Έκθεση Φρανκφούρτης 2013: Renault Megane Facelift 2014

Σχετικά άρθρα

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Η Renault στην έκθεση της Φρανκφούρτης παρουσιάζει την facelift έκδοση του Megane. Η τελευταία φορά που ανανεώθηκε το Megane ήταν στην έκθεση της Γενεύης τον Μάρτιο του 2012, με τους Γάλλους να επιλέγουν να φρεσκάρουν για ακόμη μια φορά το αυτοκίνητο έτσι ώστε αυτό να συμβαδίζει με την τελευταία σχεδιαστική ταυτότητα της εταιρίας.

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Η ανανέωση έγινε και στις 4 εκδόσεις του Megane (Hatchback, Coupe, Estate, RS), με κύριο γνώρισμα να είναι ο νέος μπροστά προφυλακτήρας, η νέα γρίλια, το νέο καπό καθώς και τα νέα φωτιστικά σώματα, με τα Mégane R.S. και Mégane GT να διαθέτουν σκουρόχρωμα φωτιστικά σώματα και μαύρα γυαλιστερά φρυδάκια.

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Στο εσωτερικό υπάρχει νέος διακοπής στη κεντρική κονσόλα για τον χειρισμό του Renault R-Link, νέοι χρωματικοί συνδυασμοί, νέες επενδύσεις, με την έκδοση Bose να αποκτά μαύρα γυαλιστέρα διακοσμητικά και ζάντες 17″.

Οι πωλήσεις των ανανεωμένων Megane θα ξεκινήσουν στην Ευρώπη μέσα στο πρώτο τρίμηνο του 2014. Θα γίνει το πρώτο μοντέλο της Renault που θα εξοπλίζεται με τον νέο TCe κινητήρα 130 ίππων που θα συνδυάζεται με ένα EDC αυτόματο κιβώτιο.

[Πηγή: Renault]

[learn_more caption=”Δελτίο Τύπου”]

RENAULT AT THE 2013 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: EMOTIONAL DESIGN AND PASSIONATE INNOVATION

 Renault unveils Initiale Paris, the sixth concept car in the design strategy initiated by Laurens van den Acker. Blending technical know-how with creative prowess, the new concept car previews the Espace replacement in an Initiale Paris version and embodies the brand’s expertise and ambitions in the premium segment.

The new Mégane family on show at Frankfurt emphatically strengthens the identity of the Renault range, focused on attractive design and innovation for all. Meanwhile, the six concept cars illustrating the brand’s design renewal in its “Life Cycle” strategy, illustrated by daisy “petals”, are appearing together on the Renault stand for the first time, making a clear visual link with the production vehicles they inspired.

As on road, so on track. Renault, the holder of 11 F1 World Champion titles, is expressing all its engine-making expertise at Frankfurt with the Power Unit F1 2014 and moving enthusiastically into electric racing. Who other than Renault – pioneer and European leader in the zero-emission market – to pave the way?

CONTENTS

INITIALE PARIS CONCEPT CAR – THE ART OF PREMIUM-CLASS TRAVEL
Initiale Paris concept car, the sixth petal in Renault’s design strategy
Flowing and robust body styling, high-tech and upgradeable interior
The “Initiale Paris” signature. Renault’s take on the art of travel

DESIGN AND INNOVATION – THE BRAND’S NEW FACE
Strength through identity
The Mégane range takes on the family identity
Shared features
The latest on Renault’s electric vehicles

MOTORSPORT TECHNOLOGY – INNOVATION AND PASSION SERVING PRODUCTION MODELS  
Mégane Renaultsport and Mégane GT: New arrivals in the Renaultsport range
Renault presents the new Energy F1-2014 Power Unit
Technical partner to the FIA Formula E Championship,
Renault steps into the era of electric motorsport

INITIALE PARIS CONCEPT CAR – THE ART OF PREMIUM-CLASS TRAVEL

Renault is opening up three new paths with Initiale Paris. Making its debut at Frankfurt, the concept car:

  • illustrates the sixth petal in the design daisy, “Wisdom”, expressing open-mindedness;
  • previews the Espace replacement in Initiale Paris guise;
  • embodies the brand’s expertise and ambitions in the premium segment.  

Initiale Paris concept car, the sixth petal in Renault’s design strategy
Renault’s “life cycle” design strategy encompasses the experiences of its customers as they fall in love, discover the world, found a family, work, play, and attain wisdom. The strategy is based on an emotional styling language that is simple, sensual and warm in equal parts.

FROM PASSION TO RENEWAL: A COMPLETE DESIGN CYCLE

It is rare to see a brand display six concept cars together on its stand. By doing so, Renault is expressing the culmination of a cycle and the success of its design renewal. The exhibition puts each life stage into perspective by bringing visitors a few simple keys to make the brand’s approach easier to interpret.

Renault designs cars for each stage in life.

From this premise was born a design strategy that builds strong links with our customers.

The six “petals” in the life cycle have now been revealed:

  • Love: Life starts when you fall in love, a founding step expressed by DeZir.
  • Explore: Then comes the moment to explore the world as a couple with the Captur crossover.
  • Family: After which, you found a family, with R-Space, embodying the minivan and family car.
  • Work: Life is all about professional activity, with the Frenzy light commercial vehicle, and the associated moments of leisure.
  • Play: Then there are the good times and fun, in the shape of the Twin’Z and Twin’Run concept cars.
  • Wisdom: At some point, everyone aspires to serenity, a time when they can take full advantage of life. The Initiale Paris concept car, making its debut at Frankfurt, illustrates open-mindedness and the pleasures and sensations associated with a premium vehicle.

