Renault has revealed UK-specific pricing and specification detail for the new, second-generation Captur ahead of orders opening later this month. The Clio-based crossover, first shown to the public at September’s Frankfurt motor show, is priced from £17,595. That gets you a Play spec model with the base 1.0-litre three cylinder TCe 100 motor, which puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque. Standard equipment for the entry-level model includes full LED headlights, climate control, cruise control, a seven-inch touchscreen with DAB, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration and keyless entry. Also included is safety kit such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist and active emergency braking. Stepping up to the TCe 130, which uses a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, adds £2,800 – although in Play spec it’s auto-only, which explains the big price jump. Other engines include dCi 95 and dCi 115 diesel engines, (From £19,395 and 21,695 respectively) plus a range-topping TCe 155 petrol (from £22,895). Just three specification grades will be offered at launch, with Iconic (from £19,095) and S Edition (from £29,595) specs rounding the range off. The French maker claims to have sold more of the outgoing Captur last year than when it first launched in 2013. To continue that success, the new Seat Arona rival adopts an evolutionary approach to the exterior design that Renault describes as “more modern, more muscular and more expressive, with more SUV design cues”. The new crossover is significantly larger than its predecessor, with 100mm added to its length – with a 33mm longer wheelbase – and a 19mm increase in width. The result is claimed class-leading rear seat space, aided by a sliding bench that can be adjusted by up to 16cm, and a 536-litre boot that is 81 litres larger than the outgoing car. The Mk2 Captur sits on the same CMF-B platform first used for the latest Clio. It’s said to weigh “about the same” as the old car despite its increase in size and equipment levels, thanks to details such as an aluminium bonnet and plastic tailgate. The interior of the new car, like the Clio, has had a more substantial overhaul than the exterior. Renault claims it offers “a new dimension of quality and comfort rivalling models from the class above” with extensive use of higher-grade materials and newly designed seats. There’s also a new floating centre console, freeing up additional storage and space for wireless phone charging. The infotainment is a big upgrade, with an optional 9.3in central screen – larger than in the bigger Kadjar – combining with standard customisable 7in digital instruments (a 10in display is available on higher grades). A greater range of standard safety assist kit is offered, too. Renault is also going big on customisation: there’s a total of 90 exterior colour combinations and 18 interior configurations. From launch, the Captur will be offered with three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels, all new to the car. The base 1.0-litre three-cylinder TCe unit puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque, while a 1.3-litre four-cylinder makes 128bhp and 177lb ft in ‘130’ form, and 153bhp and 199lb ft in ‘155’ form. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in 94bhp and 113bhp form. Depending on the engine, five- or six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are offered. The Captur will gain a plug-in hybrid E-Tech model in the first quarter of 2020. The system, for which Renault has filed over 150 patents, blends a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 9.8kWh battery and two electric motors, linked to a new ‘multimode’ continuously variable transmission, claimed to feel like a dual-clutch set-up. Renault says it can run for 28 miles on battery power alone at up to 83mph, while a braking system taken from the firm’s EV range allows strong brake regeneration for a ‘one pedal’ driving technique. Performance and efficiency figures have not yet been released, but engineers tell us it puts out around 150bhp and “substantially” more torque than the regular petrol
Origin: New Renault Captur: UK prices and specs announced for 2020 crossover
Renault
Updated Renault Koleos to cost from £28,195
The updated Renault Koleos large SUV will cost from £28,195 when it goes on sale in the UK in November. The new version of the model was first revealed at the Shanghai motor show, and receives a number of changes to bring it into line with the recently refreshed Kadjar sibling. External changes are as subtle as they are on the Kadjar and include an altered grille, new skid plates front and rear and additional chrome. LED headlights are now standard fit across the range, while new two-tone alloy wheels and a Vintage Red paint scheme are added. Interior upgrades include new soft-touch materials, trim details and two-stage reclining rear seats on all models. A new pedestrian detection function has been added to the active emergency braking system, while the infotainment now gets full-screen Apple CarPlay capability. Renault has also added two new diesel engines to the