Archive for the ‘Renault’ Category

Renault plans to launch Twizy Z.E in India

Autocar India is reporting Renault has chalked out plans to introduce the Twizy Z.E in India in the coming years. The Twizy is a zero emissions car and seats just two, one behind another. It has four wheels, is less than two and half metres in length and can be mistaken for a golf cart.

The Twizy is an electric vehicle which was brought to the Auto Expo last month. Renault is considering a partnership to produce this car in India. Is REVA reading this?

Powered by a 20bhp electric motor the Twizy Z.E makes 7.14kgm of max torque and can attain a top speed of 75kph. The size of the vehicle allows it to be parked and driven into narrow or congested lanes.

Is the era of personal transportation in India about to take another turn?

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on February 12th, 2010 and filed under Electric vehicles, Renault

Renault to produce cars and set up own dealer network

Could the revamped, adapted Logan be produced in Renault’s Chennai facility?

Could we see a repeat of the Ford – M&M JV? Possibly.

In my opinion, M&M should be on its own. They are doing the right thing by concentrating on the necessary aspects of business (R&D and new vehicle development) in passenger and commercial vehicle segments. Their Renault JV today is a small bit of their business and was never a cash cow.

Renault has announced plans to produce two new cars at its Chennai plant. It is expected that these two cars are the Fluence and Koleos which were showcased at the Auto Expo 2010 in Delhi. The larger plan is to launch five cars (including the Fluence and Koleos) over the next 4 years. That is good news for the Indian market.

Sudhir Rao, Renault India’s Chief Operating Officer had this to say to Times of India -

India is a tough market, but a growing market. It is an opportunity for us to start again, Renault plans to set up a new distribution network, which should grow to about 150 dealerships by 2014.

Renault will be doing this all by itself and will not involve M&M. IAB earlier reported that the JV with M&M is under the scanner with countless theories doing the rounds. We still do not have any clarity on the status of the JV as the announcement from Renault pertains to the new car models. Nonetheless, this is a big indicator on the JV. Why should Renault invest in a production facility and also continue a JV with M&M?

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on February 10th, 2010 and filed under Mahindra, Renault

Renault India to re-look Mahindra JV

Mahindra Renault LoganThe shake-up could lead to good or bad news. The decision is just weeks away

The Indian wing of French carmaker Renault will restructure the JV it signed four years ago with Mahindra. The first and only offering of this partnership, the Renault Logan, which got off to a flying start has simmered down to a level of 500 units a month raising difficult questions. The Logan has received no cosmetic makeovers in its lifetime here in India. It also has not received new engines, transmissions or any mechanical upgrades.

One possible outcome of the restructuring could be a sub-4 metre Logan with a 1.2-liter petrol engine which makes it a small car. Renault could tinker its body, install new grilles and headlamps and sell it with a smaller diesel engine. But that is easier said than done.

Chief operating office Sudhir Rao, Renault India -

We are exploring all options. A final decision on this will be taken in 30 to 45 days

There have been countless theories on what Renault plans to do in India. One story claims they would end the joint venture, while the other claims they would use the Logan’s platform to produce a hatchback and other variants as part of the venture. Guess the end to all this is near its own end.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on February 9th, 2010 and filed under Mahindra, Renault

Rendering – India bound next generation Renault Clio

The next generation Renault Clio will be built on Nissan V-Platform. More importantly, according to Autocar UK, it will be built in Renault-Nissan’s factory in Oragadam, near Chennai in the next few years.

When IAB interacted with Marc Nassif, Country General Manager for Renault at the Auto Expo, he said the existing Clio and Megane were too expensive for the Indian market. He said the safety features offered on the Clio and Megane would bump up costs indirectly meaning the next generation Renaults destined for India could come fully loaded with safety equipment and still be affordable.

