Geneva Motor Show | Back On Track for Renault With R-Space at Geneva

 

Renault R-Space Concept Preview Engines Car attracts the customers by its distinguished characteristics and performance at 2011 Geneva Auto Show.

It is the latest model of Renault R-Space series. It is manufactured with turbocharged 110-horse power three cylinders engine. This gives adequate and extra power to drive the car smoothly.

It’s a very highly speedy car. It can run for a long time without heating up engine. The cooler system helps to keep the engine cool. The fuel consumption is reasonable and price is also affordable to the common people.

Renault R-Space Concept is perfect for family hauler. The kids playing video game system gives further attraction to the customers. Renault is moving to reap the most of the Geneva Auto Show 2011 with the new R-Space. 

 

Renault Scala

Renault Scala

Renault’s new midsize car, Scala will be to the Nissan Sunny what the Pulse is to the Micra. The cars will share the same platform, engines and, in all likelihood, the same interiors. However, exterior styling will be quite different. Engine options will include a 105bhp, 1.5-litre petrol and an 86bhp, 1.5-litre diesel. Renault will price the car aggressively, so expect this exciting new saloon to cost between Rs 7-9 lakh when it is launched in September 2012.  

 

Factfile: 

Engines: 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 97bhp/13.6kgm,

85bhp/20.4kgm

Kerb weight: NA

L/W/H: NA

Expected: September 2012

Price: Rs 7-9 lakh

Renault Duster

Renault Duster

Renault wants a presence in each segment of the car market and will be ready with its Duster mini-SUV by July next year. The Duster shares its platform with the Logan (now Mahindra Verito), so should be able to take a fair bit of abuse. But this is no off-roader in the true sense and will be sold in India in a two-wheel-drive avatar only. Interior space is impressive and, just like on the Logan, ride quality is nice and supple too. The Duster will have  1.6 petrol (105bhp) and 1.5 diesel (90bhp) engines. A more powerful 107bhp 1.5 diesel with reduced turbo lag will also be on offer. Expect prices to start at Rs 7 lakh for the base petrol-engined Duster. 

Factfile:

Engines: 1.6-litre petrol, 1.5-litre

diesel, 1.5-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 105bhp/15.1kgm,

90bhp/20.4kgm, 107bhp/24.5kgm

Kerb weight: 1205kg

L/W/H: 4315/1822/1695mm

Expected: July 2012

Price: Rs 7-8 lakh

All-new Renault Pulse launched at the Auto Expo!

The new Renault Pulse, the third car from the French car-maker, and its volume product for the Indian  market, was officially launched at the Auto Expo today. The Renault pulse will be available in two variants, with prices starting from Rs 5.77 lakh.

Renault's approach to the competitive hatchback segment will be very different, launching the car only with a diesel engine for now, the popular 1.5 dCi diesel with 64 Ps of power. This is the same engine which powers the diesel Micra as well. Also, Renault wants to push the Pulse upmarket and has chosen to launch the car in only two trim levels with a very high specification grade, intended to appeal to value conscious buyers, who also want a heavy dose of style and are willing to pay for it.

The prices of the two Pulse variants are:

Renault Pulse RxL : Rs 5.77 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi
Renault Pulse RxZ : Rs 6.25 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi

The Pulse goes on sale immediately. Renault also plans to expand aggressively this year, with more than 80 dealers to be added by the end of 2012, taking the total number of Renault dealers to 100 across India by year end.

Renault launches upgraded Fluence at Rs 15.2 lakh

Renault has just launched an upgraded version of the Fluence diesel sedan, with a few minor revisions. Renault has also updated the Fluence's price, and the new version is Rs 80,000 dearer than the car it replaces, with ex-showroom (Delhi) prices now starting at Rs 15.2 lakh.

The Renault Fluence diesel is powered by the French company's popular 1.5-litre dCi  K9 series engine. This engine has now received some upgrades, partiularly to the turbo-charger, which has resulted in a marinal power increase from 105 PS to 110 PS. The Fluence diesel is available in the E4 trim level, which ensures that the car has all the essential kit that a buyer in this class demands, including leather upholstery, electrically folding mirrors, parking sensors, automatic headlamps and wipers, Bluetooth compatible stereo, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist and ESP with ASR or anti-skid regulation.

The revised Fluence diesel has been rated at 20.4 kpl by ARAI. Renault claims the Fluence diesel produces the minimum emissions in this class.

Renault India launches Pulse petrol version

Renault India has finally launched the petrol version of the Pulse hatchback, powered by the same Nissan 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine found in the Nissan Micra. This engine, designated HR12, produces 76 PS of power and 104 Nm of torque.