“By making direct links between concept and production cars, Renault is delivering on the promise to design simple, sensual and warm vehicles with emotional appeal.” 
Axel Breun – Concept and Show Car Design Director

“Wisdom” is the sixth petal in the strategy, unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Embodied by Initiale Paris, this petal stands for open-mindedness and the ability to enjoy life to the full by focusing on feelings and pleasure. It is in this spirit that Renault designers created Initiale Paris, an all-new take on travel, premium class, with all the emotions the brand sees in that experience.

“Initiale Paris is the sixth concept car in Renault’s design strategy. It previews the Espace replacement in an ‘Initiale Paris’ version embodying Renault’s vision of the premium segment.” 
Laurens van den Acker – Vice President, Corporate Design

Flowing and robust body styling, high-tech and upgradeable interior
“The Initiale Paris concept car is a concentrate of the very best of Renault, caressing the senses through style and innovation.” 
François Leboine – Initiale Paris designer

Exterior design: flow and force, colour and light

Initiale Paris is a large car, at 4.85 m long. Prestigious but without excess, the new concept car promises impressive spaciousness on board. Its body styling immediately expresses:

  • the vitality of a saloon, through its emphatic grille and muscular shoulders,
  • the character of an SUV, with large 22-inch wheels and sculptured wings,
  • and the light and space of an MPV, through a generous glazed surface and innovative roof that plays with light.

The flowing and contemporary body styling of the Initiale Paris concept car is inspired by the worlds of architecture and aeronautics, two fields in which the generally mutually-exclusive qualities of robustness and lightness come together.

The shape of the side windows evokes that of a feather. The rear quarter light, shaped like an aircraft tail fin, houses innovative, motorized aerodynamic screens that deploy like the flaps of a tail fin with a sophisticated movement heightening the emotional content of the styling.

The harmony between robustness and lightness is showcased further by the repetition of a strong graphic design on several parts of the vehicle. The motif, made out of an assembly of diamond shapes, shares the spirit and design of a bee hive. It features on the exterior of the grille, the wheels, and the sides of the vehicle. Linking exterior and interior, it also figures on the floor section where the rear-hinged doors open.

The structural composition brings to mind the frame of an aeroplane, but also gives a nod to the Grand Palais and the Eiffel Tower, emblematic Parisian monuments, the capital of French-style elegance. The most formal homage to Paris is made by the concept car’s highly original aluminium and plexiglass roof. Milled directly out of the main body, it depicts a map of Paris – solid and transparent – showing the city’s districts and arteries and the River Seine. The technical feat, with its spectacular aesthetic result, gives meaning to the new “Initiale Paris” signature in particular and to Renault in general, since it was on the banks of the Seine that Renault’s industrial adventure began. And what city better than Paris embodies French joie de vivre and refinement or luxury in the eyes of the world?

RENAULT, A VISION OF FRENCH-STYLE PREMIUM MOTORING

Renault’s design team didn’t think twice about taking their inspiration from non-automotive fields. Each time they called on classic automotive and luxury cues, they made sure to take a fresh and original angle on them. And they continuously drew on a singularly “French” spirit of challenge to shake up the established order.

The designers took their inspiration from aeronautics and ultra-high-end contemporary outdoor furniture – worlds featuring elegant and refined shapes along with a great deal of vitality, and at the same time evoking warmth, light and space.

Aluminium and wood are often used in the automotive industry, but on Initiale Paris they attain a much more “mature” and dynamic expression than usual. Chrome detailing is satin finished, while the matt-finish walnut wood is assembled using slim blades for a more refined air. The centre console has a similar design, shifting imperceptibly from natural wood to gloss black.

The concept car body is cloaked in an “Amethyst” colour that shifts from deep metallic black to luminous plum violet as the light and viewpoint change. The body paint plays with shifting reflections much as a jewellery setting showcases the gem it holds. The letter “I” for Initiale Paris adorns the vehicle sides and wheels.

The full-LED lights give the Initiale Paris concept car a strong light signature. At the front, the daytime running lights enclose each headlamp in parentheses. A built-in mechanism causes an eyelid-like “blink” in the light. At the rear, the lights are harmoniously positioned in relation to the horizontal and vertical lines of the car through their size and artful proportions. Rearward vision is ensured by ultra-slim, profiled cameras that serve as exterior mirrors. Each exterior detail evokes and fosters movement.

Interior design: light, space and technology

Motorists enter the car via rear-hinged doors with the help of a motorized running board – in a further nod to aeronautics. The promise of the exclusive pleasure of travelling in private jet-style comfort becomes a reality when occupants see the armchair seats in the first two rows, together with the profiled gearstick, the light guides covering the entire cabin, and the shapes echoing the tail-fin motif employed on the exterior.

The peerlessly comfortable seats make travel a more enticing prospect than ever. Attached to the central tunnel with no vertical link with the floor, they seem to float in the midst of the cabin. The levitating effect is heightened by the discreet joint between seat back and seat base that lets the light pass through.

The floor blends prestigious matt wood with high-tech aluminium set in a regular pattern. The contemporary marquetry lends a distinct sense of relief – both literally and figuratively – through the wave-like movement that softly washes across its surface.

