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Renault At Geneva 2010: Fun Is Back On The Menu


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GENEVA – March 2, 2010: As a champion and pioneer of the principle of sustainable mobility for all, Renault sees the automobile as a means for mankind to progress. In keeping with this ambition, the brand sees the Geneva Motor Show as a chance to revive the tradition of affordable cars that place the emphasis on motoring enjoyment thanks to a combination of exciting styling, performance and innovation.

At Geneva, Renault premieres two new convertible models: NewMégane Coupé-Cabriolet and Wind.

The former is the Renault’s fourth consecutive C-segment cabriolet. Its arresting looks combine the elegance of a coupé with the promise of the pleasure that goes hand-in-hand with open-top motoring. Meanwhile, Wind gives a completely new take in the world of compact roadsters. It is an inventive, fun-to-drive coupé-roadster that lends itself perfectly to everyday motoring.

The addition of GT and GT Line versions to the Mégane line-up provides the model's range with even racier, more distinctive appeal thanks to a mix of striking looks and a sporty interior, combined with a carefully-tuned chassis and a range of responsive powerplants.

Another exciting development is the extension of the Gordini 'French Touch' treatment to Clio. The smart blue livery and famous white racing stripes are now available for two Renault hot hatches, namely Twingo Gordini 133 and Clio Gordini 200.

Drive The Change: The Mobility Of Tomorrow Begins Today
Renault has stepped up its effort on the environmental front and chosen the Geneva Motor Show to provide hard evidence of the progress achieved by its Renault eco² programme. The brand's new baseline, Drive the Change, refers notably to its ongoing bid to reduce the ecological footprint of Renault vehicles throughout their lifecycle (production, on-road use and end-of-life).

Renault's approach is illustrated by the brand's determination to market vehicles that are both respectful of the environment and affordable to as many motorists as possible.

To achieve this, Renault is focusing its efforts on two fronts:

  • new technologies for internal combustion engines and conventional transmissions

  • Renault Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) combines the comfort associated with automatic transmissions with the response of a manual gearbox.

  • the Renault range continues to deliver ever lower CO2 emissions: Twingo (94g/km), Clio (98g/km), Mégane (114g/km), Scenic (125g/km) and Laguna (122g/km).

  • an unprecedented commitment to electric vehicles due to be rolled out from 2011

    Renault is targeting the number one status in Europe with regard to the lowest CO2 emissions.

    A Range Of Zero-Emission Vehicles From 2011
    Electric vehicles represent a genuine clean-break solution when it comes to making affordable Zero-Emission mobility, when in road use, available to all and to achieving real environmental progress. The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to become the number one producer of mass-marketed Zero-Emission vehicles.

    The range of affordable, production Renault Z.E. electric vehicles will begin to be rolled out in 2011

  • Twizy Z.E. - a small, two-seater city car that is 100% electric, 100% practical and 100% innovative.
  • Kangoo Z.E. - the Zero-Emission solution for businesses which place importance on respecting the environment.
  • Zoë Z.E. – Zero-Emissions and a perfectly reassuring ride.
  • Fluence Z.E. - an attractive and spacious, zero-emission high-tech family saloon.

    Visitors to the Geneva Motor Show will have the opportunity to see three of the four electric concept cars which preview Renault's forthcoming range of Zero-Emission road cars and which were shown for the first time in Frankfurt in 2009.

    Wind
    A New Take On The Compact Convertible
    The Geneva Motor Show sees Renault celebrate the world premiere of Wind, a 3.83m two-seater coupé-roadster which features a highly innovative roof opening mechanism. With its novel roof panel that pivots open swiftly, this coupé-roadster brings a completely fresh take on open-top driving.

    Aimed at drivers who want a car that is not only distinctive and compact, but also convertible and practical enough for everyday use, Wind’s compact dimensions make it nimble in and around town. Crucially, it is the only car of its class to provide the same luggage space (270dm3 VDA) roof up or down.

    After making its world debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Wind will go on sale in the UK during the summer.

    New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet
    The Elegance Of A Coupé, And The Enjoyment Of Open-Top Motoring
    New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet rounds off the renewal of the New Mégane family in style with the introduction of the line-up's sixth body type. The newcomer's striking looks combine the elegance of a coupé with the promise of the thrills that go hand-in-hand with driving a cabriolet.

    New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet builds on the strengths that forged the success of its predecessor – including a large, folding glass roof and a raft of user-friendly equipment – yet it goes further still by offering customers:

  • unruffled open-top motoring thanks to the forward position of its windscreen and a fixed glass wind-deflector sited behind the rear headrests
  • outstanding handling performance thanks to a stiffer chassis and a new electric power steering
  • a broad choice of efficient powertrains, including the all-new EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic dual clutch transmission
  • two specifically sporty variants: GT Line and GT
  • careful attention has been paid to quality, which is heightened by a number of gloss black and satin-finish chrome exterior features

    New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet is manufactured alongside Scenic and Grand Scenic at Renault's Douai plant in France. It consequently benefits from the experience gained since the start of the Mégane programme, including the assembly of the former-generation Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet.

    New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet will go on sale in the UK this summer.