The Renault Pulse petrol will be available in three trim levels, the base RxE variant, mid-spec RxL and top-of-the-line RxZ. The base RxE version gets a driver's side airbag, power steering and air-conditioning as standard. The RxL adds power windows, music system and a rear wiper. The highest spec RxZ variant gets ABS with ABD, two front airbags, fog lamps, smart key and a rear defogger as well. Renault has not clarified whether this variant gets alloy wheels as well, although it is undrstood that all three versions get 14-inch wheels, unlike the the Pulse diesel RxZ variant, which has 15-inch wheels. The highest XV version of the Micra also has 15-inch alloy wheels.

The ex-showroom Delhi prices for the Renault Pulse petrol are as follows:
Renault Pulse RxE: Rs 425,000
Renault Pulse RxL: Rs 499,000
Renault Pulse RxZ: Rs 555,000

Marc Nassif, MD, Renault India had commented at the time of the Pulse diesel launch: "We have the petrol ready. It is only a matter of time before we introduce it in the market." Renault India had been waiting for the Union Budget before announcing the Pulse petrol version. Commenting on the eventual launch of the petrol Pulse, Nassif said: "Pulse is a mass market product for India, designed and developed at our design studio in Mumbai, has always been an important product for Renault India. We are highly pleased with the product’s performance and it has been well accepted by the Indian customers. The new PULSE petrolis a product launched for our Indian customers and it will help Renault to broaden its customer base and cater to customers who are looking for a comfortable premium hatch with a competitive price tag."

The Renault Pulse petrol goes on sale immediately all over India. It will be built alongside the Pulse diesel and the Nissan Micra at the Renault-Nissan Alliance plant at Oragadam, on the outskirts of chennai.

Renault Fluence Review

Renault Fluence, considered as the best looking Sedan in its entire car segment in all of India, has been launched quite recently in 2011. Renault Fluence is the flagship bearer of the car brand Renault. It was launched in New Delhi only in May 2011. Renault Fluence is also the first car that was launched by Renault after it has separated from the big group of Mahindra cars. It is known as an awesome car which has jaw-dropping safety features which come with its outstanding aesthetics.

Engine

Renault Fluence was launched in India with two engine variants, the 2 L petrol and the 1.4 L diesel. The 2 L petrol engine of the Renault Fluence is a CVT Automatic version. It is also powered with 1997 cc, 135 Bhp, and ran by 190 Nm torque. On the other hand, the diesel variant of the Renault Fluence has a maximum of 105 Bhp with its 1461 cc and 240 Nm torque. The petrol engine has an automatic gearbox while the diesel engine has a manual gearbox. It can be noticed that the petrol variant of the Renault Fluence has more features as compared to its diesel variant. The price of the former is also more expensive than the latter.

Built and Styling

Renault Fluence is packed with exciting features together with its aesthetics that has been considered as the best Sedan in its car segment. It has an integrated music system equipped with four smooth sounding speakers. The petrol version of Renault Fluence has a provision for USB and AUX. The interiors are also all made of leather. It has climate control, rear window blinds, parking sensors, and automatic headlamps and wipers which turn on in the mere absence of light in the former and the sensing of rain for the latter. Both variants have keyless entry and push button engine start.

Safety

As the best looking Sedan, Renault Fluence also boasts of its safety features. It is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). In addition, it has four SRS airbags, rear parking sensors, fog lamps, automatic head lamps, rear disc brakes and rain-sensing wipers. It protects the driver and the passengers from thefts, natural occurrences, and even from uncalled for accidents. The maximum level of security and safety can be enjoyed from the driving experience brought by the Renault Fluence.

Variants, Prices, and Colors

The two variants of Renault Fluence are Renault Fluence Petrol and Renault Fluence Diesel. The former is priced at Rs. 14.50 lakh while the latter is priced at 12.99 lakh. The many additional features of the petrol variant make it more expensive as compared to its diesel counterpart. Renault Fluence comes in very attractive shades of colors. You can choose from the following colors: pearl black, blue ecume, glacier white, and ash beige.

Renault Pulse: Road Test

Badge engineering has turned out to be quite a popular phenomenon now and Renault seems to have adapted it as well. What you see here might look like a familiar car to you but it is also the French company's most important launches post their second innings here in India. ZigWheels gets to the "Pulse" of the matter!

The very first pictures of the Renault Pulse frankly left us very disheartened. Especially since we are totally gaga about Renault’s other small offerings like the Twingo and the Clio. The Pulse on the other hand pretty much looked like a rehashed Nissan Micra with a Renault badge. However, like they say, the god is in the details and once you see the Pulse in the flesh, the subtle but noticeable differences start to make themselves evident. So how different is the Pulse and will it prove to be the game changer for Renault? Let’s find out…

Similar lines, different appeal

Now there is no doubting that the Pulse comes across as a slightly different looking Micra. But then that’s not really a bad thing. It’s pretty much the same with the VW Vento and the Skoda Rapid, so why not with the Micra and the Pulse. Now the Micra is already a cute looking car, but then therein lies its problem too. While cute is good it appeals only to a certain kind, the fairer sex. And that’s exactly what Renault has worked on. Not only has it saved on the development costs of an all new car but Renault has given the car an all new character which now gives a very universal appeal.