Drivers are treated to uncluttered instruments and a centre console that seems to float above the cabin floor. Free of side support, the console fits seamlessly into the cabin like a bridge linking the central tunnel and the dashboard. The console houses two screens displaying videos and information on points of interest in the surrounding area. The screens are built into the surface and curve of the console, merging as one with the matt wood veneer.

The third row of the cabin is home to an original bench made of independent mobile blades. The blades compose a poetic expression of the modular design expected of this type of vehicle. Their respective positions open up entirely new in use. The seat back can be partly or totally folded down, while the bench can form a single whole with an armrest separating the passengers. For visual pleasure rather than pure practicality, the blades can be set in a range of positions to suggest different kinds of movement, that of a wave, for example.

Travelling is also about transformation. The emphasis inside Initiale Paris interior is on original, consummately-worked grades in colours and materials, as seen on the seats in particular. Variations in light and the corresponding mood go hand in hand with the changes in rhythm of the journey. By day, natural light from above is diffused through the roof prism, creating an ever-changing play of light and shadow. At night, the soft light sources bathe all occupants in a soothing nocturnal ambience. A succession of light guides above the instrument cluster lights up and switches off in step with the forward movement of the car.

An all-new approach to acoustics

To heighten travelling pleasure through music and sound, acoustics were thoroughly thought out on Initiale Paris. The concept car brings all occupants a totally immersive and shared experience in this respect.

Initiale Paris occupants are greeted by a sound ambience as soon as the car is started. The special sound signature sets the tone for a premium experience and delivers on the “Initiale Paris” promise. Renault called on the skills of composer and sound designer Andrea Cera to create the signature, as part of the collaborative effort between the Group and France’s acoustic and music research and coordination institute, IRCAM, which previously developed the pedestrian warning sounds for ZOE.

Renault asked BOSE®, its production-vehicle sound partner since 2008, to design a custom-engineered audio system. Purposefully discreet and fully integrated in the cabin, the acoustic installation developed by BOSE® reflects the simplicity and elegance of Initiale Paris.

The result of a close collaborative project, the technical challenge met by BOSE® – a first for a concept car – signals the upcoming arrival on Renault models of Surround Sound®, an enveloping and rich audio experience close to that of a live concert.

“We are honoured that Renault asked us to be part in the project, one that testifies to the importance Renault places on sound quality and travelling pleasure and to the trust it places in our expertise.” 
Karsten Uhde
  European Director, Bose Automotive Systems 

BOSE & INITIALE PARIS: EMOTIONAL SOUND MADE-TO-MEASURE

Initiale Paris is equipped with 32 speakers, including two subwoofers. Bass, mid-range and treble are processed independently by specific speakers, controlled by the digital amplifier that manages the signal according the acoustic characteristics of the cabin.

Sixteen exclusive Personal® Surround speakers
Each headrest offers 2 specific enclosures with a pair of speakers. This unique design creates an individual 360° sound zone for each seat. Listeners are immersed in enveloping Surround Sound® placing them at the centre of the music.

Seven BOSE® bass-reflex enclosures
This solution offers a high level of sound performance in the mid-range and lower mid-range for clear and detailed sound delivering all the subtleties of the music. The seven two-litre enclosures were designed and developed by BOSE® exclusively for the needs of Initiale Paris. Each one features a high-performance 100mm speaker combined with a 36mm unit with particularly precise treble performance. One of them is built into the centre of the dashboard, ensuring the stability of the sound stage and a balanced, rich and ultra-centred sound wherever the listener is seated.

Two built-in subwoofers

To reproduce low frequencies in the cabin, BOSE® opted to use two subwoofers, one in the front, one in the rear :

  • a compact 4-liter subwoofer integrated underneath the dashboard,
  • a 200-mm speaker inside a 25-liter bass-reflex enclosure built into the tailgate.

The set-up provides high-level performance on low frequencies, for deep and realistic bass sounds in all seats, with no compromise on cabin space.

Surround Sound® amplification

The sound system is controlled via a 12-channel digital amplifier with a Bose digital signal processing and 12 channels of customized equalisation. It features Centerpoint® signal processing to fully benefit from BOSE Surround Sound®, including from stereo sources (CD and MP3). The Centerpoint® signal processing circuit continuously analyses the stereo signal to reproduce a 5-channel Surround Sound experience for all occupants.

A responsible and efficient concept engine

Renault engine-makers took a dCi 130 engine and enhanced it to bring drivers generous torque (peaking at 400 Nm) across a broad operating range. The engine builds on Renault fundamentals in powertrain technology and explores new paths for making the brand’s power plants even more efficient in the future.

  • Downsizing: Faithful to its downsizing strategy, Renault combines driving pleasure with low fuel consumption by using smaller but particularly efficient cylinder blocks.
  • EDC: The six-speed EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic transmission is responsive and easy to use, and provides good fuel consumption.
  • Renault is exploring two new directions with the concept engine:
  • Twin-turbo technology: A small, low-inertia turbo is used for low engine speeds and a second turbo kicks in for higher speeds. Torque is generous and plentiful from low speed – with a full 90% on hand from 1,500 rpm – for smooth and athletic driving.
  • Shift-by-Wire control for the EDC transmission: This system, borrowed from Formula 1 racing, enhances the precision and smoothness of the controls through better-controlled effort. It also has a styling advantage as the gearstick is slimmer and the floating console has no cables to conceal.