    Clio Gordini 200
    One Gordini In The Slipstream Of Another…
    Following last year's unveiling of Renaultsport’s pocket rocket, Twingo Gordini 133, Renault reveals its new Clio Gordini 200 at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

    A modern interpretation of classic Gordini styling cues, the Clio Gordini 200 will appeal to the ever-growing number of drivers who are looking for an exclusive vehicle with an unmistakable French touch

  • a 2.0-litre 16-valve engine producing 200 horsepower and 215Nm of torque that pulls as strongly from low revs as it does towards the red line
  • a Renaultsport chassis to transmit that power to the road effectively
  • a distinctive design: Malta Blue bodywork embellished by two hallmark white Gordini stripes and a stylish interior cocktail of leather, black lacquer and metal
  • standard equipment worthy of a larger touring car, including 4x20W radio CD with MP3 reader and Bluetooth hands free system with fingertip remote controls and multi-functional TunePoint with USB connection, hands-free key card, cruise control, speed limiter and a range of practical driver aids (including auto lights and wipers) that enable Clio to set new standards in its class.

    Clio Gordini 200 goes on sale in the UK in late summer.

    Megane Gt And Gt Line
    Two New Sports Derivatives Round Off The Mégane Family
    Two new sport-oriented models – Mégane GT and Mégane GT Line – add a further dash of appeal to the Mégane family. Developed with special know-how from Renault Sport Technologies, the new models are on a mission to open up the world of driving thrills and sportiness to as many motorists as possible.

    Available for the Hatch, Coupé, Sport Tourer and Coupé-Cabriolet versions of Mégane, these two packages include the following special features:

  • sports chassis settings,
  • restyled bumpers front and rear,
  • 17-inch Celsium aluminium alloy wheels (GT Line) or 18-inch wheels (GT),
  • Mégane Renaultsport 250-specification sports seats with extra lateral support and specific GT upholstery,
  • aluminium pedal set and dark charcoal interior theme with polished carbon highlights,
  • special badging on grille and tailgate.

    The GT version – the most exclusive of the two – is only available in combination with the TCe 180 petrol engine or with the powerful, high-torque dCi 160 diesel powerplant. Also the specification includes a number of chassis components drawn from Mégane Renaultsport.

    Based on the Dynamique equipment level, the GT Line version uses Mégane Coupé's sport chassis, in combination with a choice of fuel efficient, eco-friendly engines including the dCi 110 DPF (114g of CO2/km), now available with the very latest EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) automatic dual clutch transmission.

    The GT and GT Line versions of Mégane will go on sale in the UK in summer.

    Engine Technologies
    Renault Is Preparing For The Mobility Of Tomorrow And Is Targeting Zero Co2 Emissions
    The Renault group is continuing to promote its Renault eco² environmental hallmark which reasserts the carmaker's determination to reduce the ecological footprint of its vehicles at every stage of their lifecycle (manufacture, on-road use, and end-of-life recycling). The objective is to market a range of environmentally respectful vehicles that are affordable for the majority of motorists.

    Renault is targeting the number one status with regard to lowest CO2 emissions by 2015 and is focusing its efforts on two fronts:

  • Ongoing CO2 emission reduction gains thanks to the introduction of new technologies for the internal combustion-engined vehicles of the brand's range: Renault has concrete examples of this work on display in Geneva:
  • New Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC): this automatic dual dry clutch transmission permits a level of fuel consumption and CO2emissions comparable with that of a manual gearbox. First seen at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, this transmission will be available for the new Mégane range this spring.

  • Significant CO2 emissions savings have been achieved for five flagship models
  • Twingo dCi 85 Renault eco²: 94g of CO2/km
  • Clio dCi 85 Renault eco²: 98g of CO2/km
  • Mégane dCi 110 EDC Renault eco²: 114g of CO2/km
  • Scenic dCi 95 Renault eco²: 125g of CO2/km
  • Laguna dCi 110 Renault eco²: 122g of CO2/km
  • An unprecedented commitment to electric vehicles

    To power its forthcoming range of electric vehicles, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is also developing a range of all-electric powertrains with outputs of between 15kW and 70kW (20hp to 95hp).

    These motors will be used for the comprehensive range of Zero-Emission vehicles that are due to be launched from 2011.

    A Comprehensive Range Of All-Electric Zero-Emission Vehicles From 2011

  • Electric vehicles represent the clean-break solution that can put Zero-Emission mobility within everybody's reach. In line with the brand's Renault eCO2 environmental policy, Renault Z.E. electric vehicles are poised to be marketed on a large scale with a view to taking a decisive stand on the environmental front.
  • This clean break already enjoys significant political support around the world, notably in the form of tax incentives based on CO2 emission savings, as well as the development of the infrastructures necessary for electricity-based mobility.
  • Renault will begin selling affordable mass-production electric vehicles in 2011.
  • The Renault-Nissan Alliance is targeting number one status regarding the sale of mass-market Zero-Emission vehicles.

    In line with the values championed by the brand, Renault electric vehicles will offer customers a spacious interior, comfort, quality and safety. Renault is also working on the development of battery charging infrastructures which will become operational when the Renault Z.E. models are rolled out. To develop these solutions, Renault has entered into a long list of partnerships with governments, energy companies and other organisations, such as Better Place for example, so that mass-market electric vehicles can become a reality.

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