Renault – Page 12 – Automobiles Review

Renault DCross Concept Unveiled

Renault DCross Concept is the next exciting SUV model which was just revealed in Sao Paolo. Next to it the brand unveiled also the Novo Clio and Fluence GT, which are exclusively made for the Brazilian market.

Novo Clio is the first vehicle in Brazil which is going to include brand’s new identity. The model is in fact an evolution of Clio II and brings to the customers more personalization options and individualization.

On the other hand, the Fluence GT is the first vehicle to bear the Renault Sport signature. The sporty version of the sedan will be equipped with 180 hp (132 kW) turbo-compressed engine, a sport chassis and a sporty design.

The new DCross concept however is something we have already seen before and are familiar with it. If you think that it looks exactly like the Dacia Duster, than you are hundred percent right!

Nonetheless, the fresh green appearance of the concept is something that grabs the attention immediately. And the contrasting matt black paint scheme brings about more aggressiveness to the over outlook of this Renault SUV.

In addition, compared to the Duster model, this one has a raised height which makes it perfect for off-road enthusiasts. And the main question here is whether we are going to see this concept taking a form of an official production vehicle.

October 24, 2012

2014 Renault Clio Cup – Price

2014 Renault Clio Cup - Front Angle

“We’ve enjoyed 22 fantastic years of Renault UK Clio Cup racing and the brand new Clio Cup race car is an incredibly exciting new chapter in the story for everyone”, commented Renault UK Communications Director Jeremy Townsend.

“We will continue to run the existing car in the British championship through 2013, with the intention to then introduce the new turbo-charged Clio Cup car the following season. Getting the timing right is very important, the car will race in the Clio Eurocup next year so our teams in the UK will have ample opportunity to see it in action ahead of its planned 2014 UK debut.”, Mr. Townsend added.

The car is currently put on various test including different race courses. It will hit the market in September, next year with price of €37,800 (excluding VAT), which is a lot, but for such amount of money you will get superfast road car.

Talking about power, the new Clio Cup has a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 220HP (161 kW) and 270Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The car is FWD, but it has a LSD (limited slip differential) granting maximum traction at every conditions.

The Clio Cup also comes with complete high-performance brake system from AP Racing. The suspension features ZF-Sachs adjustable dampers. Last, but not least is the data acquisition system with a dashboard-mounted display giving all needed information to the driver.

The exterior of 2014 Clio Cup boasts new front fascia, a roof-mounted scoop and 17” Speedline Corse alloy wheels fitted with performance tires. There is also a rear wing, which is not only for good looks, but provide 40 kg of downforce at speeds of over 200 km/h.

Source: Renault

October 17, 2012

Cam Shaft Renault Clio RS as Ringtool

Renault Clio RS has just been chosen by the foiling company Cam Shaft as a ringtool. And if you aren’t aware what this term means – this is a vehicle which is taken just for fun of driving on racing circuits.

In this case the surface of the Renault has been foiled in matt Graphite Metallic, and the exterior mirrors are in green paintwork. Here the motor hood is very interesting, because when you look at it, it seems like that a can with green paint has accidentally fallen over it. As the slice wedge, an incitement MOVE RIGHT is affixed, but in green mirror writing.

The Clio RS originally comes with 17 inch RS rims. However, they have been powder-coated in green and covered with semi-slick tires from Kumho in 215/45. In combination with a coil-over suspension by H&R with Nurburgring North Loop tuning, a special kind of driving dynamics is achieved.

Another important highlight here is the modification done on the driving dynamics. The power has been enhanced to 225 hp (165 kW) and 250 Nm (185 lb-ft) of torque. In addition, there has been also installed a sports air filter by K&N. In fact the entire exhaust system has been modified with ingredients from Supersprint: bends, 100-cell sport catalysts and both the middle and the rear muffler are from Mantova.

The front part of the brake system has been replaced with the one from Renault Megane II. Combined with the stainless steel brake lines at the front and the rear it delivers optimum deceleration.

At last what is left to be said is that there is a Clubsport cage by Sahler Motorsport which is powder-coated in green, as well as the discreet Stickerbombing in the interior.

Source: Miranda Media

October 4, 2012

RenaultSport Megane 265 Trophy by K-Tec Racing

K-Tec Racing RenaultSport Megane 265 Trophy

K-Tec Racing has announced engine performance upgrade for the latest, hottest version of the RenaultSport Megane, the 265 Trophy.