Koleos. The first is a 148bhp 1.8-litre unit, replacing the 1.6-litre diesel in the outgoing model. It’s front-wheel-drive only, puts out 250lb ft of torque and is claimed to emit 143g/km of CO2 emissions. A new 2.0-litre also features with 187bhp and 280lb ft of torque, claiming 150g/km of CO2. The marque has seemingly taken the opportunity to make both engines CVT-only, reflecting the decreased popularity of manual transmissions in this class. Greater refinement is also claimed, while the more powerful diesel comes with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Alongside the material changes, Renault has also simplified the Koleos range. Two trim levels are now offered: Iconic and GT-Line. Iconic models receive kit including a 18in alloy wheels, a 7in touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, LED headlights, automative lights and wipers, and heated and cooled cup holders. Prices start from £28,195 for the 148bhp dCi 150, and £31,195 for the 187bhp dCi 190. GT-Line trim adds 18in alloy wheels, an 8.7in touchscreen, an electric tailgate, leather seats and heated electrically adjustable front seats. That model costs £30,195 and £33,195 for the dCi 150 and dCi 190
Origin: Updated Renault Koleos to cost from £28,195
Renault details two new EVs due in 2020
The next two electric models from Renault will be a Kadjar-sized crossover and a zero-emissions variant of its Twingo city car. They form part of Renault’s electrification strategy to offer eight electric vehicles by 2023. Both are expected to be revealed in the next 18 months. Future product planning boss Ali Kassaï said: “We need to add an A-segment (electric) car to address customer needs.” It’s a relatively easy project because the Twingo was always engineered to be electric, thanks to the maker’s partnership with Smart. Kassai explained that the plan had been to launch it much sooner but there was “no infrastructure” to make it tenable. The other new electric Renault expected to be revealed next year is a crossover. Although it has not been officially confirmed by Renault, Kassaï said the EV will be bigger than the Zoe and its range will exceed the Zoe’s 264 miles because its owners are more likely to drive outside of urban areas. While the Zoe and upcoming crossover will be stand-alone models, Kassaï said Renault didn’t want to separate all models into either electric or internal combustion engine. “The focus of Renault will be Renault,” he said, adding that if an electric derivative worked for an existing model – such as the Twingo – it would be considered. Alongside its electric rollout, Renault has recently revealed its Captur plug-in hybrid, with a Clio variant soon to
Origin: Renault details two new EVs due in 2020
New Renault Zoe details announced
New Renault Zoe details announced Pricing and specification details for the new Zoe EV available Renault has announced prices and specification details for its new Zoe, which features a 245 mile range on a single charge. The popular electric supermini is being launched in second-generation spec with a 52 kWh battery, more powerful R135 100 kW motor, and 50 kWh DC rapid charging capability via its CCS inlet. CCS charging is offered as an option, with the existing 22 kW Chameleon Charger fitted as standard to the new Zoe. Those opting for the CCS inlet will be able to charge at 7 kW on home and public AC units. The currently available R110 80 kW motor is also available to buyers. Performance for the R135-powered models – available on Iconic and GT Line trims – is indicated by a 9.5 seconds 0-62mph time. The R110-powered models – in Play or Iconic trim – see the same sprint completed in 11.4 seconds. New styling features inside and out add a freshness to the new Zoe, though it is clearly a case of evolution rather than revolution aesthetically. There are sharper lines, a new front end, and LED lights front and rear. The interior sees a new digital instrument panel and larger touchscreen infotainment system fitted. New materials are used – with 100% recycled seat trim on Iconic versions – and the centre console, including gear selector, has been given an overhaul. Equipment includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, wireless phone charging, the 10-inch instrument cluster, 9.3-inch Renault Easy Link system, a suite of safety systems, and a new B Mode regenerative braking system. This new B function is designed to allow ‘one-pedal’ driving much of the time, with a stronger braking set-up for better performance in heavy traffic or urban driving. Available in three trim levels – Play, Iconic, and GT Line – the new Zoe starts at £25,670 including Plug-in Car Grant with full purchase. That will see buyers get the R110 motor with Play specification – no CCS option is available on Play trim. Iconic and GT Line models can see the CCS charger included for £750 on top of their £27,170 (Iconic R110), £27,620 (Iconic R135), and £28,620 (GT Line R135) prices. Battery leasing remains an option, which sees the price of the new Zoe start at £18,670 (including PiCG) though mandatory battery leasing prices – depending on mileage – need to be factored in to costs.
