Renault Fluence: For Travelling in Style
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PARIS, FRANCE – August 31, 2009: Renault is to enhance its range in autumn 2009 with an elegant new saloon: FLUENCE.
Renault Fluence was designed with the aim of standing out as the most attractive car of its class and several features set it apart from rivals: beneath its strong, sporting exterior, Fluence features a comfortable cabin and a barrage of useful technological aids. Fluence targets customers looking for a status-enhancing saloon and will be built on the existing assembly line at the Oyak-Renault plant in Bursa, Turkey, where the booted Mégane II was previously produced.
Harmonious, modern forms
This new, four-door saloon is 4.62
metres long and its size and generous levels of standard equipment place it
halfway between the C segment, for compact family cars, and the segment
immediately above. Streamlined headlights herald the start of an elegant
waist line which sweeps harmoniously along Fluence's sides to the boot. The
surround and chromed grille of the upper air intake embellish the car's
front-end looks with a sporting flourish, while Renault Fluence's
status-enhancing appeal is heightened by its sculptured wheel arches and
long bonnet. At the rear, the horizontal, two-part lights allow a generous
boot aperture and reinforce the car's thoroughly modern styling. Fluence
packs several opulent upgrade touches: the lower window and boot trims,
foglamp surrounds and door handles are finished in chrome, while the
B-pillar uprights are gloss black along with body colour side protective
mouldings.
Perceptions of strength and quality
The sense of strength and
safety is reinforced by the carefully proportioned balance between the
windows and the large surface area of the doors, the lower part of which
incorporates protective panels. Seen from the side, a distinctive character
line flows rearward from the rounded front wings before emphasizing the
solid rear haunches. Renault Fluence creates an impression of quality, and
particular attention has been paid to the fit and finish of body panels
(windscreen pillars and refuelling flap, for example). The rear bumper
incorporates discreet parking sensors. At rest, the windscreen wipers are
tucked away behind the bonnet's upper edge, partly for aesthetic reasons,
but also to reduce wind noise and improve aerodynamic efficiency.
A simple yet elegantly styled interior
In the cabin, the airy
facia design incorporates taut, uncluttered lines that are complemented by
the sweep of the dashboard trim strip. Essential driving functions and
useful accessories all fall easily to hand. They are concentrated around
the steeringwheel and centre console with a view to freeing up as much
space as possible and to making the car even more user-friendly.
Significant care went into choosing the ideal materials and finish: the
integrated upper dashboard cowling has a soft-touch finish, yet it is also
resistant to everyday knocks and exposure to direct sunlight. The step-up
in range is equally visible in cabin details such as the chrome finish
applied to door handles, instrument surrounds and gearlever knob, as well
as the availability of either light- or darkhued leather upholstery.
Particular attention has been paid to the decorative trimming to create a
varied range of distinctive ambiances, and also distinguish between
different equipment levels. Customers can choose from a light, elegant
interior which exudes a sense of wellbeing, or else something darker, with
more sporting overtones.
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An ergonomic driving position
It is very easy to feel at home at the wheel of
Renault Fluence, thanks to its sound ergonomics and straightforward
interfaces. On board, every driver will be able to find the ideal seating
position thanks to a wide range of adjustability options, with all the
controls near at hand. In a matter of seconds, he or she can: adjust the
angle of the seatback and headrest, alter the level of lumbar support,
adapt the steeringwheel for rake and reach1, vary the seat position
All essential cockpit functions fall easily to hand. These include the controls for the navigation and climate control systems, the steeringwheel-mounted radio and telephone fingertip remote controls and the controls for the cruise control/speed limiter. Space – and a place – for everything The sense of onboard comfort is embellished by attention to detail in the realm of reduced noise levels and high standards of interior space, including class-topping elbow room (1,480mm at the front, 1,475mm at the rear). Renault Fluence's cabin provides more than 23 litres of stowage space, including an illuminated, refrigerated, nine-litre glovebox, a 2.2-litre centre console and a 2.6-litre bin in each front door. The 530dm3 boot capacity is one of the biggest in its class. Access is facilitated by a low sill and a large (1,020mm) aperture, which has been made possible by incorporating one part of the rear light cluster within the boot lid. The 60/40-split folding rear seat enables the load capacity to be increased to suit the needs of the moment. The absence of any steel partition between the cabin and the boot makes this feature particularly useful when long or bulky items need to be carried.
