from the front..and the C pillar looks like something taken from Jaguar XF..
i was about to say the same thing! lol
hi5 man..haha..well, u know..koreans are(were) kinda good in ‘referring’ and ‘borrowing’ others’ design cues..haha
lolz!you only know how to bash others.This car is not designed by korean,but will be produced in S.K. where Renault has factories acquired when it bought Samsung motors in 1998.
the back lamp looks like the front lamp of the previous BMW5
i think the back lamp looks more like the next generation of the Ford Focus Sedan
I Loike the long slim silky silky silhouette , Its looks awesome..
Hope it’ll reach Malaysian shores and priced awesomely…
DOesnt look like typical renault. Should be uglier.
Paul,
I’m not so sure about your “slotting in between the very low end Dacias and the regular Euro Renaults” citation. Driven this car in Korea (from rentals) I must say it felt superb and posh, comparable to Accord or Camry if it’s not too much to say. If Samsung pick this platform from surplus of Renault they’ve certainly did a great job.
May i suggest you also post about Hyundai Equus, love that car
a new generation waja perhaps? looks like it
I think the front look like Saab!
Totally agree with you. Saab 9-3 to be exact.
wow, waja replacement model!!!
It doesn’t matter whether it look like a copycat or whatsoever as there are no cars that not copying others.. but what matters is… built quality, equipment levels, price, value for money and fun to drive…
I wish proton at least can come out with this kind of simple design.. (probably I am dreaming)
proton wont came out with this design bcoz its too ugly 4 malaysians…
i see some design cue from the new sonata. lol..
For your info, Renault also partnered with Nissan….They somehow formed some alliance as well…Thus i think there might be some platform sharing among , Samsung SM5, Renault and Nissan……
Tell us something we don’t know Pete.. Yawnnnn
Renault GT-R Amoled Edition coming soon? LOL~
Somehow its exterior still look very very Samsung…
What do u mean? Samsung never makes cars.Samsung card holds a mere 10% stake in Renault Samsung motors.outside of S.K.,all cars exported by Renault Samsung is sold under Renault brand.It is only in south korea where Renault Samsung cars bear different brand badge.
looks quite impressive. when will it reach our shores here? :-)
wow…the interior is nice…. :)
Cool design! Maybe Renault Tan Chong should give it a try?
suggest to TC rebadges it as Cefiro to fight against Camry & Accord locally.
Rather have it with the original Renault badge , not just to fight off Camry & Accord, but Mazda 6 & Peugeot 407 as well.
remind me of camry+accord
Looks like they’ve just used the same glasshouse as the Laguna and tacked a bit of chrome on the back to lengthen it visually.
…and nicked the back end off a Nissan QX, Yuck!
generic styling
does’nt work
launch it as a samsung not as a renault