Origin: New Renault Zoe details announced
New Renault Zoe: UK prices and specs announced
Renault has revealed UK pricing and spec details of the new Zoe, ahead of orders commencing in mid-September and first deliveries in January. The new Vauxhall Corsa-e rival is, like the old car, available with two purchasing options. It can be bought outright from £25,670, or £18,670 under Renault’s battery leasing scheme. The firm hasn’t quoted monthly battery lease costs yet, however. The base Play model comes with a 106bhp electric motor, alongside kit such as LED headlamps, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB, auto lights and wipers and a 7kWh fast charging wallbox, including installation. Step up to Iconic from £27,170 (or £20,170 under battery leasing) and you’ll also get sat-nav, climate control, wireless phone charging and a driver assistance package, among other features. Iconic also brings the option of the more powerful 132bhp motor, allowing 0-62mph in 9.5sec and a limited top speed of 87mph, for an extra £500. That’s standard on GT Line trim, which gets a larger 9.3in touchscreen, a rear-view camera, synthetic leather and recycled cloth upholstery and blind spot warning. Options include 50kW DC rapid charging with a CCS connector, costing £750. Designed for those who intend to do frequent long journeys, it can deliver 90 miles of range in around 30 minutes. Effectively a heavy redesign of the outgoing model, the new Zoe will go on sale in a dramatically different market from the one its predecessor entered in 2012, with a range of competitors including the new Peugeot e-208, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Honda e and Volkswagen ID 3. Sharing the same overall dimensions as the outgoing Zoe, the car’s design is updated with new grilles and bumpers, plus new, standard-fit LED headlights and tail-lights. There is a fresh colour palette inside and out, as well as new wheel designs. The intention has been to modernise the supermini’s looks. The interior is more heavily revamped, with a new dashboard design introducing a 10.0in customisable digital instrument display as standard across the range. Top-spec cars also receive a new curved 9.3in touchscreen infotainment display, similar to that found in the latest Clio, using the firm’s Easy Link connected technology. As well as being able to locate suitable charging points, it can tell if one isn’t functioning properly. A new smartphone app can also remotely pre-heat or cool the car. Higher-quality materials and new upholstery, including one made using 100% recycled fabric, aim to give the Zoe a more upmarket air. New details, such as an electronic gearlever and parking brake, free up extra storage space in the cabin, while wireless smartphone charging and an acoustic windscreen have been added. The Zoe’s biggest developments are in the powertrain department. The previous generation, which was upgraded throughout its life, made use of a 40kWh battery in its highest spec, but now an increase to 52kWh allows Renault to claim a WLTP-certified range of up to 245 miles. Renault has also adapted the car’s charging system to optionally allow a 50kW DC charge using a CCS plug, joining existing Type 2 and AC connections behind the enlarged front badge flap. An optional 7kW wallbox enables owners to charge the battery from empty to full in nine hours. The new Zoe is now available with a choice of two motors. A base 106bhp unit – carried over from the old car – is joined by a higher-spec 132bhp version. Renault claims this power unit, which makes 181lb ft of torque, allows the Zoe to achieve the 0-62mph sprint in less than 10 seconds and go from 50mph to 75mph in 7.1sec. Its top speed rises from 81mph to 87mph. Chassis changes are limited, but Renault claims the spring and damper rates have been tweaked and all-round disc brakes appear for the first time. QA Emmanuel Bouvier, director of sales and marketing and EVs, Renault This is effectively a heavy facelift of an older design. Why not an all-new platform? “We are in the unusual situation where we have a seven-year-old vehicle whose sales are growing significantly year on year. We are confident that this Zoe has plenty of life left in it, but we are considering using a common (Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi) Alliance platform in future.” You claim the new Zoe is part of a wider assault on the EV market. What is next? “Our objective is to cover A-, B- and C-segments, with multiple shapes of vehicles (ie standard cars and crossovers/SUVs). These will be focused on being passenger cars. I cannot tell you more at this stage.” Does the recently launched City K-ZE fit into these plans in Europe, or is it just for China? “We are currently investigating if the City K-ZE has international sales potential. No decision has been made