The next generation Renault Clio could be the fourth Renault in India after the Logan, Fluence and Koleos.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on February 2nd, 2010 and filed under Renault, Renderings

Now a Dacia/Renault Logan limousine

Dacia-Limo-Logan-5It can’t get better than this – a low cost limousine. Tata Indigo XL’s best companion

While the Mahindra and Renault teams are busy working on a shortened and smaller Logan to qualify for incentives, people on the other side of the pond have something else in mind.

Dacia/Renault doesn’t have a Logan limousine in their drawing board. This is precisely why a group of Romanians have teamed up and set about the job. This project at the moment is work in progress. We’d have to wait for a few weeks to see the final outcome.

Why would someone need a Logan limousine? Is this the same man who owns a Toyota Innova limousine? Will he fit a crystal ball inside it? Who is he trying to impress?

click through to view CAD drawings of final outcome

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on January 25th, 2010 and filed under Funny, Renault

Renault’s new compact car based on Nissan Micra

Renault YeniThe Renault Yeni could be the concept car the compact results out of

French auto major Renault is looking to deploy its small car into the Indian market by using its Japanese partner Nissan’ V-Platform.

Renault has ruled out cars like the Sandero, Clio and Twingo for India. The company claims these cars cannot be priced competitively if brought to India.

Renault Asia Africa Management Committee Executive Vice-President Katsumi Nakamura -

We have a partnership with Nissan and Nissan has a platform for such type of car (compact car) and we can use that platform. We have some discussion over this.

The first Renault car to come out of the Chennai plant would be Fluence sedan next year. Following that, Renault will launch the Koleos SUV.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on January 15th, 2010 and filed under Renault

Dacia Logan facelift launched in Russia

Dacia_Logan_facelift_RussiaCan we expect the launch of the facelifted Logan during the Auto Expo?

The Dacia Logan has been launched in Russia after going under the surgeon’s knife. The outcome is new colors, new headlamps, grille, bumpers and refreshed interiors. Some of the new additions are actually lifted from the Sandero hatchback.

The refreshed Logan is expected in India next year and for all you know it could debut at the Auto Expo. Engine and transmission settings would remain the same. Renault has tried every trick in the book with the Logan in India. A facelift is one of the few remaining options.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on December 29th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Now a Logan that runs on bio-ethanol

Bio-ethanol-Dacia-LoganThe 16v 1.6-liter engine Logan runs on bio-ethanol

The Dacia Logan range just grew by another variant. Adding to the seven engine options, Dacia has launched another variant of the Logan which runs on bio-ethanol.

The engine which drives this eco-friendly car is a 1.6-liter unit which delivers peak power of 105hp and 148Nm of torque. 0-60mph takes 11.8 seconds and it will go on to reach 174kmph.

Front and side airbags are offered as standard.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on November 18th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Dacia Logan ‘KissFM’ out to kiss the Logan customer in Romania

dacia-logan-kissfm-1

No, the idea isn’t free or unlimited kisses from the women if you opt in for one.

The new Dacia Logan KissFM comes with Sony CD and MP3 players and USB ports, special upholstery, and three colours: Gris Platine, Noir Nacre and Rouge de Feu. The Logan KissFM is available for prices of between 8,300 and 10,350 euros.

Dacia is the leading automobile brand in Romania and as it is a local brand, the marketing need not be as intense as shown here. Even then the marketing team releases such versions and adverts to get the attention of people.

Here in India, though Renault has tried many special editions, it hasn’t worked for the Logan. Maybe the KissFM could be a possible marketing option? Due to certain cultural restrictions, women in short clothes have not been used much in adverts, leave alone creating a brand of cars with them in action.

The Logan in Romania is offered with seven engine options starting with the 1.2 16V 75HP and 1.4 75GP, up to 1.5 dCi 70HP and the ultimate 1.6 16V 105HP version.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on November 17th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Logan to be replaced by “new range pretty soon”

Up to 75% of the next Logan could be designed in Romania

We don’t understand Renault’s strategy in India, and thus cannot connect this story to our country.

