Renault at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ben Oliver

02 October 2008 12:24

Renault put in the strong showing you'd expect from France's biggest car maker on its home turf, with six new cars or concepts led by two versions of the new Megane. There's also the production versions of the Laguna Coupe and the shortened, three-door Kangoo Be Bop, and two new concepts in the Ondelios grand tourer and the Z.E. electric car.

Tell me more about the new Megane, and the Ondelios and Z.E. concepts

There's no doubting the significance of the new Megane for Renault and for French industry generally; it accounts for a third of Renault-brand sales and 8 million have been sold since the launch of the first one in '95.

Renault showed the three-door coupe for the first time and the five-door hatch, which we'd already seen. It's playing it safe with the styling, which may prove a mistake; the equally timid Laguna has been a sales disappointment.

Four of the Megane's seven diesel engines will emit less than 120g/km and there's an impressive new 1.4 petrol turbo with 130bhp and 142lb ft of torque. Better quality is Renault's big message with this car, and the availability of options like an automatic parking brake and keyless entry and ignition, usually associated with bigger cars. The five-door comes to the UK in November 2008 and the coupe follows in January 2009.

But this being Renault, there are also two mad concepts. The Ondelios examines a possible future Renault range-topper; it's a big, spacious SUV but uses lightweight materials and a diesel hybrid powertrain to cut consumption and emissions. Is Renault lining itself up for another Avantime?

We hope so, even if its shareholders don't. The Z.E concept is based on the Be Bop and uses the exchangeable lithium-ion battery system that will power the electric cars Renault and Nissan will have on sale in Japan and the US by 2010 and Israel, Denmark and probably other European countries by 2011.

But it won't look like the mad X.E. The production electric car will be based on the saloon version of the new Megane, likely to be badged Fluence.

What else is new on the Renault stand

The production version of the Laguna coupe made its show debut with two new V6 engines, a 235bhp diesel and a 240bhp 3.5 V6. It comes to the UK in January with the 4 Control four-wheel steer chassis from the Laguna GT. The 3.8m-long Be Bop is a three-door version of the Kangoo with a retractable rear roof section and screen, arriving in the UK in spring 2009.

CAR's verdict: Renault at the Paris Motor Show 2008

Six new cars, including two genuine debuts and two mad concepts make this a strong show for Renault; pity its new Megane isn't as bold as the last was

CAR's Renault show score: 4/5

Renault Ondelios concept: first photos and video

By Nick Eaton

10 September 2008 15:30

This is the new Renault Ondelios concept, a top-of-the-range environmentally friendly crossover vehicle that will be unveiled at the Paris motor show in October 2008. The Ondelios isn't Renault's first upmarket concept though, and we've seen posh production cars from the company before – remember the Vel Satis, the Avantime and the Safrane? None of them succeeded, but Renault persists...

Designed as a long-range cruiser, the Ondelios features a hybrid diesel powertrain, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and dramatic gullwing doors. You can see them in action in our Renault-supplied footage in the video player on this page.

Just what is the Renault Ondelios all about?

The Ondelios has been designed to provide a serene travelling experience, says Renault. The body has been designed to look like a singular smooth shape, so the glass appears to merge seamlessly with the body panels.

Renault also claims the Ondelios's shape enhances the car’s other raison-d’etre: streamlined efficiency (and hence eco-friendliness). Those huge 23-inch aluminium alloys are designed to prevent turbulence and the car has been engineered to be a slippery as possible, boasting a drag coefficient of 0.29Cd. That’ll be why it looks like a fish then.

And this hybrid powertrain?

Power comes from a 202bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine, mated to two 20kW electric motors front and rear. The two electric motors provide extra boost when the car is accelerating, while the rear motor also drives the rear wheels, making the Ondelios four-wheel drive.

Mated to a seven-speed double-clutch transmission, the Ondelios is claimed to reach 62mph in 7.8 seconds, but only puff out 120g/km. Well, that's what the computer simulations claim.

This car is built for the long-haul - what's special inside?

The emphasis is on comfort, with a ‘lounge-like’ cabin (Renault's words) featuring fully reclining seats and a glass roof to flood the interior with light. There are three rows of seats, but seating for only six, who will get in and out via the huge gullwing doors. There's also a fold-down step to ease entry.

The design is a far cry from anything that Renault might build in the immediate future, but there are hints of current and future Renaults in there. Those stacked air intakes either side of the basking shark grille mimic the new Megane's, while their surrounds are also the indicators. The rear of the Ondelios also mimics the Megane Coupe Concept.

Renault Megane (2008): first official photos and video

By Ben Pulman

09 September 2008 17:30

After last week’s leaked photos these are the first official pictures of the new Renault Megane. Along with striking looks, Renault is also offering a raft of clean diesel engines and promising the Megane will feature improved fit and finish, along with better reliability and durability.

The new five-door Megane is the first of six new models that will be on sale by 2010 – the line-up includes a three-door variant, an estate, a CC and the Scenic, with production split between France and Spain. The new Megane goes on sale this November and UK prices will start around £12,500, following an official unveiling at next month's Paris motor show.

What parts of the new Renault Megane haven’t I seen yet?

The interior for a start, which Renault says features a floating dashboard. There’s also a combination of analogue and digital instruments, a colour-coded cruise control and speed limiter system, DVD sat-nav, auto-locking, plus hands-free entry and ignition.

There’s also a remote lighting function which makes your Megane shine like a Christmas tree when you can’t find it in car parks, plus a parking brake that automatically applies when the engines is switched off, and release when the acceerator is pressed.

What about these clean diesel engines?

At launch the new Renault Megane will have four diesel (dCi) engines that produce less than 120g/km CO2, with outputs ranging from 84 to 108bhp. A new 128bhp diesel with 221lb ft will produce 135g/km, while a higher-power versions will launch later.

If you want petrol power then Renault will offer naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines (dubbed TCe for Turbo Control efficiency). The range will start with a 1.6 and rise to a 2.0-litre, while only a TCe with 178bhp will be available from launch. A new 1.4-litre TCe will go on sale in spring 2009, with 128bhp and 187lb ft. Renault is also promising a number of the petrol and diesel engines will be biofuel compatible.

Anything else?

Renault says 95 percent of the new Megane is recyclable, while 12 percent of the plastics in the new car are already sourced from recycling.

Another not-new part for the Megane is the platform – Renault has carried over the substructure of the existing car to the new model. But at least the looks are new and have a strong resemblance to the stunning Megane Coupe Concept shown at the 2008 Geneva motor show. Renault's medium car design director Fabio Filippini calls the looks 'the fruit of a bid to produce an immediately eye-catching design which is not only dynamic and sporty, but which also exudes robustness, quality and solidity.'