Origin: New Renault Zoe: UK prices and specs announced
All-new Renault Clio: UK prices for advanced supermini revealed
The new fifth-generation Clio is Renault’s most advanced supermini to date, and is now available to order in the UK from £14,295. The Vauxhall Corsa rival is available in four trim levels, the cheapest of which, Play, comes equipped with air-conditioning, DAB radio, intelligent speed limiting software, 16in alloy wheels and advanced driver assistance systems as standard. Iconic trim starts at £15,295, and adds a 7in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as keyless entry, rear parking sensors and tinted rear windows. The Clio S Edition receives electric rear windows, larger alloy wheels, climate control and automatic windscreen wipers and headlights, and is expected to cost from around £16,200, though prices are yet to be officially confirmed. Heading up the Clio range is RS Line trim, which takes styling influence from Renaultsport performance models like the Mégane R.S. 280. RS Line Clios gain a wider, more aggressive front grille and a faux diffuser for the rear bumper. They also receive a larger exhaust and bespoke alloy wheels, while much of the chrome-effect exterior trim panels will be replaced with Renaultsport-specific gunmetal grey versions. Standard fitment at this level are a rear-view camera, front parking sensors and 17in alloy wheels, while optional Luxury and Techno packages add features including heated leather seats, wireless phone charging and a 360deg camera. RS Line cars also receive black and red interior trim accents throughout the cabin, including on the rear seats. First customer deliveries are expected to take place at the end of October. The Clio, which was announced earlier this year and made its debut at the Geneva motor show, is smaller outside yet roomier inside, with a lighter body built on the CMF-B platform – Renault’s first car to do so. At 4048mm long, it is 14mm shorter than before, with a 6mm-shorter wheelbase and a roof that’s up to 30mm lower. The body-in-white is 22kg lighter, with higher-strength steel for improved passive safety, and an all-new electrical architecture for additional assistance systems. The Clio can be equipped with a 75bhp 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, as well as the 1.0-litre turbo already seen on the new Nissan Micra with which it shares a platform. The turbo is available in 99bhp form with either a manual or CVT automatic gearbox, or as a 129bhp version available solely with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. A 1.5-litre diesel will follow with a choice of 84bhp or 114bhp. In 2020, though, it will become the first Renault to use a hybrid powertrain. The system, known as E-tech, will use an 89bhp petrol engine mated to a 40bhp electric motor and 1.2kWh battery. The brand claims it will drive “like an EV” and be 70% electrically powered in town, with three driving modes and regenerative braking. The same drivetrain but with a 9.8kWh battery will make the Captur SUV the first B-segment plug-in hybrid, with an electric-only range of 25 to 30 miles. As to whether a full-bore Clio RS was on the way, Renault’s spokesperson would only confirm that the turbocharged 1.8-litre engine seen in the Megané RS would ‘physically fit’ inside the new CMF-B platform – although the presence of Renaultsport programme director Michael Grosjean at the pre-launch preview gives a good indication of Renault’s future plans. Renault says the new Clio has been developed along three lines: evolutionary exterior design, revolutionary interior design and innovative technology. Across its four previous generations, the Clio has become Renault’s best-selling model. Unusually, the Clio 4 increased its sales every year from 2012 to 2018 to become the second-best selling car in Europe, largely thanks, Renault thinks, to its design. “The top reason buyers give for choosing Clio is always design,” said Vincent Dubroca, the Clio’s product manager. “Way more than in other market segments, but also against its direct competitors.” Senior vice president of design Laurens van den Acker, whose first Renault was the fourth-generation Clio, said: “When I arrived at Renault, it (the Clio) was looking for its soul. This time, we have so much to build on it would be a shame to throw it away.” From a design perspective, then, the fifth-generation Clio seems to pick up from where the old car left off, even though it’s actually entirely new. The interior is where the bigger changes take place. Van den Acker accepts Renault “dramatically needed to improve perceived quality” and reckons 70% of the time he spent with the new Clio was on its interior. Of the Clio 4, he said: “The hard plastic was in your face. Now what’s soft is close and what’s hard is far away. We’ve benchmarked against our competitors, but we’re reaching towards premium-segment cars”. The dashboard is now finished in soft-touch material and is more driver-oriented, with the raised centre console bringing the gearstick closer to the driver. A new airbag