A further particularity of the concept engine used for Initiale Paris is the use of optimized steel pistons to cut down on friction. Steel pistons dilate less than aluminium pistons, resulting in enhanced piston-to-cylinder wall clearances at high temperatures. Lower friction between pistons and cylinder walls means lower fuel consumption. And to keep them light, the steel pistons are hollowed out. The design is exactly the same as that used in Renault’s Formula 1 engine.

The Initiale Paris concept car has roughly the same dimensions as a Grand Espace but weighs in at some 250 kg less.

Overall, the concept engine emits 40 g/km less CO2 and burns 25% less fuel than an equivalent-performance diesel.

The “Initiale Paris” signature. Renault’s take on the art of travel

Besides the concept car itself, “Initiale Paris” is a signature that embodies Renault’s vision of premium cars. The signature is based on Renault’s ability to see trends coming and on the pioneering spirit it harnesses to create new ideas and transform the way we use cars.

With Initiale Paris, Renault wants to bring its customers a liveable premium vehicle infused with the verybest of the brand and offering an all-new take on the art of travel.

Initiale Paris will bring motorists an authentic and emotional experience appealing to all the senses.

  • Attractive. Initiale Paris styling will elicit emotion with products featuring warm design, top-quality materials and finish, a peerless acoustic and thermal ambience, and discreetly integrated advanced technology.
  • Adapted. Initiale Paris will build on Renault’s commitment to make its customers lives easier, through innovation and the widespread availability of technologies for everyday use and comfort. This will also involve engines designed with day-to-day use and environmental respect in mind. The keywords will be comfort, well-being and driving pleasure.
  • Attentive. Initiale Paris will be accompanied by special services forging closer ties with customers and bringing them more peace of mind.

Renault at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show is fully expressing its intention to carve out its rightful place in the premium segment. The show will underline the brand’s commitment to building this place in the long term, methodically and in its own unique way.

OTHER POINTS OF VIEW ON “FRENCH-STYLE LUXURY”

Choung-Sun Oh worked on the interior design of Initiale Paris. She is Korean. Miguel Ángel Iranzo Sánchez is responsible for the colours and materials. He is Spanish. Their visions of France and Paris, and of luxury goods and cars, provide an original insight into the work carried out on the concept car.

“For me, Paris has a lot of interesting oppositions of style. In architecture, for example, the city has always built ultra-modern buildings and monuments side by side with traditional constructions. And everything makes a harmonious fit. With Initiale Paris, I sought to create and balance out this type of contrast.” 
Choung-Sun Oh – Interior Design

“France places great emphasis on all things human. It is a multi-cultural country, a nation of unity. Focusing on the human side of a premium vehicle was unusual and exciting. Initiale Paris has six seats. All the occupants are pampered. Passengers dialogue and share in complete peace of mind as they travel onwards. To my mind, that is a real luxury.”
Miguel Angel Iranzo Sánchez – Colours and Materials Stylist

“Initiale Paris is a ‘liveable luxury car’. I see it as making life easier, a sensual car. It is about authentic luxury, free from conventions, in movement. It upholds strong values of sharing emotions and the pleasure of travel.”
Philippe Brunet – Director of the D/E Program

A comprehensive report on the genesis of the Initiale Paris concept car will be posted on the media site on 20th September.

DESIGN AND INNOVATION – THE BRAND’S NEW FACE

STRENGTH THROUGH IDENTITY

Design plays a major part in the “Renault 2016 – Drive the Change” strategic plan. Initiated by New Clio, the brand’s styling renewal now features on 27 vehicles in the range. Renault design is informed by three keywords: simple, sensual and warm. The aim is to appeal while strengthening consistency between the vehicles.

From dream to reality
Concept cars are designed to inspire and to explore new trends. Renault seeks to create a strong link between these cars and the resulting production models. DeZir and New Clio share the same inspiration, as do Captur and the production model, and as will Initiale Paris and the future Espace replacement. To bring design dreams into line with industrial realities, Renault’s styling department assigns the same team of designers to the concept car and the production model it previews.

http://fromdezirtoreality.com/

We are family

At the front of Renault cars, the brand identity is expressed in a larger, vertical logo contrasting with a black grille. LED daytime running lights lend a dynamic and contemporary touch to numerous models in the range. The logo is clearly visible at the rear, positioned right in the centre. A distinctive design line follows the lower contour of the rear lights, then rises under the rear window to highlight the logo.

For more styling consistency across all segments, Renault has changed the organization system at its design department. Today, two design studios, one working on the exterior the other on the interior, share the same premises and work hand in hand.

Taking-the-lead with personalisation

In-line with market demand, Renault is offering more and more personalisation possibilities on its vehicles to allow their customers to express their own personality. Renault Captur, for example, is Renault’s most personalisable model yet, with attractively priced packs created to simplify choices and ensure overall visual harmony. Depending on the version, customers are able to choose from contrast roof and mirror shells, coloured 17” alloy wheels, coloured exterior and interior packs in addition to a range of roof decals and upholstery schemes.

These personalisation packs have been neatly packaged into different colour collections, which not only simplify the personalisation options for customers, but give each vehicle a distinct look and feel –

  • In addition to the Expression, Expression+, Dynamique and Dynamique S versions, Captur customers can choose from the three Captur Colour Collections; Arizona, Miami and Manhattan, respectively evoking adventure, vibrancy and urban-chic.
  • New Clio customers can choose between four ‘Prêt-à-porter’ Clio Colour Collections; comprising red, blue, black and ivory, meaning there’s a Clio for every personality.
  • Twizy boasts a broad range of personalisation features. Customers can change the colour of the roof and doors (decals), the arch, the wing mirror housings and the wheels. Inside, Twizy drivers can opt for black or white seat shells and dashboard. In the UK, this personalisation has been taken one step further with Design Your Own Twizy, which allows customers to wrap any part of the vehicle with any combination of 43 colours, 30 stock designs, or their own creation.