Dacia, the low-cost car maker from Romania known for manufacturing the Logan (sold as Renault in countries like India) will replace the Logan range (Logan, Sandero hatch, MCV station wagon, pick-up) very soon with new set of vehicles.

With its cost-conscious attire, Logan was introduced 2004 in select European countries. Seeing numbers and positive reaction generated, it was then decided to manufacture the low-cost vehicle in other parts of the world including India. The Logan borrows a large chunk of components from Renault cars. Flat doors, symmetrical mirrors and low electronics content was intentional to send it through to outlets at rock-bottom price tags.

Dacia vice-president Constantin Stroe -

Logan is to stay for a few years, but it is going to be replaced by another range. A new family of cars will follow the Logan. All the people talk about Logan. Nice, but Logan has a short life. Dacia is perennial, Logan is changeable. Something else will follow the Logan, because its lifespan comes to an end in a few years time.

The Logan was never intended to be sold in India even though Dacia’s engineering team deriving inspiration from the Tata Indigo.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on October 27th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Renault puts Chennai investment on hold; Will it walk out of the JV?

Renault_Logan-crash

The tale of Renault’s losing battle in India continues to take new turns and shortcuts to reach a nearest dead-end. First, Mahindra dropped-out of the three-way JV in Chennai. Leave alone Logan’s sub-1000 sales figures, due to the the poor economic state, Renault was left in a bit of a soup, car sales of the brand was affected globally.

Yesterday, Renault’s official has communicated with DNA and confirmed it will defer its investment on the Chennai plant.

Renault country general manager India operations Marc Nassif -

Renault would defer its investment in the assembly line for its cars — till the economic situation improved. Our commitment to invest in the Chennai facility and India remains undiluted.

The Renault-Bajaj ULC has also faced its quota of problems. One party wants the vehicle to compete with the Tata Nano directly, while the other wants it to be positioned elsewhere. Apart from this dilemma, nothing else about the product, its development or progress has made headlines anywhere.

Sources tell us Renault might not extend its relationship with Mahindra beyond the under-performing Logan in Nashik. Mahindra has said slight modifications to the product could enable it to qualify for lower excise duty, but no breakthrough has been reached. With speed breakers popping up everywhere and now even in the JV down south, one cannot but think Renault would pull the plug in India.

Nissan is however confident of its plans and it has assured us about the Micra and a sedan based on it, which will roll out of the Oragadam plant next year. Nissan will also build three other cars in India and import niche models, the first of which is the 370Z, possibly at the Auto Expo.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on September 28th, 2009 and filed under Renault

Rendering – Renault Logan Coupe

Dacia_Renault_Logan_Coupe- 1Dacia_Renault_Logan_Coupe- 2Dacia_Renault_Logan_Coupe- 3Dacia_Renault_Logan_Coupe- 4

Leave alone the Logan Coupe, the face-lifted Logan is finding it hard to make it to Indian shores.

Two door cars in India are sparse, the cheapest two door car is the Fiat 500 at around 15 lakh rupees (CBU) but that should not be a reason for Renault to sell the Logan Coupe in India!

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on August 5th, 2009 and filed under Renault, Renderings

Mahindra considering Logan revamp; why have they not done it yet?

Dacia_Logan

The Renault Logan is speeding into the book of extinct cars. If Renault does not act fast, the 500 cars a month they are selling now, will turn to 10-15.

The Logan needs a face-lift, which was launched in other countries more than a year back, and a Euro 4 compliant engine to keep it from sharing space with the Dodo bird.

Its charm is lost, nowadays people look at cars like the Dzire and Indigo which can be serviced via a larger and better service network.

The Logan is the sole product in the Renault line-up. The Sandero was supposed to join the Logan under Mahindra, but that is also uncertain as either of the partners have not spoken about it recently.

An announcement is expected by the 2010 Auto Expo in Delhi on the future of Renault in India.

Read More

See Also:
Entry posted on August 4th, 2009 and filed under Renault
Next Page »
« Home