The changes include re-styled and now slightly elongated head lights that is complimented by a large aggressive grille which gives the little car a lot of macho appeal. While the sides and the overall silhouette remains the same, the rear has been given a once over. The tail lights get a minor touch up and there is also an all new bumper which now also sports a black mid section imitating a diffuser. All these sporty bits are further complimented by one of the best alloy wheels in this segment. All in all, if you liked the Micra but found it a tad to feminine, the Pulse is sure to get your attention.

Round is in!

To save costs, the bulbous interiors of the Micra are retained. There is no difference whatsoever apart from the Renault badge on the steering wheel and the different choice of colours that you get choose for the interiors. The RxL variant gets a black dashboard with maroon inserts while the RxZ pictured here gets a mix of beige and grey. Now the beige and grey combo does make the interiors feel more airy but also make the interiors look more plastiky.

The driving position is nice and comfy and even new drivers will feel at home in the Pulse thanks to the good all round visibility. Leg room at the rear is not abundant but it’s not too bad either and even tall passengers will not feel cramped. But get five people into the car and its does get a bit tight in the Pulse.

Ergonomics are well taken care off and everything falls at hand pretty easily. The aircon controls arranged in a circular pattern not only look refreshing but also serve their purpose well. Even the music system has a nice tune to it and performs quite well considering its basic nature. All in all the insides of the Pulse is good place to be in.

Diesel delight

As of now Renault has launched the Pulse with a diesel powerplant only with a petrol to follow soon. The engine is the same 1.5 litre multifarious dCi unit which does its duty in the Robust Renault Logan which is now the Mahindra Verito, the Renault Fluence (albeit in a different state of tune) and of course in the exact same tune in the Micra. It pushes out 64 PS @ 4000 rpm and 160 Nm @ 2000 rpm.

While its power figures at 64 PS does not suggest the Pulse to be as quick as its competition like the Swift which packs in much more power where the Renault scores is drivability. Turbo lag is minimal and the Pulse shoots forward at the slightest dab of the accelerator. Pedal to the metal, the Pulse hit 100 km/h in 16.27 seconds which almost a second quicker than the Micra and pretty close to the more powerful Swift. How you ask? Short well matched gearing is the answer. The short ratios mean the Pulse is in the powerband at all times resulting in crisp acceleration. Drivability is brilliant and the Pulse can doodle around in town in as high as 3rd and 4th gear without having to downshift and the roll-on times reflect the same. 4-120 km/h in 4th gear took just 26.59 seconds.

However there is a downside as well. The shorter gearing means highway runs can get quite buzzy. In fact, the Pulse could not even hit 120 in third gear and maxed out at 106 km/h. High speed cruising is not the Pulse’s forte either and the car maxed out at 160 km/h thanks to a long downhill. Coming to deceleration, the Pulse brakes well under normal usage however a high speed emergency braking situation means locking up the front wheels thanks to the absence of ABS. We fail to fathom why such an important and mandatory safety feature has been omitted from the equipment list.

 

The suspension is pretty sorted too and the Pulse offers a decent balance between ride and handling. However we found the setup a tad too stiff with bumps filtering into the cabin on bad roads. The stiffness however aids handling and the Pulse is pretty much in its element in the twisty’s. The Pulse then makes for a great city car with decent highway potential.

Easy on the pocket

Good drivability and a light weight design results in good fuel efficiency too. Driven around town, the Pulse returned 13.8 kmpl with the figure going up to 17.3 kmpl on the highway, giving the Pulse an overall figure of 14.6 kmpl. With a 41 litre fuel tank the Pulse should easily see close to 600 km before needing to be refueled.

Bottom Line!

The Pulse then comes across as a pretty sensible offering from Renault. The aesthetics has been taken care of and the interiors do just fine. It drives well and is fuel efficient too. The RxZ variant is pretty loaded too, of course if you could overlook the glaring omission of the anti-lock braking system and the optional passenger airbag. At 6.25 lakh the top of the line RxZ is exactly Rs. 4300 cheaper than the Nissan Micra. Thanks to the better looks, the Pulse makes absolute sense for not only those who loved the Micra for everything but it looks but also for those looking for a well rounded diesel family hatch.

Renault Koleos

Expected price : Rs 18-20 lakh

Venturing into the SUV space, the Renault Koleos will hit the Indian roads within a couple of months after the launch of the Fluence and it will be brought in via the CKD route. The Koleos will face stiff competition as it will have to battle against the likes of the Mitsubishi Outlander, the recently launched Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Fortuner.

Renault small car Pulse unveiled

French carmaker's top-down strategy takes shape as Micra-based premium hatchback Pulse make an appearance

French carmaker Renault is showing great resolve in sticking to its strategy for India. After the recent launches in the form of the D-seg Fluence and the Koleos SUV, Renault has unveiled its small car for the Indian market, the Pulse. The car was revealed today evening in Delhi at the hands of Formula 1 drivers Mark Webber and Karun Chandhok, on the eve of the inaugural Indian F1 GP. Both drive F1 cars powered by Renault engines.