THE MÉGANE RANGE TAKES ON THE FAMILY IDENTITY

Renault is upgrading the Mégane range, giving it a more dynamic look, strengthening its powers of attraction and applying the new design identity. The new models feature the brand’s latest equipment and cutting-edge technologies including the Renault R-Link connected multimedia system.

The Mégane range is the first to be fitted with the 130hp petrol engine mated to the EDC transmission. Travelling comfort and driving pleasure remain the keywords for the brand’s quality flagship.

The performance line-up, including Mégane GT and Renaultsport, are also being upgraded.

The new Mégane range will be launched in the UK in the first-quarter 2014.

New identity for the Mégane range

As with all the new vehicles in the range, the Renault Mégane family is taking on the new brand identity. Mégane Hatch, Coupé and Sport Tourer now feature a new bumper, new vent grilles and a new hood bearing the enlarged Renault logo set against a gloss black background.

The models in the Mégane family have also been revitalised by new elliptical headlights and new daytime running lights that stretch along the outer edges of the bumper.

The identity of the entire range has been strengthened by having an identical front end on the Hatch, Coupé and Sport Tourer. But each model retains its own distinctive character.

“Our goal with the new design was to keep the special features of each vehicle, but have them share the same bumper panels. Fitted with the new bonnet and bumper, the Mégane range maintains a sense of styling harmony through its wings and rear components. The integration of the new identity on the front end also gives Mégane a new look that is fully consistent with the brand’s other vehicles.”
Jean-Philippe Texier – Design project manager for the M1 range  

The styling upgrade has strengthened the elegance and contemporary air of Mégane Hatch, confirmed the appeal of Mégane Coupé with its ever-dynamic design lines, and safeguarded the practicality of Mégane Sport Tourer while emphasising the flow of its body styling.

The interior of the Mégane range features a multi-directional joystick on the central console for browsing the Renault R-Link multimedia interface, which made its debut on the range in mid-2013.

A new arrival in the petrol range with the TCe 130 EDC

The Mégane family of vehicles is now available with the EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic transmissionon the TCe 130 engine (without Stop & Start).

The engineering department has re-tuned the engine by bringing in the turbo function faster and more frequently for enhanced performance. The re-tuning involved upgrading engine and transmission control software to improve acceleration and pick-up.

The EDC automatic transmission gains new shift pattern management.

A benchmark in quality

Mégane III ranks among the most reliable cars in its segment, according to a number of surveys conducted by independent organizations. The new Mégane range inherits these strengths.

The ADAC 2012 (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) survey ranks Mégane as “good” or even “excellent” over the service period between 2007 and 2012. Models built in 2009, 2010 and 2011 are consistently ranked as “excellent”, confirming the reliability of Mégane III over time.

In a survey published in March 2013, French trade publication Automobile Magazine described Mégane III as combining excellent build quality with exceptional reliability. France’s best-selling vehicle in its category in 2012, the third generation is a “sound investment in the new vehicle market” (Source: Automobile Magazine).

SHARED FEATURES

Since its founding over 115 years ago, Renault has always sought to make innovation widely available. Today, innovation is a priority that has gained new emphasis through the “Renault 2016 – Drive the Change” plan. To make innovation available to everybody, brand vehicles are sharing a range of technologies, from the Renault R-Link connected multimedia system to the latest Energy engines.

Renault R-Link extended across the range

Renault R-Link provides a link between the automotive world and our connected lifestyles. It groups a full range of multimedia functionalities, including navigation, radio, Bluetooth® telephone and audio streaming, as well as connectivity for mobile devices. It also features vehicle-related services and access to the RenaultR-Link Store with its catalogue of over 50 applications (depending on the market) able to be downloaded from the vehicle.

Renault R-Link is available in the UK as standard or optional, depending on models and trim levels, on:

  • Renault Clio
  • Renault ZOE
  • Renault Captur
  • Renault Mégane range (excluding the Coupé-Cabriolet)
  • Renault Scénic Xmod, New Scénic and Grand Scénic
  • Renault Kangoo Van and Kangoo Van Z.E.

Renault R-Link will continue its gradual deployment across the Renault range.

The Renault range: shared Energy

With the Energy family of engines, Renault brings customers the benefits of 35 years of experience in F1 sport and 11 World Champion Constructors’ titles.

These ultra-modern engines have common genes, based on sharing and transfer between the advanced technologies developed for Formula 1 and the Group’s industrial expertise, between the engineers responsible for the future Energy F1-2014 engine and those developing the Energy dCi and TCe engines. Examples include downsising, turbocharger development, lower weight and various friction-reducing techniques that improve engine performance and energy efficiency.

The development of the Energy engines pursued a two-fold ambition: to reduce fuel consumption and CO2emissions – and thus running costs – while delivering performance and drivability. CO2 emissions are significantly lower owing primarily to the use of Stop & Start technology. As a result, Renault is low carbon leader in Europe, reducing the taxes paid by drivers (ecological bonus/penalty, variable between countries). The Energy engines combine drivability and comfort with acoustic refinement, vibration control, and excellent torque, pick-up and acceleration.

