Full steam ahead for Renault

RENAULT will boost its presence considerably in Australia over the next five years, with a complete revamp of its present range.

Underlining this will be an unprecedented expansion into new model segments, as the French car-maker leverages key areas of partner Nissan’s 4WD, V6 engine and CVT (continuously variable transmission) expertise.

The strategy is part of Renault’s "Commitment 2009" program announced in February, which promises 26 new models (half of which will take the company into new segments), big quality strides and a stronger focus on customer needs and "aspirations".

It sets out to achieve a six per cent profit operation margin and 800,000 extra sales by 2009.

In Australia, a doubling of last year’s disappointing 3301 sales is the unofficial target, although Renault Australia’s managing director Rudi Koenig told GoAuto recently that more could be possible.

The Megane Phase II range launched late last month, as well as the Scenic Phase II facelift due early next year, are intended to keep sales simmering in the next two years.

A more pronounced sales push is expected from the diesel-engined Megane and Scenic models arriving sometime within the second quarter of 2007.

Two common-rail turbo-diesel four-cylinder units are planned – a 78kW/240Nm 1.5-litre dCI and 96kW/300Nm 1.9-litre dCI engine, available with a six-speed manual or Renault’s Proactive robotised four-speed sequential clutchless-manual gearbox.

As to the lack of diesel engines in today’s Renaults, Mr Koenig admitted that "we’ve missed the boat", but insisted that the new dCI units would make up for lost time.

Having said that, next year’s Clio III range – led at first by the 140kW/215Nm RS 197, the successor to today’s iconic Sport 182, with the regular three- and five-door hatchback models following later – will be a petrol-only prospect for now. Diesel variants are prospects for release further down the track.

Significantly larger, roomier, heavier and more refined, this 2006 European Car of the Year winner will have an 82kW/151Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as its base, as well as a $22,000-plus projected retail price.

As a result, and mirroring the situation, Renault Australia may continue to offer the current Clio II model as its entry-level car after the Clio III arrives, priced from about $17,000 and called Campus.

Today’s Clio opener is the $18,990, 1.4-litre Authentique.

In Europe, the superseded Clio continues partly as a consequence of design-led delays to the Twingo II, a four-seater sub-B segment city car that has been under development using the new Clio’s platform.

Overseas sources suggest that Renault’s global product chief Patrick Pelata was unhappy with the Twingo II’s original styling, which was believed to be very similar to its slow-selling Modus mini-MPV sister model released in 2004.

Mr Pelata reportedly ordered a redesign in late 2004, setting the Twingo II back to a 2007 launch. It was originally due out in Europe this year.

Australia may see the Renault city car by 2008.

The left-hand drive-only configuration of the current Twingo – released in 1992 and a direct influence on Toyota’s seismic design and packaging shift from the old-school Starlet to the futuristic Echo in 1999 – has always precluded it from Australia.

Meanwhile, sale of the Laguna II – which was suspended last year – should resume sometime in the first half of next year, in facelifted Phase II mode.

Renault is putting the finishing touches to a sub-$50,000 dCI hatchback model, boasting a powerful new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Challenging the new Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI and Mazda6 diesel models, the new Laguna diesel will deliver around 110kW of power and 340Nm of torque.

It should give the company a toehold in a segment that it has big plans to expand in, when the all-new, third-generation Laguna III range comes on stream later in 2008 or early 2009.

This is the model that Renault promises will raise the bar in terms of product and service quality. Expect it to exceed the previous Laguna’s size and $40,000 to $60,000 pricing.

Believed to be based on the next-generation, front-wheel drive Nissan Maxima/Teana platform, the Laguna III should also employ some future Nissan petrol V6 and CVT automatic drivetrains to supplement the advanced diesel engine offerings, highlighting the Japanese expertise in this area.

It will also herald Renault’s new design direction, which does away with the bold and buxom look of today’s 2002-vintage Megane. The 2004 Fluence concept car is a possible style indicator.

The all-new Megane III is due in 2009, and will share much of the underbody architecture with the next-generation Nissan C-segment (Tiida) small car.

Like the Laguna III, the next Megane’s styling will be toned down from today’s divisively designed model, although Renault’s controversial design boss Patrick Le Quement has described it as "extremely exciting" anyway.

Speculation is rife that Renault will offer a rebodied version of the next-generation Nissan X-Trail compact 4WD as part of its much-trumpeted push into the crossover and 4WD segments.

Unlike today’s wagon-like X-Trail, the new model will be shorter, broader and taller in the more traditional 4WD style, highlighting the model’s European focus.

GoAuto understands that the French-badged vehicles will be positioned slightly above their Japanese fraternal twins, with high levels of technology and specification reflecting Renault’s upmarket aspirations.

Again, there will be a mix of Renault (diesel) and Nissan (petrol) powerplants.

Due by 2009, the next Murano should also spawn a Renault version, complete with its own look. Expect this vehicle to be sprung off the Laguna III/Maxima/Teana II platform.

Still on upmarket vehicles, the replacement for the slow-selling Vel Satis – a BMW 5 Series-sized rival that was deemed too radical for Australia – is rumoured to be in development using an American-market Infiniti base.

On the commercial vehicle front, Renault is poised to introduce Phase II facelift versions of its mid-sized Trafic, as well as a revamp of its full-sized Master vans, during the second half of next year.

By 2009 the next-generation Kangoo should appear, in five-seater passenger as well as two-seater panel van configurations.

The enormous success of the current model in Europe means that Renault is expected to go all-out in broadening the Kangoo II’s appeal.

What's coming from Renault:

Scenic Phase II - February 2007
Megane/Scenic diesels - April 2007
Laguna II 2.0 dCI - Mid-2007
Clio III RS 197 - June 2007
Trafic Phase II - July 2007
Master III - July 2007
Compact 4WD - Mid-2008
Kangoo II - Mid-2008
Twingo II - Late 2008
Laguna III - Early 2009
Luxury 4WD - Mid-2009
Vel Satis II - Late 2009
Megane III - Early 2010