What you see above is Renault’s recently announced Fluence Zero Emissions Concept Vehicle that is set to make its debut sometime during this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. While details are pretty slim at this point, the vehicle is known to be powered by lithium-ion batteries and if all goes well will go into production sometime in 2011 where 20,000-40,000 vehicles are expected to be produced.

Of course you can definitely expect more details regarding the Fluence Zero Emissions Concept Vehicle to be made known during the Frankfurt Motor Show which is already underway so don’t forget to check back as we’ll keep you updated.

via autoblog

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Okay, we’re all looking for some really big news to bust out of the Frankfurt Auto Show, so let’s sail right into the news we’re expecting to hear:

Mercedes-Benz plans to show a hydrogen-powered fuel cell version of the B-class.  It’s the first such production car to offer this, and the first two hundred will be available for purchase in early 2010.

Toyota is presenting an electric plug-in version of the Prius, as we’ve already mentioned here.

Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi are all out of the show, citing cost containment measures.

General Motors / Opel  is showing the new Astra compact..

Renault, a name you don’t hear often, will be showing the Megane and some new electric concept vehicles.

And of course, there’s lots more news afoot, but from the sounds of things, the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is going to be a doozy of a show, with plenty to see and do and talk about.

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Things are starting to get a little hot in the battle between the Forumla 1 Teams Association and Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (aka the FIA). It seems that the two parties has a bit of an argument which resulted in 8 Forumla 1 teams, namely Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW, Toyota, Red Bull and Toro Rosso (FOTA), to break away completely and announce that they will hold their own championship series in 2010.

Below are segments of the press release explaining the situation, courtesy of Autoblog:

“The teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship.

“These teams therefore have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new Championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders.

“The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series.”

With such major brands breaking away from the FIA it will be very hard for the federation to hold their own. F1 fans need not worry as this is in favor of the series. Let’s wait and see how this unfolds.

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China has announced it is blocking the import of four Renault models siting ’serious safety risks’ and non-compliance with regulations. The models involved include the Laguna, Scenic, Megane and Megane Coupe-Cabriolet.These are some of Renault’s most successful models.

The decision was made by the General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). “[W]e have repeatedly found batches of passenger vehicles made by the French Renault … do not conform with our country’s mandatory standards and relevant technical regulations, and there are serious safety risks,” AQSIQ said in a statement. Renault has not issued a full response, however a spokesman said only that the company was ’surprised’ by the decision.

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Renault has officially released the pricing for its Laguna 2010, the latest Hatch and Sport Tourer which was made available for pre-order last June 1 ahead of its expected launch on July 10, 2009. The new Laguna 2010 range will be priced from £16,795 to £25,650.

Featuring a new ‘GT’ sport look for the core-selling versions in the Hatch and Sport Tourer ranges, Laguna 2010 also introduces several new equipment features and ten eco versions. Emphasising the increasing growth of Renault’s eco programme, all eligible versions of Laguna 2010 will feature its badging, as well as the label as part of their full model name.

Among the changes with the new range is the launch of the new Carminat TomTom navigation system, combining Renault’s expertise with TomTom’s technology. Affordable, easy-to-update and user-friendly, it boasts a large 5’’8 colour display, with the accuracy of data and ergonomy of a fully integrated system.

Laguna 2010 also benefits from the 3D Sound by Arkamys system with Bluetooth, from the New Mégane range. Now offered as standard across the range, it will soon be joined by a Bose Sound system

(Source) TTKN News

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If everything goes well, we may soon see Samsung Vehicles being sold at Saturn stores. That is if Roger Penske gets anything concrete from his initial ice-breaking meeting with Renault executives. For the record, Samsung builds four passenger vehicles, all on Nissan underpinnings.

It’s not known which vehicles would be sold by Saturn or whether they would be current Samsung offerings or new ones based on Renault engineering. Also unclear: the corporate relationship between Penske and Renault-Nissan.

Curiously, it seems that Penske wants to place something new in the market. And with the turn of most motorists towards alternative cars outside that of the usual reliable car brands, you have to think what type of market study Penske saw that opened this all up.

It costs a lot to build cars in Europe, and the Astra, which, while finished more like a premium model inside than most in its class, was also priced a little bit higher and therefore didn’t sell as well as it could have, especially in this down market where price is everything. The new Saturn owner certainly won’t want to make that mistake.

(Source) CNet

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Dacia Sandero Stepway

Romanian car manufacturer, Dacia, has been a subsidiary of the French carmaker Renault since 1999. They build economical cars, which sell quite well in the eastern part of Europe. At the Barcelona Motor Show, Renault introduced a new model called the Dacia Sandero Stepway. Renault hasn’t given details about the drivetrain, but it is anticipated that it will be offered in two versions: FWD and AWD. The AWD system would be the same as on the Nissan Qashqai.

Dacia Sandero Stepway will be available with 1.6-liter 90hp gasoline or dCi 70 diesel engine. Compared to the Sandero hatchback, the Stepway has a higher ground clearance (up 20 mm). Although it looks small, the car can seat five tall adults and offers enough room for their weekend gear. Pricing is expected to start around 10,000 euros and sales will begin in September.

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Clio Renaultsport 200

The new Renault Clio RS 200 will be launched May 15 in the UK. This sporty little hatchback has 200 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine. Clio RenaultSport accelerates from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed speed is 141 mph (226 km(h). In comparison to the standard Clio, the RS 200 is 30.5 mm wider to accommodate the wider front and rear tracks which have been extended by 48mm and 50mm while the wheelbase is broadened by 10 mm.

This new Clio Renaultsport 200 range is offered in two versions: Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup and Clio Renaultsport 200. The first one comes with a cup chassis and is more performance oriented, while the regular 200 is geared more towards comfort. New Clio RS 200 will be priced from £15,750 (17,540 euros).