While news of a small car from Renault had been doing rounds, and had even been confirmed by the manufacturer itself, many had expected this car to be on the lines of the Modus or the Clio - both established brands in the European city-hatch space. The car for India however will be neither of the two, but will be called the Pulse and will share a majority of its parts with partner Nissan's Micra hatch.

Looking at how the hatch market has taken a sudden liking to diesels, the car will be launched at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi with the 1.5-litre dCi engine. The mill has been seen previously on the Micra, Fluence and Nissan's recently launched Sunny sedan. While the focus will be on this variant, the petrol option is not being ruled out, and will be the nice and torquey three-pot 1.2 litre engine, again from the Micra.

So how will the Pulse stand out from the crowd? We could say quirky French styling, but Renault would be looking at premium positioning to give the car a different spin. While the size and space of the car would still be Micra-ish, the car is expected to come loaded with features to the gills, and will be aimed at affluent small urban buyers - much like the Honda Jazz when it was introduced. We're pegging the pricing to lie higher than the Micra, in ranging between Rs 6-8 lakh across petrol and diesel variants, but we'll have to wait until the Expo to actually decode Renault's gameplan with the Pulse.

This certainly seems like a smart strategy for new solo entrant Renault, still in the process of ramping up both its production facilities to be able to handle the demands of the Indian car space, and also create enough dealerships and service outlets to allow the brand to thrive. Creating a niche in the crowded premium hatch space based on design, price and positioning while still keeping the logistics simple with the Micra piggyback may not create great numbers in sales, but should help the marque make its presence in the country more concrete. Watch this space for more details on the forthcoming car!

Despite being a little confused about their choice of branding the 1.5 litre diesel car as a performance version of the 2.0 litre petrol Fluence, Renault is clear with one thing they're in India to stay. Muntaser Mirkar shares his first impressions on both and what they really have to offer to the Indian full-size mainstream sedan market Get alerts on new cars reviewed by ZigWheels The French have tried before, and no, we’re not talking about the Logan. For a fine reference of the first real French automotive invasion of India in modern times we’ll have to go back to around the mid-90s. With the first wave of foreign cars that entered India – a list that included the likes of the Americans, the Japanese and the Koreans was a rather practical car that was super focused on function preceding form – the Peugeot 309. With roots that engraved deep into the rallying world, the 309 was a good car, but was just a little too late coming into the country – especially with so many modern designs cropping out of the woodwork. So, it was far from what you’d call a raving success. The French did try again, and with a different mantra in mind – this time in 2007 they went for cost effectiveness, with what the World knew as the Dacia Logan. Ok, so the car itself wasn’t truly French – it was from Romania, built in India and marketed by the French. We all know that story and how it wasn’t the dream start that Renault hoped for in India. It eventually ended up having an adverse effect on Renault’s brand image in the country and that’s the biggest challenge and mission that the car you see on these pages is going to face. The Fluence is here and its mission is to influence the Indian mindset into showing the country what French cars really are like. Queer – a word generally used to describe all things French, isn’t one that fits the bill as far as the Fluence is concerned. This car is more conventional than most vehicles driving off Paris’ assembly lines. It’s good to look at, is bringing in some good engine options right from the very beginning and is all set to take on the more settled-in and extremely able competition from the Civic, Corolla Altis, Laura and the Cruze. It’s priced well, and comes loaded with goodies like traction control and dual zone air conditioning as standard. So then, that should generally conclude this first drive report on a good note right? But there is something wrong about the Fluence, and that’s why you should probably read on. To begin with, and something that is quite a paradox but still in keeping with modern times – the two versions of the Fluence that are making it to India are being pitched to very different kind of buyers. But the conflict in our minds is this – the petrol variant is being pitched as the luxury, laid-back variant while the diesel car is being touted as the sporty, performance one! Now that would have been cool if the said petrol engine was a sub-2.0-litre unit and the diesel one was over the same capacity dishing loads of power. But it turns out it’s the exact opposite. The petrol engine on the Fluence is a fabulous 1997cc inline four that puts out 137PS @ 6000rpm, nice and revvy in character, feels like its got punch, but is then held back by a CVT gearbox. Ok, so things aren’t really as bad as it may seem because Renault have put in a 6-speed manual mode along with the CVT that does come to the rescue, but why o why couldn’t they mate a manual gearbox with it right from launch and do true justice to the powerplant? With the CVT that the petrol engine is being launched with, the Fluence doesn’t really feel underpowered at all – it’s just that you know there’s so much more potential under that hood. Saving grace then that the manual transmission is on its way some time later. The CVT does make a lot of sense for those looking for a car in that segment with seemless powering up to cruise speeds of around a 100km/h and yes, you really can’t take anything away from the sheer convenience that driving a CVT brings.