The name is “Performance Pack 1”m which boosts the 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine to 305HP (224 kW) and 441Nm (327 lb-ft). This is an increase of 40HP and 81Nm. In other words the 1387 kilo Megane 265 Trophy will accelerate in under 6 seconds to 100 km/h and hit the top speed of 255 km/h (158 mph).

Priced at just £414 including installation, rolling road testing and VAT, the exciting K-Tec Racing Performance Pack 1 for the RenaultSport Megane 265 Trophy is available now.

For additional peace of mind, all of K-Tec Racing’s Performance Pack upgrades are now covered by a sector leading 12 month / 30,000 mile supplementary vehicle warranty.

Source: K-Tec Racing

August 8, 2012

2012 Renault Clio RS [render]

2013 Renault Clio RS render has been released by PS-Garage.com. The digital artists tried to “see” what is under the cover of recently spied Clio RS.The car will be powered by a 1.6 liter turbocharged petrol with 190HP (139 kW). The new engine will be connected to a new dual-clutch gearbox that will be operated by paddle-shifters.”Here is our interpretation, what changed? Lower ride height, bigger wheels, sportier aero kit – more aggressive front bumper, with plenty space for the intercooler and rear diffuser with rectangular exhaust tips. Added a bigger rear trunk wing, also removed chrome trimmings from the doors and the rear hatch.”, commented PS-Garage’s Dan Buzdugan.Stay tuned for more information about the small hot hatchback!

July 9, 2012

Fourth Generation Renault Clio Debut

The neat and sexy Renault Clio is back for a fourth generation which will add even more versatility and style to the family. Despite being packed with new and exciting features and looking curvy as a maxi model, the 2013 Clio weighs around 100 kg less than it’s predecessor.

It’s also lower and with a wider track. That way, Renault have added aggression to an already impish hatch. The Clio’s face also looks menacing while the strictly 5-door policy emits a certain degree of seriousness. Inside, a predominantly minimalist dashboard appears in the form of an “aircraft wing”. As standard, from the Dynamicque trim and upwards, the 2013 Clio gets a seven-inch wide touchscreen R-Link system that connects you to the outside world. That includes a TomTom sat nav and a software that gives insight to the car’s electronic systems. Through it, one can access to an advanced eco-driving function which analyzes and aids the user’s driving style.

Renault Clio (2013)

And if it’s eco what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the two new engines that come with the fourth-gen Renault Clio. One is an Energy TCe 90 Petrol unit that has three cylinders and 0.9-liters of displacement. But because it’s turbocharged it develops 90 hp and still manages to average 65.7 mpg when taking into account the economy-optimised gearbox and the Stop&Start system. The second engine is a 1.5-liter Energy dCi 90 unit which also has 90 hp to play with but because it’s a diesel it returns even more economy – 88 mpg and even less CO2 emissions per kilometer. You get quite a lot of torque as well: 220 Nm available from 1,750 rpm.

For the more dynamic individuals, there will be the TCe 120 which will be available during the first half of 2013. We are talking about a 1.2-liter, 120 bhp engine that packs a 190 Nm punch at 1,750 rpm as well. The power will be transmitted through a six-speed EDC automatic transmission (EDC stands for Efficient Dual Clutch) – technology that has been unknown to the Clio range up until know. The dCi 90 engine will also have this gearbox as an option.

Further details of New Renault Clio will be provided at the international media road tests in September and at the Paris Motor Show.

Source: Renault

July 4, 2012

Renault Alpine A 110-50 Revealed

Completely out of the blue, it’s the Renault Alpine A 110-50 – a tribute to the original 1962 Alpine A 110 Berlinetta. A nostalgic DNA strain is clearly visible on the concept’s design cues. Don’t be fooled though – it’s as modern as a teenager’s mobile phone. The base for it is a Renault Mégane Trophy with minor changes in detail that make the difference.

The familiar bits can be seen on the bodywork – a slippery line, a reminiscence of the A 110 additional headlights (yellow LED arches), the 3D rear window, the air vents on the rear-wheel arches serve the same functions as the ones on the Berlinette – the rigt-hand one cools the gearbox while the left-hand one channels air to the engine bay.