Energy engines are all “Renault quality made”. They are built in high-tech plants such as Cléon in France, and submitted to highly demanding endurance tests, both on the test bench and on the road. To ensure their reliability, quality and durability, they undergo thousands of hours of tests and cover several hundred thousand miles.

Energy engines already power many vehicles in the Renault range: Clio, Captur, Kangoo, Mégane, Scénic and Scénic Xmod and Master.

THE LATEST ON RENAULT’S ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Renault is the only manufacturer to market four affordable electric vehicles; all launched over a period of 18 months. These all-electric vehicles cover a wide range of uses and requirements: ZOE is a mass market compact hatchback, Fluence Z.E., a premium saloon, Kangoo Van Z.E. a vehicle for business users, while Twizy is for up-to-the-minute suburban and urban dwellers. Renault is the European leader in electric vehicles with almost 30,000 examples on the road.

ZOE, leading the way for electric vehicles in Europe

Renault ZOE has sold 6 000 vehicles in eleven European countries, making it the leader in its category.

Charging from a domestic socket available soon on ZOE

An occasional charger demonstrated by Renault on its stand will make it possible to plug ZOE into a conventional domestic socket, thus gaining an extra charge when drivers are a long way from their main charging points.

The Wall Box nevertheless remains the main home charging solution since it is designed for faster, more ergonomic charging.: In the UK, for example, a free 7kW (32 amp) domestic Wall Box is supplied and installed at residential addresses for every new ZOE purchased, courtesy of a government charging grant covering 75% of the cost, to encourage the take-up of electric vehicles. The remainder is covered by Renault.

Scheduled for early 2014 as an option or accessory, the occasional charger will be compatible with all ZOE vehicles currently on the road.

Fluence Z.E. extends its international reach

Fluence Z.E., the all-electric version of Renault’s premium sedan for international markets, is sold in 16 countries and is taking part in many electric mobility trials around the world. The next stages in its deployment will be in Asia.

In Hong Kong, more than 100 Renault Fluence Z.E. vehicles have been delivered to various governmental members as part of two calls for tender won in 2011 and 2012 by Renault.

Launched in Korea in October, the SM3 Z.E. badged by Renault Samsung Motors features the technology and charging equipment of Renault Fluence Z.E. Built at the Busan plant, it is the first mid-range segment electric vehicle on the Korean market.

Kangoo Van Z.E., a 95% customer satisfaction rate

Kangoo Van Z.E., the forerunner in the Z.E. range and Europe’s leading electric compact van, was restyled in June 2013. Featuring the new front end expressing its brand identity, New Kangoo Van Z.E. is immediately identifiable as a member of the Z.E. family with its blue-tinted diamond logo and rear light extensions and black headlight surrounds. It is now available with Renault R-Link, the connected multimedia system. Still available in two lengths and three configurations with up to five seats, it maintains all the useful features of the preceding version alongside the driving comfort of an electric vehicle.

Overall, more than 10,000 vehicles are on the road in twenty European countries, of which several hundred for postal services in France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Holland, Austria and Switzerland, where its drivability has won widespread praise. It is also appreciated by companies watching their energy expenditure, as well by municipalities, parks and hospitals, looking for smooth, quiet operation. These qualities are reflected in the 95% satisfaction rate expressed by Kangoo Van Z.E. drivers. (Source: Institut MaxiPhone, 2012).

These qualities are also illustrated by the many awards received by Kangoo Z.E for its functions and drivability, including the coveted International Van of the Year 2012. Just after its launch, New Kangoo Van Z.E. also received the Auto Environnement prize in the LCV category from the MAAF insurance company in France. Awarded by a panel of journalists, this prize recognizes the efforts made by manufacturers to protect the environment.

Twizy , stylish and practical

With 11,000 units on the road, Twizy is a real commercial success with Germany its biggest market

BROADER DEPLOYMENT OF PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS

Public charging stations are gradually being deployed across all European countries. Their number doubled between 2011 and 2012 to reach 22,000 in mid-2013. Of these stations, 4,000 deliver 11 and 22 kW, charging a ZOE battery to 80% in two hours and one hour respectively, compared with nine hours for other electric vehicles on the market. In Germany, most of the 2,400 charging points installed are of this type.

Depending on local and national initiatives, this infrastructure is deployed by zones, with a high concentration of charging stations of many different types. For example, the Seine Aval area outside Paris in France has installed 130 charging points, of which 48 are accessible to the public, as part of the SAVE trial. This real-world trial aimed to develop expertise in the deployment of an eco-system dedicated to electric mobility. At the end of the project, 45 charging stations featuring the latest technical developments were left open to the public. They can be found in retail centre car parks, on the street, in public car parks and in service stations. In the Seine Aval area, you are never more than 15 km from an public electric charging station.

MOTORSPORT TECHNOLOGY – INNOVATION AND PASSION SERVING PRODUCTION MODELS

NEW MÉGANE RENAULTSPORT AND GT:

NEW ARRIVALS IN THE RENAULT PERFORMANCE RANGE

The emblematic Mégane performance models are also taking on the new Renault design identity. Alongside the new design features, Mégane Renaultsport has gained the Renaultsport Replay function, available on Renaultsport Monitor 2.0. The GT trim is now available with the 2.0T Renaultsport 220 engine (not in the UK).

An even more sophisticated Mégane Renaultsport 265

Topping the Mégane range, the Renaultsport version was designed to deliver maximum driving pleasure. With its 2.0 16V 265 engine, limited slip differential, front suspension with PerfoHub (an independent steering axis) and a choice between two chassis types (standard Sport or optional Cup), Mégane Renaultsport 265 groups a range of technologies illustrating the complete expertise of Renaultsport.