Despite being a little confused about their choice of branding the 1.5 litre diesel car as a performance version of the 2.0 litre petrol Fluence, Renault is clear with one thing they're in India to stay. Muntaser Mirkar shares his first impressions on both and what they really have to offer to the Indian full-size mainstream sedan market

The French have tried before, and no, we’re not talking about the Logan. For a fine reference of the first real French automotive invasion of India in modern times we’ll have to go back to around the mid-90s. With the first wave of foreign cars that entered India – a list that included the likes of the Americans, the Japanese and the Koreans was a rather practical car that was super focused on function preceding form – the Peugeot 309. With roots that engraved deep into the rallying world, the 309 was a good car, but was just a little too late coming into the country – especially with so many modern designs cropping out of the woodwork. So, it was far from what you’d call a raving success. The French did try again, and with a different mantra in mind – this time in 2007 they went for cost effectiveness, with what the World knew as the Dacia Logan. Ok, so the car itself wasn’t truly French – it was from Romania, built in India and marketed by the French. We all know that story and how it wasn’t the dream start that Renault hoped for in India. It eventually ended up having an adverse effect on Renault’s brand image in the country and that’s the biggest challenge and mission that the car you see on these pages is going to face. The Fluence is here and its mission is to influence the Indian mindset into showing the country what French cars really are like.

Queer – a word generally used to describe all things French, isn’t one that fits the bill as far as the Fluence is concerned. This car is more conventional than most vehicles driving off Paris’ assembly lines. It’s good to look at, is bringing in some good engine options right from the very beginning and is all set to take on the more settled-in and extremely able competition from the Civic, Corolla Altis, Laura and the Cruze. It’s priced well, and comes loaded with goodies like traction control and dual zone air conditioning as standard. So then, that should generally conclude this first drive report on a good note right? But there is something wrong about the Fluence, and that’s why you should probably read on.

To begin with, and something that is quite a paradox but still in keeping with modern times – the two versions of the Fluence that are making it to India are being pitched to very different kind of buyers. But the conflict in our minds is this – the petrol variant is being pitched as the luxury, laid-back variant while the diesel car is being touted as the sporty, performance one! Now that would have been cool if the said petrol engine was a sub-2.0-litre unit and the diesel one was over the same capacity dishing loads of power. But it turns out it’s the exact opposite. The petrol engine on the Fluence is a fabulous 1997cc inline four that puts out 137PS @ 6000rpm, nice and revvy in character, feels like its got punch, but is then held back by a CVT gearbox. Ok, so things aren’t really as bad as it may seem because Renault have put in a 6-speed manual mode along with the CVT that does come to the rescue, but why o why couldn’t they mate a manual gearbox with it right from launch and do true justice to the powerplant? With the CVT that the petrol engine is being launched with, the Fluence doesn’t really feel underpowered at all – it’s just that you know there’s so much more potential under that hood. Saving grace then that the manual transmission is on its way some time later. The CVT does make a lot of sense for those looking for a car in that segment with seemless powering up to cruise speeds of around a 100km/h and yes, you really can’t take anything away from the sheer convenience that driving a CVT brings.

Renault Twingo RenaultSport 133

Armed with a 1.6 litre engine featuring VVT. The Renault Twingo RenaultSport 133 generates 133PS of power!

Renault launches limited edition Clio to celebrate Constructors Crown

To celebrate its Formula 1 Constructors' world crown with Red Bull Racing in 2011, Renault Sport has released a limited-edition version of the Clio, christened the Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7

Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7

Many factory stock cars are getting extreme makeovers that enter the market these days as special- and limited-edition models. The Renault Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is one such car. The French auto-maker has built this road-going car to celebrate its victory in the Formula 1 Constructors crown.

“Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is a hot hatch combining stunning looks with the very latest features to have been developed by the wizards at Renault Sport Technologies,” says Jean-Maxime Boulanger, Clio Renault Sport Product Manager. “It is a dynamic car which will definitely turn heads. It is a tribute to the very close ties that exist between Renault Sport Technologies and Renault Sport F1!”

Its high-quality black body colour provides a striking contrast with its Sirius Yellow F1-style front skirt blade, door mirror housings and rear diffuser. These sporty credentials are echoed by the Renault Sport chequered-pattern roof decal, which combines with the Red Bull Racing badging on the doors. These exterior features merely serve to highlight Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7’s powerful two-litre 203PS engine.

Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7’s excellence and aggressive, sporty looks are mirrored by an interior equipment package to match. The list includes automatic climate control, automatic headlight activation, a hands-free card, yellow fabric Recaro bucket seats, a Renault Sport-badged gear lever knob, a personalised numbered plaque and an audio connection box. It also features R.S. Monitor, an electronic on-board driving coach which displays performance-related data such as 0-100km/h times and other information aimed at fine-tuning driving styles – in real time.

The car eloquently showcases the transfer of skills between Renault’s expertise in Formula 1 (Red Bull Racing, Lotus F1 Team, Caterham F1 Team and Williams F1 Team will all benefit from Renault power in 2012) and the brand’s road cars. Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 badge is the first limited-edition in a series which go on to include Twingo R.S. and Mégane R.S.

The Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 will be marketed in five countries namely France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.

New 2012 Renault Fluence dCi 110 E4 road test

As much as I love cars, smart phones too tickle my interest. I always want the fastest and coolest phone. A phone with the zingiest processor and an OS that has something new to offer all the time. Phones these days need to be constantly upgraded or are left behind in this never ending technology race. The same applies to cars and the customer’s roving eye needs to be arrested with constant upgrades. This brings me to the Renault Fluence. Less than a year back the car was launched in both diesel and petrol variants. Despite the Indian penchant for diesel cars, the Fluence oil burner didn’t rake in the expected numbers since Renault launched it only as a basic entry level model. The French manufacturer acted quick and launched the feature laden E4 diesel to satisfy the demand for a more premium variant. But Renault didn’t think that was enough. So now the Fluence gets another update and this time the engine has gone under the knife.
Since there are no cosmetic changes made to the car and we’ve already spoken about the car’s styling earlier, we’ll head straight to the heart of the matter. The 1.5-litre Renault K9K engine is used in more than 1.2 million cars internationally, including India, where various cars sport it in different states of tune. It is in fact the best selling engine for Renault.
The Fluence too is powered by the same engine and produces 105PS of max power. The updated engine with a few changes now produces a higher 110PS at 4000rpm, 4PS more than before. Peak torque of 240Nm produced at 1850rpm remains the same but it is now produced earlier (150rpm to be precise) in the rev range.
The changes done to the engine include a new turbocharger, intake, new fuel injectors and revised engine mapping. A variable geometry turbocharger has been used just like in the previous model but with a different blade design and intake system. The engine also gets swirl induction since swirling air in the intake system produces a better air to fuel mixture and hence boosts power delivery as well as fuel economy. The piezoelectric fuel injectors are also new and feature 7 ports per injector. On the road all this translates into better driveability and performance.
The older Fluence suffered from massive turbo lag and this meant one had to change gears more frequently. The new Fluence displays very little lag and the new engine mapping has made the engine a lot more linear. This makes it easier to drive in the city and a boon while overtaking. In terms of performance the car takes 12.53 seconds to reach the ton making it quicker than the older car by a full two seconds, in fact the car is even quicker than the manual transmission Skoda Laura diesel.
Lesser turbo lag also means better roll on times, 20-80kmph in 3rd gear takes 12.56 seconds (2.06 seconds quicker than before) while 40-100kmph in 4th and 5th gear is covered in 14.36 seconds and 25.15 seconds respectively (1.67 and 1.27 seconds quicker than the earlier model), while top speed hasn’t changed. The increase in performance however has resulted in a drop in fuel efficiency. The ARAI claimed figure has gone down from 21.80kmpl to 20.40kmpl.
Step inside and one will notice the same interiors, the E4 variant’s dual tone dashboard looks clean and elegant and exudes good quality. The Fluence also features a gear shift indicator to help improve fuel economy. An upshift or downshift light flashes in the instrument cluster depending on the situation.
The price has gone up marginally and now costs Rs 15.20 lakh, ex-Delhi for the fully loaded E4 variant. The basic E2 variant will continue to use the older 106PS dCi engine. The updates may be minor but the Fluence is now better to drive in town, more powerful and most importantly only slightly less fuel efficient than before.
The slight trade-off between fuel efficiency in favour of performance has greatly improved the car’s overall position in the D-segment ladder. For all those looking to enter this segment, the Fluence now makes a stronger case for itself.

RENAULT FLUENCE DIESEL

In June 2011, we tested the Renault Fluence petrol, pitting it against the Toyota Corolla Altis and the Skoda Laura. Back then we had reported that the Fluence’s styling is better than the competition and that on the inside it boasts of well-appointed, class-leading interiors, bettering the competition in terms of space and comfort. The petrol engine is a bit of a let-down though, with rivals sporting slightly more powerful powertrains, but the Fluence makes up for it with its frugality. Apart from that, the car boasts of several convenience features and has four airbags and ESP. In short, the petrol Fluence did not fare badly at all. This month, we managed to lay our hands on its diesel sibling. 

 

From the outside, it is next to impossible to distinguish the diesel from the petrol, except for the dCi badge next to the rear number plate. But step inside, and as Sirish pointed out couple of months ago after driving the petrol and diesel variants back to back at the media drive, Renault has stripped down the interiors heavily for the diesel, which is bizarre. The difference in trim levels is huge, and the diesel has to make-do with interiors dominated by black and grey plastics. It does not even get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, forget climate control, AUX, USB, Bluetooth connectivity, leather seats, rear sun blinds and rear air-conditioning vents that the petrol variant has. This gets further baffling on finding out that this is the sole diesel variant. The engine is the same 1.5-litre, in-line four cylinder dCi motor seen on the Logan previously and on the Micra diesel more recently. The Logan diesel was a runaway success for the Mahindra-Renault joint venture, and the car’s highlight was its engine. The Logan diesel was immensely popular as an entry-level sedan given its highly frugal nature. This is the engine Renault plans to use in its future models in the country such as the Duster though the Koleos will get a 2.0-litre diesel.  