The body is made from carbon fiber, the aerodynamic components (the front splitter, rear diffuser and back-wing) have been designed to give maximum downforce. The engine is now mid, instead of rear-mounted. Thus weight distribution stands at 47.8% on the front axle. The wheelbase is identical to that of the Megane Trophy but the track is slightly wider – 1,680 mm at the front and 1,690 mm at the back. Special 21-inch wheels with central bolts complement the whole look and are fitted with homologated Michelin tires.

The suspension is provided by Sachs and can be adjusted in terms of height and compression. Even, further, one can fiddle with the A 110-50’s camber, anti-roll and alignment settings. What is again a throwback however, is the lack of ABS or traction control nonsense. Still, you do get 356 mm disc brakes with six-piston callipers at the front and 330 mm ones at the back clamped by four-piston callipers.

The engine is also taken from the Mégane Trophy – its the Renault V4Y block that has 3.5-liters of displacement, six cylinders in the V formation and 400 bhp. The moving bits have been replaced in order to fit the purpose – think in terms of pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, camshafts and valve springs. Modifications on the intake and exhaust systems have also been made. (that gash on the roof is not really faulty welding, but in fact an air scoop).

For the transmission, Renault have put all their F1 know-how into work – a semi-automatic sequential box and a ceramic twin-plate clutch operated by either a pedal or a paddle behind the wheel.

Here’s a comprehensive list of specs:

CHASSIS
Type	Tubular 25CD4S steel chassis with semi-load bearing engine and gearbox
BODYWORK	Carbon
Aerodynamic features Front splitter, diffuser, rear wing
ENGINE
Position	Longitudinal, mid-rear
Type	Renault V4Y – 6 cylinders – 24 valves – 3,498cc
Bore x stroke	95.5mm x 81.4mm
Injection/ignition	Magneti-Marelli Marvell 6R
Maximum power	400hp at 7,200rpm
Maximum torque	422Nm at 6,200rpm
Maximum revs	7,500rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type	Rear-wheel drive
Gearbox	Six speeds + reverse – sequential
Gear shift	Semi-automatic (pedal-operated clutch and paddle)
Differential	Limited slip differential
Clutch	Cerametallic twin-plate 184mm-diameter clutch
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
Suspension	Double wishbones, adjustable two-way Sachs damper/spring assemblies, front anti-roll bar
Front brakes	Ventilated steel discs (O 356mm x 32mm) with six-piston AP Racing callipers
Rear brakes	Steel discs (O 330mm x 32mm) with four-piston AP Racing callipers
WHEELS & TYRES
Wheels	Aluminium alloy – Front: 8 x 21 / Rear: 9.5 x 21
Tyres	Michelin 245-35 x 21 (front) and 265-35 x 21 (rear)
DIMENSIONS, CAPACITIES
Length/width/height 4,330mm / 1,961mm / 1,230mm
Front/rear track	1,680mm / 1,690mm
Fuel tank	30 litres
Kerb weight	880kg

Source: Renault

May 28, 2012

Renault Alpine A110-50 in Monaco?

Much like in a pre-earthquake situation, subtle seismic activity is currently jolting the realm of the automotive industry. This is a render of the supposed incoming Alpine A110-50 Renault based concept. We might know for sure however, this weekend at the Monaco F1 round.

As a company, Alpine has been around for more than a half of a century. In 1973 however, Renault acquired what most of it with the idea to introduce a high performance range of cars to the world. Sadly, the last thing ever to come out as an Alpine was the A610 back in 1991. Renault are now using the facilities to built their Megane and Clio Renault Sport models there but, evidently the Alpine badge is not in ashes just yet.

Not much is out yet on the A110-50 Concept but roomer has it that it will be based on the Renault Megane Coupe Trophy and that it will have a 3.5-liter, mid-mounted V6 engine. Expect around 400 bhp and a weight of less than a ton.

This could have been here earlier but the global financial downfall of 2009 tended to freeze ambitious ideas like that.

Source: Motorsport-Magazine via Sport Auto

May 22, 2012

Are Renault Set to Electrify the Car Market?

62% of motorists have reduced the amount of time they spend behind the wheel as a result of rising running costs. Remarkably, a further 5% of motorists have been forced to give up driving altogether.

This is a problem for which there has appeared to be no obvious solution. Public transport is often not on time and certainly not convenient; while efforts by major manufacturers to produce a viable green car option have been sparse. The green cars that have been produced have not been viewed as a viable alternative by motorists in general either due to high initial purchase costs or impracticality.