The styling of Mégane Renaultsport gains even more character with the brand’s new design identity. The new bonnet features a larger Renault logo set off by a gloss black background. The new headlights, contributing to the appeal of the new line, gain gloss black ‘background’. Featuring a lens and white comma design, these headlights amplify the light beam for excellent lighting at night. As a nod to Renault’s success in Formula 1, the new front bumper features an F1 splitter, a styling feature found across the Renaultsport range.

New Mégane Renaultsport is now available with features based on those introduced with the limited series Mégane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8 as factory options:

  • Recaroseats with dual-fabric leather-cloth upholstery and Renaultsport embroidery on the head restraints,
  • the Renault R-Link connected multimedia tablet, with version 2.0 of the Renaultsport Monitor 2.0 data acquisition system compatible with the new Replay function,
  • optional 19’’ black wheels with grey rim stripe, mated with Bridgestone high-performance tyres as used by Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy for its front-wheel-drive lap record at Nürburgring.

Reserved for fans of exclusive design, the optional Renaultsport Design pack includes exterior features painted red: F1 splitter, lower door protectors and rear spoiler.

Renaultsport REPLAY: SHARING SPORTING THRILLS

Integrated with the R-Link multimedia touch tablet, Renaultsport Monitor 2.0 groups a range of functions for data acquisition and live display. A fun all-round system that is unique in the market, Renaultsport Replay lets users display real-time inputs from around fifteen sensors, with torque and power curves, a GG diagram (longitudinal and lateral acceleration) and other functions. If you download your track plan from a USB device, you can even use the automatic stopwatch function to track your progress, lap by lap.

Users can save their data on a USB device and analyse it using the Renaultsport Replay software available on PC or Mac. This lets you ‘play back’ your best times, displaying vehicle position on the track, instantaneous power, engine speed, steering wheel angle, pedal force, etc. Like the applications used in sporting competitions, the software includes a function to superimpose and compare the performance of two drivers. All these data can be shared with the Renault Sport community on the recently launched website http://www.renaultsport.com/rsreplay/.

The 2.0T Renaultsport 220 engine available on Mégane GT (not in UK)

New Mégane GT and GT-Line are distinctive vehicles that add excitement to everyday driving. Their styling reflects their sporting heritage and “GT Renaultsport” signature.

Although the bumper skin is shared with other models in the Renault range, the lower grille and white headlamp guides are specific. The black headlight surround is also specific to these versions.

Depending on the country, Mégane GT is also available with the 2.0T Renaultsport 220 petrol engine, based on the 2.0 16V 265 seen on Mégane Renaultsport This efficient, responsive engine – launched with the Mégane Sport Tourer GT 220 limited series – develops 220hp for maximum torque of 340 Nm with Stop and Start technology. Fuel consumption is kept under control at 7.3l/100 km for emissions of 169 g of CO2/km. The emissions/power ratio is therefore highly favourable.

Mégane GT-Line are available in Hatch, Coupé and Sport Tourer versions with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines.

RENAULT PRESENTS THE NEW ENERGY F1-2014 POWER UNIT

Revealed in its racing configuration in June at the Le Bourget Air Show, the Renault Energy F1-2014 Power Unit illustrates the technological breakthrough set to take place in Formula 1 next season. Associated with highly sophisticated systems for energy recovery and reuse, the direct-injection turbocharged V6 1.6-litre will deliver more power than the existing V8 engines while cutting fuel consumption by one-third! A pioneer in energy efficiency with its Energy engine range, Renault will be able to take advantage of the benefits of motorsport to go even further in this field.

“From 2014, we will bring engines back to the forefront and restore the balance in F1. The engine is the heart of the car, and next year it will return to the heart of our sport.”

Alain Prost – Renault ambassador and quadruple Formula 1 world champion

From the V8 RS27-2013 to the Energy F1-2014 Power Unit

Renault’s adventures in Formula 1 since 1977 could be summed up in an avalanche of statistics, featuring a whole string of records. If we had to quote just a few key figures, they would no doubt include the 11 Constructors’ titles, the 10 Drivers’ titles, the 155 wins and the 205 pole positions. From the V6 turbo of its beginnings to the V8 still in use this season, via the V10 line of the 1990s, Renault has always placed the emphasis on technological innovation in F1 racing.

Even though the definition of the existing V8 engines is based on specifications that were frozen after the Japanese Grand Prix in 2006, the Viry-Châtillon team has never ceased to upgrade this engine, which has an output of over 700 hp. Through its continuous efforts to improve reliability, fuel consumption, drivability and team operating procedures, Renault has remained at the forefront of the event, as witnessed by the three consecutive titles claimed by Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel.

At the same time, Renaultsport F1 began advanced studies on its Power Unit 2014 back in July 2011. Following tests on a single-cylinder unit then on a complete V6, the energy recovery systems were tested in February 2013. The team ran the first Power Unit in a racing configuration on the test bench in June, a few days before its official presentation at the Le Bourget Air Show. The development of the Power Unit Energy F1-2014 is now gathering pace with a view to fitting it in the cars in early 2014.