Origin: All-new Renault Clio: UK prices for advanced supermini revealed
Autocar confidential: Porsche’s colour conundrum, Renault hatches a plan and more
In this week’s round-up of automotive news bites, we hear why Volkswagen’s CEO thinks EVs are the only way, how Porsche created the 911’s interior colour combinations, and more. Renault’s hatch, back? Renault will not quit the small car segment, unlike some brands, according to its Europe boss Jean-Christophe Kugler. “I’ve been asking my team to investigate deeply this segment” he said. “Let’s look at it and understand what is the evolution in the main cities.” Kugler also claimed car sharing could make the Twingo – now dropped from the UK – more viable. Porsche’s colourful combos One of the biggest challenges in developing the new Porsche 911 was making sure that all the interior trim colours matched, according to the firm’s quality control boss, Frank Moser. He noted the 11 interior colours offered on the new 911 had to work with 16 equipment levels and across 300 visible parts featuring 51 different materials, produced by 76 different suppliers. Ssangyong predicts a taxing period for manufacturers The growing uptake of EVs is going to have major effects on the rest of the UK car industry when it comes to taxation, according to Ssangyong’s UK MD, Nick Laird. “Manufacturers invested big in diesel technology for 20 years because that’s what all the signals the governments were giving. The government needs to find that (missing fuel duty) from somewhere.” Is hydrogen a load of hot air? “There’s no alternative to electricity to cut emissions and make mobility CO2-free,” VW Group chairman Herbert Diess said, despite Audi recently restarting its hydrogen powertrain research. The group’s vehicles are responsible for 1% of all transport-related emissions worldwide and it is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Origin: Autocar confidential: Porsche’s colour conundrum, Renault hatches a plan and more
New Renault Megane RS Trophy-R: UK prices revealed
Renault has revealed pricing and specs for the limited-run Mégane RS Trophy-R. Just 32 examples are destined for the UK, starting at £51,140. That price includes special Öhlins shock absorbers and an Akrapovic exhaust, alongside Brembo brakes, while a carbon bonnet and diffuser are part of a comprehensive weight reduction programme to offer increased performance. It’s far from the most expensive Trophy-R on offer, however. A £63,140 ‘Carbon wheel pack’ variant is offered, which receives for Carbon Revolution alloy wheels, reducing unsprung weight by 2kg a corner. That’s not all, however. The most extreme version offered is the Nürburgring Record Pack, priced at £72,140. For that you get a car claimed to be the same spec as the car that set the hot hatch lap record at the fearsome German circuit. That includes sector-first carbon ceramic brakes, with large 390mm discs and golf finished callipers. A straight-feed dynamic air intake is also included. The new range-topper features the same highly tuned 1.8-litre turbo engine as the Mégane RS 300 Trophy, which produces 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque. The 0-62mph time drops 0.3 sec from the standard car to 5.4sec, while the top speed increases by 2mph to 163mph. Renault says that the Trophy-R is 130kg lighter, due to a weight saving programme led by Renault Sport, which developed the new model with the same approach taken on a racing car. The Trophy-R is claimed to feature improved aerodynamics and a reworked chassis drive axles to boost performance. That maintains the ethos of previous generations of Trophy-R, which have been focused on extracting performance through handling and dynamics, rather than purely relying on power. The model has also benefitted from development work undertaken by Renault Sport’s partners; it features Brembo brakes, an Akrapovic exhaust, track-focused Bridgestone tyres, lightweight Sabelt bucket seats and Öhlins shock absorbers. Renault claims to have set a new front-wheel-drive production car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a high-specced Trophy-R. According to Renault, the car lapped the 12.80-mile Nordschleife in 7min 40.10sec on 5 April, and also posted a time of 7min 45.39secs on the full 12.94-mile layout. It has previously been spied in action on the German race track. The front-wheel-drive production car record at the Nürburgring was previously held by the current Honda Civic Type R, which lapped the track in 7min