However, French car manufacturer Renault believes that it finally has the answer to these problems; and is so confident in the concept that it has gone about launching a complete electric vehicle fleet.

Why have others failed?

Nissan became the first major manufacturer to put an electric vehicle into mass production in 2010 with the Nissan Leaf; a car with a selling price of £25,990 (after a government subsidy) which is capable of about 100 miles between charges.

Since the launch, it has been the high initial selling price which has prevented the vehicle from becoming mainstream, despite the obvious consumer demand for more fuel friendly options. After all, a brand new Focus would cost close to £12,000 less than a brand new Leaf.

It has been estimated that it would cost just £2 for an electric vehicle such as this to recoup its total charge. Based on this logic, it would cost just £180 per year for the average driver to complete their annual 9,000 miles of on-the-road travel. This works out at a remarkable saving of about £1,150 compared to what the average Vauxhall Corsa driver would spend each year on fuel.

However, while this is a significant amount, it would still take over ten years to recover the additional purchase costs before overall savings could be experienced.

What has Renault done different?

Renault has therefore set about dramatically reducing these high initial purchase costs so that they are not too dissimilar from those charged for conventional fossil fuel vehicles. The cheapest of their offerings is the Renault Twizy city car which available from just £6,690 but is still capable of completing 62 miles between charges.

This low cost mentality has been maintained across the whole of the vehicle range even with the new Renault Kangoo electric van which is actually £4,000 less expensive than a conventional Ford Transit.

However, it is the Renault Zoe which is perhaps the most impressive offering in Renault’s electric range. The Zoe is equivalent in size to the Clio and available from £13,650. Most impressive of all is the fact that it has a range 130 miles between charges which will no doubt be more than enough for the average motorist to complete their daily commute. The fact that it is just under £4,000 more expensive than a Fiesta means that running cost savings wouldn’t take half as long to be experienced.

Are there any drawbacks?

The fact that the electric vehicles are more limited in terms of their total range between charges/re-fills is obviously a handicap, but the total time it takes to recharge is actually a larger concern. This limited range would surely not be half as problematic if it didn’t take between 6 and 8 hours to recoup total power.

Nevertheless, as Renault itself has pointed out, a range of 130 miles on a Zoe will be more than sufficient for the average commuter. In addition to this, the fact that the Twizy is not liable to road tax or congestion charging makes it the ideal city runabout in a place like London.

However, the one problem which has been created by Renault is the contract governing battery hire. Anyone who purchases a Renault Zoe for instance must commit to paying £70 to rent the battery for the next 3 years otherwise they aren’t going to be moving very far. The contract also stipulates that owners will not be able to do more than 6,000 miles per year within paying an additional unspecific “excess mileage charge”.

Battery rental charges are therefore likely to go some way to eradicating the fuel savings made by motorists; with Zoe owners set to pay at least an extra £840 per year; reducing the potential saving to just £310 over the cost of buying fuel for a Vauxhall Corsa.

Have Renault got it right?

Renault have made a significant step forward with these vehicles, creating affordable electric vehicles for the first time which are likely to financially viable to the public at large. On top of this Renault are the kings of marketing and brand perception in the motoring world, and if anyone is capable of carving out an attractive image for an electric car it is them.

However, these battery rental fees are a massive cause for concern which will likely prove off putting for the majority of motorists. This along with the limited range and length recharging times will likely prove to be off putting for the majority.

But this doesn’t mean that Renault’s electric range won’t appeal to anyone, with city dwellers likely to find the Renault Twizy a very attractive proposition. Battery rental on the Renault Twizy is just £45 per month; a fee which would be recouped by spending just 5 days in areas covered by the London congestion charge. Owners could then start to benefit from a heavily reduce annual fuel bill despite spending well under £7,000 for the initial vehicle.

May 3, 2012

2012 Cam Shaft Renault Clio Eyecatcher delivers 200 horsepower

2012 Cam Shaft Renault Clio Eyecatcher is the latest model, modified by the German tuning company Cam Shaft.

The vehicle is based on the motor sport model of Renault Clio 200 Cup. It comes with an optimized two-liter engine and thanks to it the car can surf usual streets with 200 hp (147 kW).

In addition, it is with 1,800 up to 2,000 ccm of cubic capacity.

The tuners from Cam Shaft have installed KW suspension of the Variant 2, which comes with racing sport bearings and discs. The brake lining is produced by EBC Brakers.