 

For the Fluence, Renault has given the engine a power boost, given the car’s positioning as a D-segment sedan. The 1.5-litre engine makes 106PS at 4000rpm in this guise, which does not sound like much, despite the hike in power. But this is still better than the Corolla diesel’s 88PS. Maximum torque produced is 240Nm at 2000rpm. This tried and tested mill feels smooth under the Fluence’s hood, and is not noisy either, with diesel rattle staying low. With the Fluence diesel, the French manufacturer is hoping to capture the attention of those looking for a frugal D-segment sedan and the car gets a six-speed manual gearbox with tall ratios. The gearbox feels good as gears slot in well, but shifts have a slight rubbery feel. Given the fact that the engine focuses on returning fuel efficiency rather than performance, it is not exactly a delight to push to its limits. 

 

There’s massive turbo lag below 2000rpm to begin with, and in order to keep moving you need to keep the yellow tachometer needle above it. In fact, the turbo lag coupled with the tall gear ratios is a major disappointment when it comes to spirited driving. In our performance test, the Fluence diesel managed to hit the ton in 13.5 seconds from standstill, going on to cover the quarter mile in 19.38 seconds at 121.72kmph. Registered top speed is 167.5kmph, but the Fluence takes forever to get there. What the Fluence diesel is good at is returning impressive fuel efficiency numbers. In our city run, the car covered 13.8km on a litre of diesel, the number stretching to 22.4km on the highway. This translates to an overall fuel efficiency figure of 15.7kmpl. 

 

The Fluence petrol has impressed us with its ride and handling, and the diesel is not any different. Ride quality is plush, and the suspension gobbles up bad roads without any fuss. It makes for impressive handling and has a planted feel even while cornering at high speeds. Straight-line stability is good, but just the like the petrol the missing feedback and weightlessness of the steering wheel is a deterrent to high speed runs. But, the Fluence is highly impressive in terms of providing comfort to its occupants. 

 

With the diesel variant, Renault is trying to offer a D-segment sedan not too expensive to live with given its frugal nature. And unlike most other manufacturers, Renault has priced the diesel cheaper than the petrol. The Fluence diesel retails at ` 13.47 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai, about a lakh and half below the petrol that retails at ` 14.94 lakh. One of the reasons is the lack of creature comforts in the diesel variant, apart from the cost of manufacturing the diesel engine being lower than the petrol for Renault. Overall, the car makes sense being a comfortable sedan that is easy on the wallet as well. And given its styling, build quality and frugal nature the Fluence diesel should definitely eat into the share of the Toyota Corolla Altis diesel and the Skoda Laura diesel.

Renault Koleos to cost Rs 1 lakh more from 2012

Renault’s SUV offering for India, the Koleos will cost more from 1st January 2012. The revised pricing for the Koleos will be Rs 23.99 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi (up from the previous Rs 22.99 lakh). Renault say the price increase is necessitated because of the increasing cost of raw materials and fluctuations in the currency market.
The Renault Koleos is currently available with a 2-litre diesel engine producing 150PS of power and 320NM of torque. It has a 6-speed auto transmission. The Koleos with its host of safety features boasts of a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Speaking about the price hike, Renault India’s managing director, Marc Nassif said, “The increase in the cost of raw materials and fluctuations in the currency market necessitated the price hike. Until now we have been absorbing the increases, but we now have to reflect an element of these costs in our pricing. The flagship Renault Koleos with its outstanding levels of refinement and luxury remains excellent value for money. It has been very well received in the Indian market has already established a strong position in the premium SUV segment in India”.

2012 Auto Expo - Renault Duster

Renault’s stall at the Auto Expo 2012 had a line-up which was quite expected. Renault chose the occasion to launch the Pulse hatchback and unveil their Duster SUV. While the Micra-lookalike Pulse is another addition to the small car segment, for Renault it is the Duster which could prove to be a crucial product in the SUV segment. 
The Renault Duster has bifocal head lamps giving it a unique identity. While the Duster doesn’t break new grounds as far as design is concerned, it definitely isn’t boring as well. The split grille has a majority of the visual bulk being carried by the lower part. The lower part of the grille will be clad either in plastic or metal depending on the variant.
The Duster crucially will not be a sub 4-metre SUV and hence will miss out on the duty benefits. Its overall length is 4.31 metres and has a width of 1.82 metres. The Duster gets 16-inch alloys but whether they will be standard or not is still not clear. Though Renault has a 4x4 Duster internationally, they may not offer the 4-wheel drive option in India to begin with. Renault will be banking on the Duster’s spacious 5-seater configuration and ample luggage space to make it a success.
The Duster has 210mm ground clearance which means it is ready to tackle those ugly speedbreakers or those irritating potholes. As far as the engine is concerned, knowing the Indian obsession with diesel cars and the price of diesel in India justifying it, Renault will launch the Duster with an 110PS 1.5 dCi engine. Again, internationally, the Duster gets an auto box; however, for pricing it competitively in India, Renault may just launch it with a six-speed manual. We wouldn’t mind seeing the 135PS 2.0-litre petrol engine from the Fluence in the Duster. 
Renault will be looking to heavily localise the Duster so that it can take up the challenge to Tata and Mahindra and price the Duster competitively. We estimate the pricing to be around Rs 7-9 lakh, ex-showroom making it an attractive option for the Indian family. But we wait till the exact specifications and price is out. In the meanwhile here’s Shumi’s take on the European Duster.