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Nissan unveils a hatchback car aimed at small families. The Note is the result of a collaboration between Nissan and Renault. Essentially, it’s a restyled Renault Modus, but quite heftily restyled – restyled to make a point. It has a bumptious and self-important front end – the slatted grille of a much bigger and more serious car.

Moreover, so closely does the Nissan badge resemble a widely familiar piece of London transport signage, and so big and prominent is that badge on the bonnet, people may well mistake your car for an underground station.

(Source) Times Online

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Taking its cue from the announcement that China has set its eyes on promoting the use of clean energy vehicles, Renault and Nissan have signed an agreement with the Chinese government to sell electric cars by 2011.

Under the agreement, the Franco-Japanese alliance will provide the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) with an integrated marketing scheme for electric cars, which includes the establishment of a battery-charging network.

The Ministry and Renault-Nissan have selected Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province, to be the first city to carry out the program. But the company did not reveal the financial terms of the agreement or the number of vehicles to be offered to the city, according to the report.

(Source) China Knowledge

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Dacia Duster Concept

The Dacia Duster concept makes a serious bid at taking the SUV segment by storm, due in part to its superior aerodynamic efficiency (drag coefficient of 0.30). Its sleek lines show off the swept back headlamps and neatly tucked in rear-hinged rear doors. A 1.5dCi engine produces 105hp of power and 240Nm of torque drives the Dacia SUV.

Given today’s rigorous emission norms, the maker has guaranteed that the car emits not more than 139g of CO2/km. The Renault owned brand has made sure the interiors are up to snuff too. The fluid dashboard lines, expansive legroom at the front, a large glove box and storage bins, and a sliding passenger seat complement this SUV quite well. For space, comfort and impressive looks, the 4.25m long and 1.49m high Duster is sure to receive a big thumbs-up.

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The Renault Grand Scenic has been modified a bit compared to the 2004 model. While it is capable of accommodating 9 passengers, some minor adjustments may provide better space for this popular MPV. By stretching the standard five-seat Scénic by 9 inches, Renault’s engineers were able to offer an extra pair of seats, increasing practicality while keeping the car to a manageable size.

The cheapest route to ownership is a petrol-powered model. The entry-level 1.6-litre is almost as sprightly as the 2-litre, and will save you about 5mpg at the pumps, and some £300 on your initial outlay. A 2004-registered example can be yours for less than £4,000.

A word of warning, though. Steer clear of the entry-level Authentique model, which came without air-conditioning as standard: in a car with so much glass and a full complement of passengers, the Grand Scénic quickly becomes a greenhouse.

Regardless of engine size or trim grade, all Grand Scénic models score highly in safety tests, achieving a maximum five-star Euro NCAP score, and all models get front, side and curtain airbags as standard. Big savings can be made if you are unconcerned by having a few more miles on the clock. With Scénics proving popular among fleet buyers, it isn’t uncommon to find three-year-old cars that have covered 30,000 miles per year.

If you can bring yourself to ignore the psychological 100,000-mile barrier, there are some benefits with a high-mile corporate car such as this, as regular maintenance means frequent garage visits will also have taken care of the minor repairs so often ignored by private owners. With Grand Scénic models fetching barely more money than the equivalent “standard” five-seater Scénic, now could be the time to secure all the space you will ever need.

(Source) Times Online

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The Renault Sandero may be making a lot of car buffs impatient but if there is one country that is lucky enough to get its hands on them, it would be Africa. Renault has bucked the trend by launching a new cut-price Sandero hatchback in a local assembly investment worth $100 million.

Produced in Pretoria, the country’s executive capital, the budget car is the five-door cousin of the imported Logan sedan launched in South Africa late last year. It’s been more than 30 years since the French marque last assembled a car, the Renault 5, in this country.

Designed by Renault’s Romanian Dacia subsidiary for budget-conscious markets, the Sandero is built on the same platform as the recently introduced Nissan NP200 pickup and the Logan.

The South African range is comprised of a five-model lineup, ranging in price from $9,800-$14,300.

(Source) Edmunds

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We may not feel them now but the electric car industry will soon get its share of maintenance issues such as perhaps demand and need for battery packs. Renault is about to join the electric revolution in a big way. The bright sparks at the French firm are considering not just one electric vehicle, but a full suite of electron-powered models are apparently in the pipeline for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The electric vehicles will be more than just stationary show-stand fillers to give the company a green tinge; Renault is promising the first cars will be drivable before the end of this year.

Renault also looks set to make a dramatic change to the way people buy and operate their EVs. The idea is to make an electric vehicle cheaper than its petrol equivalent. To do this Renault will sell the car without the expensive battery packs included. Under the intriguing Renault plan, owners will then lease battery packs, although details about the projected cost of leasing has not yet been outlined. Special charging stations will be set up, allowing owners to re-charge or even swap a depleted battery pack for a fully-charged one.

(Source) AutoExpress

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Making a great car will not guarantee future profits unless your marketing department is willing to boldly go where others wouldn’t. Good advertising campaigns will make people remember your brand and your particular models. Is this what the guys behind Renault Logan were thinking when they hired the add agency responsible for the slogan above?

Sure it’s a catchy title! You’re probably reading this lines because of that title. But is this what you want your car to be associated with? The Logan has been quite successful in some markets and it’s understandable why Renault wants to sell even more Logans. But from there to penisland.com is a long way to go.

I’ll admit the slogan is pretty funny, but here’s how it should read actually:

Isn’t it awful when things get crowded together?
Renault Logan, the roomiest car in its category.

So, would you buy a Logan?

via adsoftheworld

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