A revolution that enables Renault to build on its technological leadership

Formula 1 rules for 2014 mark one of the most dramatic changes in its history. As the first manufacturer to unveil its Power Unit, Renault is demonstrating its position as leader in this high-tech revolution. Far more than an engine, the Renault Energy F1-2014 is made up of several in dissociable systems:

  • a direct injection V6 turbo with a capacity of 1.6l and output of around 600 hp,
  • a kinetic energy recovery system (MGU-K), which works as a generator during the braking phase to slow the vehicle down and convert the energy recovered into electricity, thus delivering an additional 160 hp as required during acceleration,
  • an energy recovery system (MGU-H), which absorbs power from the turbine shaft to recover heat energy from the exhaust gases in order to supply the MGU-K or batteries or accelerate the turbocharger to minimize turbo-lag.

All these units are naturally controlled by a complex electronic system, designed to optimize fuel consumption at all times. The Power Unit delivers the same power as the existing V8 but will be able to use only 100 kg of fuel per race, a reduction of 35%

When Renaultsport F1 accelerates on the track, the whole of Renault moves with it

By taking the name Energy F1-2014, the Power Unit makes direct reference to the latest-generation Renault engines. The Energy range is based on three fundamentals: reliability, performance and fuel consumption, three criteria that are essential both on the road and on the track.

These shared genes are expressed in a two-way exchange between Viry-Châtillon and the centres developing the Group’s production engines. Renault Sport F1’s experience in friction reduction technology has already been put to good use for the Energy range of engines, now found on many Renault production vehicles:

  • DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) surface treatment on the tappets,
  • the PVD (Pressure Vapor Deposit) process for the piston skirts,
  • the UFlex oil control ring, whose geometry adapts to the contours of the cylinder for maximum efficiency and less friction.
  • From the first studies on the Power Unit, the two teams also shared the results of their research into downsizing, turbocharging and direct injection.

TECHNICAL PARTNER TO THE FIA FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP, RENAULT STEPS INTO THE ERA OF ELECTRIC MOTORSPORT

A leader in electric vehicles with its Z.E. range and boasting unique expertise in motorsport, Renault is entering the new FIA Formula E Championship. The ten teams racing in the competition, which kicks off in September 2014, will drive the Spark-Renault SRT_01E single-seater, co-designed with Renault Sport and world revealed at Frankfurt.

A new era in motorsport

As a testing ground for new technology, motorsport was bound to embrace electric power sooner rather than later , which is already a reality for production vehicles thanks to the investments made by top-tier carmakers, chief among them Renault. Formula 1 racing is taking a radical step forward in 2014 with the rollout of new Power Unit regulations introducing downsized turbo power plants with high-performance energy recovery systems. Meanwhile, on an initiative from the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the new Formula E competition is exploring a different path with full-electric, zero-emission single-seaters.

The first Formula E Championship will be held from September 2014 to June 2015. The competition will be organized in ten legs, each one raced in the centre of a major city in Europe (London, Berlin, Rome), Asia (Beijing, Bangkok, Putrajaya) or the Americas (Los Angeles, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires). For this first season, 20 pilots split up in 10 teams will meet at the wheel of cars named Spark-Renault SRT_01E.

Bringing together the biggest names in motorsport

Formula E holdings, instigator of the FIA Formula E Championship, designated Spark Racing Technology to conceive and manufacture the first 40 single-seaters racing. The cars are homologated according to regulations on performance, safety and costs, which means that other carmakers will be able to get involved. To develop the cars and put them into production, Spark set up a consortium featuring the biggest names in motorsport:

  • Renault: responsible for the electric drivetrain, system integration, performance optimization and the safety of the electric drivetrain,
  • McLaren Electronic Systems: development, production and assembly of the powertrain and electronic controls,
  • Williams Advanced Engineering: battery design,
  • Dallara: monocoque design and construction,
  • Spark: design of the single-seater (suspension, aerodynamics, assembly).

As Spark’s technical partner, Renault drew on all the skills of the engineers at Renault Sport Technologies and Renault Sport F1 to supervise and optimise the performance and safety of the new car.

Spark-Renault SRT_01E: a concentrate of technology

The Spark-Renault SRT_01E combines the most advanced technologies in electric drivetrains and boasts innovative styling. The vehicle’s aerodynamics were designed to make overtaking easier, while the relatively high ride height was developed for use on the urban circuits in the Formula E Championship. The car meets current Formula 1 regulations.

Like the driver, the battery has its own survival cell. The battery weighs 200 kg and is homologated according to international transport standards. The electric motor delivers 200 kW, or 270 hp, to the rear wheels. Drivers will be allowed to use the full power output of the vehicle in qualifying sessions. During the races themselves, power will be limited to 133 kW, or 180 hp, with a “push-to-pass” mode bringing drivers temporary access to 200 kW (270 hp), the aim being to combine range with overtaking opportunities.

The designers succeeded in limiting vehicle mass to internal-combustion car levels, with the Spark-Renault SRT_01E weighing in at a minimum 800 kg with the driver on board. Performance simulations put the car’s 0 to 100 km/h time at three seconds, while top speed is limited to 200 km/h for maximum safety in urban racing.

“We were enthusiastic about this project right from the start because it gave us a chance to explore new paths. No-one had ever designed an electric single-seater with this kind of performance, manufactured in short production runs and developed according to a tight deadline.  We factored in a number of constraints, including mass, safety and thermics. Harnessing the complementary skills of the consortium members, the Spark-Renault SRT_01E is an excellent synthesis of current knowledge. We are sure that it will prove to be a stand-out single-seater in motorsport history.” 

François Champod, motorsport technical director at Renault Sport Technologies and Formula E coordinator at Renault

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