Perfect cabin temperature at all times
No effort has been
spared in terms of thermal comfort, either. To ensure maximum efficiency,
notably in international markets exposed to fierce heat and humidity, all
versions of Renault Fluence feature
Climate control as standard equipment – even at entry level
The system is complemented by air vents positioned: at the base of
the windscreen, as well as at the centre and both ends of the dashboard for
frontseat passengers, beneath the front seats and at the rear of the centre
console for those sitting at the back. On some models, automatic dual-zone
climate control is also available. Tried and proven on the Mégane range,
this system is supremely efficient without being intrusively noisy. It
enables the driver and front passenger to select individual temperature and
fan-speed preferences via the 'Soft-Auto- Fast' control: the 'Auto' mode
optimizes thermal and acoustic comfort and swiftly adjusts the system to an
appropriate setting, the quiet 'Soft' mode places the emphasis on effective
distribution, the 'Fast' mode ensures rapid ventilation of the whole cabin.
New, integrated Carminat TomTom® navigation system
Simple to use,
the Carminat TomTom® navigation system costs less than €500 and
provides:
The system's integration within the dashboard is a pledge of quality and
security. It is easy to update and extend, too, by simply linking its SD
card to the internet. A permanent, dedicated website (http://www.renault-multimedia.com)
provides up-to-the-minute road network data and enables users to make
personalized set-up changes. A new audio range whose watchwords are 'sound
quality' and 'connectivity' Renault Fluence benefits from the entry level
60-Watt RadioSat Classic system which includes an MP3-compatible CD player
and an RCA connector. For customers who crave more refined performance,
Renault has worked with Arkamys® to develop the 3D Sound by Arkamys® system
which incorporates: a powerful 140W system with eight speakers (four
woofers and four tweeters), Bluetooth® connectivity, Arkamys® digital sonic
tuning, which provides three-dimensional surround sound, guarantees precise
reproduction and tailors sound to suit the forms of the cabin and the
materials employed, a double antenna to provide optimal radio reception.
The Plug & Music option enables drivers to control auxiliary players (such
as an iPod®, or anything with a USB connection) via the
steeringwheel-mounted fingertip remote controls. The menu and playlists are
displayed on the dashboard screen. Bluetooth connectivity also enables the
driver to operate the telephone via the steeringwheelmounted remote
control. Several other similarly practical touches complete this high-tech
package (available as standard on some models, or as an option on others).
These include a hands-free entry and ignition card (with automatic locking
of doors as the card-holder walks away from the car) and cruise control
with speed limiter. Dynamic handling
Renault Fluence's chassis delivers an efficient,
comfortable and enjoyable ride. The aim of Renault's engineers was to
combine steering and handling precision with minimal noise and vibrations.
Fluence's front suspension features MacPherson-type struts with rectangular
lower arms, while the rear incorporates a programmed-deflection flexible
beam. Renault Fluence also benefits from a particularly effective braking
system, with large discs that provide both outstanding stopping power and
durability. The electric power steering combines precise driver feedback
with quick, accurate response to instructions from the wheel. It is easy to
use and feels completely natural.
Engines that combine punch with fuel economy
From launch, and
depending on market, Renault Fluence will be available with a wide range of
thrifty engines which are all a pleasure to drive.
Reliability and durability proven by extreme endurance testing – a
hallmark of Renault quality
In addition to all the standard tests,
Renault has added another 800 quality checks to take into account the
demanding road conditions found in the majority of the countries where
Renault Fluence will be marketed. Fluence benefits from Renault's ongoing
efforts to reduce the cost of everyday motoring by between 20 and 30 per
cent. For instance, oil-change intervals have been extended to 30,000
kilometres (or every two years) on all diesel models (with the exception of
the dCi 85: 20,000km/every year), while climate control systems no longer
need to be replenished.
Real-world safety that meets customers' needs and
expectations
Fluence was designed using the same philosophy that
applies throughout the Renault range. The company has capitalized on
studies conducted by LAB5 and also used its extensive engineering expertise
to develop efficient safety systems relevant to the real-world driving
conditions found in all the countries where Fluence is marketed.
Entry-level Fluence models will be equipped with:
Renault Fluence goes on sale in Turkey from November and will benefit from the Mégane II fourdoor's fine reputation in three best-selling markets: Turkey, Russia and Romania.