Origin: New Renault Megane RS Trophy-R: UK prices revealed
Renault reveals electric 4Lbased concept
Renault reveals electric 4L-based concept The convertible model uses Twizy running gear Renault has used its electric vehicle expertise to create an EV version of one of the manufacturer’s classics – the e-Plein Air. Based on a Renault 4, the Plein Air was a door-less convertible version introduce in 1968, but Renault has modernised it with an electric drivetrain from its Twizy. The concept has no official technical statistics, but a compact battery and small electric motor mean it’s not going to be challenging the Renault Zoe in terms of performance or range. It has been created for the 10th anniversary of the 4L International gathering. The Renault 4 remains one of the company’s best-selling and popular models. Changes made include a closed-off front grille, removed rear seats, and new luggage rack. There are no plans to put the model into production, though it’s clear that retro-fitting electric powertrains to classic cars is picking up in popularity. The Mini has been electrified by Swind, though manufacturers are also getting in on the game. Joining Renualt are Jaguar and Aston Martin in creating electric versions of some of its most famous models.
Origin: Renault reveals electric 4Lbased concept
Renault updates big-selling Captur with new platform and interior
Renault has followed up its strong-selling Captur crossover with a second-generation model that features a similar dramatic interior revamp as the Clio – and will also be offered as a plug-in hybrid. The French maker claims to have sold more of the outgoing Captur last year than when it first launched in 2013. To continue that success, the new Seat Arona rival adopts an evolutionary approach to the exterior design that Renault describes as “more modern, more muscular and more expressive, with more SUV design cues”. LED head and tail-lights are also now standard across the range. Set to go on sale at the end of this year, the new crossover is significantly larger than its predecessor, with 100mm added to its length – with a 33mm longer wheelbase – and a 19mm increase in width. The result is claimed class-leading rear seat space, aided by a sliding bench that can be adjusted by up to 16cm, and a 536-litre boot that is 81 litres larger than the outgoing car. The Mk2 Captur sits on the same CMF-B platform first used for the latest Clio. It’s said to weigh “about the same” as the old car despite its increase in size and equipment levels, thanks to details such as an aluminium bonnet and plastic tailgate. The interior of the new car, like the Clio, has had a more substantial overhaul than the exterior. Renault claims it offers “a new dimension of quality and comfort rivalling models from the class above” with extensive use of higher-grade materials and newly designed seats. There’s also a new floating centre console, freeing up additional storage and space for wireless phone charging. The infotainment is a big upgrade, with an optional 9.3in central screen – larger than in the bigger Kadjar – combining with standard customisable 7in digital instruments (a 10in display is available on higher grades). A greater range of standard safety assist kit is offered, too. Renault is also going big on customisation: there’s a total of 90 exterior colour combinations and 18 interior configurations. From launch, the Captur will be offered with three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels, all new to the car. The base 1.0-litre three-cylinder TCe unit puts out 99bhp and 118lb ft of torque, while a 1.3-litre four-cylinder makes 128bhp and 177lb ft in ‘130’ form, and 153bhp and 199lb ft in ‘155’ form. A 1.5-litre diesel comes in 94bhp and 113bhp form. Depending on the engine, five- or six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are offered. The Captur will gain a plug-in hybrid E-Tech model in the first quarter of 2020. The system, for which Renault has filed over 150 patents, blends a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a 9.8kWh battery and two electric motors, linked to a new ‘multimode’ continuously variable transmission, claimed to feel like a dual-clutch set-up. Renault says it can run for 28 miles on battery power alone at up to 83mph, while a braking system taken from the firm’s EV range allows strong brake regeneration for a ‘one pedal’ driving technique. Performance and efficiency figures have not yet been released, but engineers tell us it puts out around 150bhp and “substantially” more torque than the regular petrol
Origin: Renault updates big-selling Captur with new platform and interior
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