Renault Pulse diesel first drive

Mumbai has a very love it or loathe it character. Locals love it and outsiders absolutely abhor it. Despite having moved here two weeks ago I’m still very much an outsider. I blame my pessimism entirely on the traffic that I secretly fear is draining the joy out of my job. After a particularly white knuckled drive in a Range Rover recently I seriously pondered the feasibility of ever enjoying driving again.

The Renault Pulse managed to assuage some of my apprehensions by proving to be an absolute delight to drive in the city. This is no surprise considering the Pulse is heavily based on the Nissan Micra. Revisions to the exterior account for the bulk of the changes. The changes are subjective; some may like the larger gaping grille and refreshed headlights up front but I lean towards the cute jelly bean shaped Micra. Renault has tried to pump up the aggression quotient but I’m not entirely sold.

Mechanically, the car is nearly untouched. Which means you get the same Renault developed 1461cc K9K turbo diesel that’s served in the Logan and Micra before this. This proven workhorse has a strong torque curve and the car pulls forward smoothly almost from idle while power comes in above 1500rpm. Ride quality, like the Micra is plush yet on the slightly stiff side. There’s no crashiness but the firm setup does communicate large undulations in the road. That and the pleasantly light steering, compact dimensions make the Pulse a ridiculously easy and almost stress free to drive through the worst Mumbai has to offer.

It’s the familiar circular grey plastics from the Micra inside as well. Though not classy the spunky interiors have plenty of space which is a big plus point. The top of the line RxZ we drove had a couple of nice touches like keyless start and electric folding mirrors. A driver airbag is standard and the passenger bag is optional however ABS is unfortunately not even an option.

The Pulse is old wine in a newish bottle but it tastes good nevertheless. It has been launched only in diesel option with two variants at the 2012 Auto Expo and prices start from Rs 5.7lakh. The RxZ which we drove costs Rs 6.25lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, Rs 70,000 lower than the equivalent Nissan Micra diesel.

Renault launches upgraded Fluence diesel variant

Renault India has launched a new variant of its diesel Fluence, the E4D, which comes with a small power increment. It is priced at Rs 15.20 lakh, ex-Delhi.
The new 1.5 dCi K9K engine under the hood of the Fluence E4D produces 110PS of power and 240Nm of torque. The new variable geometric turbo gets a simplified air intake system which allows it to perform far more efficiently. The turbo is also a low inertia one allowing for better responses in traffic. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The new Fluence diesel has an ARAI claimed fuel efficiency of 20.4kmpl.
The Fluence E4D comes equipped with ABS, EBD, brake assist, ASR and also ESP along with four airbags. Other features include rain and light sensors, 4-speaker music system with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity, engine stop/start button, cruise control and rear parking sensors.
The Fluence will be manufactured in Renault’s manufacturing facility at Oragadam in Chennai.

Renault launches Pulse petrol variant

Barely four months after the diesel fuelled Pulse hatchback was launched, Renault India has launched the petrol variant. The Pulse petrol is being offered in three trim levels and six colours – RxE (Rs 4.25 lakh), RxL (Rs 4.99 lakh) and RxZ (Rs 5.55 lakh), ex-showroom Delhi. It is powered by an inline 1198cc, 3-cylinder engine which makes 76PS of power and 104Nm of torque, same as the Nissan Micra. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Renault claims that the Pulse will deliver a fuel efficiency of 18.03kmpl.
All Pulse petrol trims get 14 inch wheels as standard and the base RxE trim gets a driver airbag, electronic power steering, central locking, air conditioning, follow-me headlamps while only the top-end RxZ has dual airbags and ABS with EBD apart from automatic climate control, smart access key, engine start/stop button and rear defogger with timer.
Speaking on the occasion, Marc Nassif, managing director, Renault India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Pulse is a mass market product for India, designed and developed at our design studio in Mumbai, has always been an important product for Renault India. We are highly pleased with the product’s performance and it has been well accepted by the Indian customers. The new Pulse petrol is a product launched for our Indian customers and it will help Renault to broaden its customer base and cater to customers who are looking for a comfortable premium hatch with a competitive price tag.”