The K&N sport air filter fulfils its task in the engine house. In addition, the Akrapovic Evolution exhaust system produces great sound. Furthermore, the Alleggerita HTL OZ rims match Clio in perfect way. And in the interior has been installed Evo seats and steering wheel by Sparco.

But probably the most “eye-catching” thing about this model is its outer skin. And here the tuners from Cam Shaft have done their best.

The Clio got a complete orange foil coating. Moreover, it also has hundreds of black patterns on the top and on the parts of the engine hood and fenders. And as you can see, in specific places the color flows in uncontrolled streams.

The secret of Cam Shaft is that they used the Platinum Wrapping Film by Bruxafol.

Source: Cam Shaft

April 16, 2012

2012 Twingo Renaultsport 133 – Price £13 565

Renault has priced the new Twingo Renaultsport 133. It is now available from £13 565 OTR coming with restyled exterior, new interior and a lot of standard extras.

The exterior of 2012 Twingo Renaultsport 133 features a new dynamic grille design with four lights and a front bumper incorporating an F1-style blade. At the rear, the model boasts a black rear spoiler, a special rear bumper incorporating a diffuser and aerodynamic extensions on the rear wheel arches.

The interior comes with Renaultsport yellow stitching on the steering wheel and seats, together with white detailing for the top of the steering wheel, seat backs and cushions, rev-counter surround and air conditioning controls.

The standard equipment includes 16” alloy wheels, Bluetooth™, cruise control, electric Gloss Black door mirrors, ESC (with on/off switch), speed limiter, extra tinted windows and tailgate, Renaultsport exhaust with chrome tailpipe, plus Twingo’s versatile independent sliding and folding rear seats.

The options list is also huge:

17” Anthracite or Gloss Black alloy wheels – £500,

curtain airbags – £250,

metallic paint – £460

Renaultsport Liquid Yellow i.d. paint – £1,300 (from end May 2012).

Renaultsport Monitor telemetry system – £125.

Anthracite Style – for the front blade, door mirrors covers and rear spoiler – £150

Cup chassis – £700

Twingo Renaultsport 133 is powered by a 1.6 liter naturally-aspirated powerplant with 133HP (98 kW) at 6750RPM and 160Nm (118 lb-ft) at 4400RPM. 0-100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h (125 mph).The revised Twingo Renaultsport 133 boasts CO₂ emissions of 150g/km, a saving of 3.2% compared to its predecessor and improved fuel consumption of 43.5 mpg combined cycle, up 3%.

Source: Renault

March 29, 2012

Renault Avantime – 10th anniversary

Renault Avantime Grand Tourer Coupe celebrates its 10^th anniversary in the UK. To mark the occasion a special meeting is being held for owners and enthusiasts next month.

The vehicle was super-luxurious back in 2002, when it hit the market. It was designed by Patrick le Quément. To commemorate the car’s latest milestone, the Avantime Owners Club will drive their iconic cars to the Transport Museum in Coventry on April 7 to chat about the Renault design classic, share stories and admire plenty of pristine examples of the eye-catching models on display.

Renault Avantime combines comfort, style and performance wrapped in a distinctive, innovative, attention-grabbing body, with design project manager Thierry Metroz admitting at the time he “wanted someone walking around the car to be continually astonished”.

It is one of a few concept cars produced by a volume manufacturer that has gone straight into production within a year of first being seen by the general public, and redefined luxury travel and passenger safety at the time.

The combination of performance and driving enjoyment, the luxury of interior space and comfort, heightened by the panoramic glass roof and four windows which could all be lowered at the touch of a button –advanced on-board technology and a powerful engine put Avantime at the top of the wish list of anyone seeking to stand out from the crowd, see and be seen, in style and in comfort.

Avantime is powered by a powerful 3.0 liter 24-valve V6 with 210PS (155 kW) capable of doing 225 km/h (140mph). It is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Production only lasted 12 months due to Matra being unable to find a replacement model for Espace III production that was coming to a close leaving them with too much excess capacity. This has made Avantime, which was also available in a 2.0 Turbo in Dynamique guise and a 3.0 V6 automatic on the flagship Privilege version, something of a rarity on the roads and helped to build a cult following among current and past owners and enthusiasts of these iconic design classics.

The Avantime Owners Club 10^th anniversary meeting takes place at the Coventry Motor Museum on Saturday, April 7 from 9am.

Source: Renault

March 22, 2012

Tag: Renault