Category: Renault

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Renault

Renault Clio IV RS at 2012 Goodwood FoS

Renault Clio IV RS at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Renault has turned up to the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed with a heavily disguised new Clio IV RS. Three pics (shown below) have been published to the Renault Sport Facebook page with the accompanying text:

Renault hits the headlines at Goodwood Festival of Speed! A few months ahead of its official reveal, Renault Clio 4 R.S. recently made a brief but high-impact appearance at Goodwood! The camouflaged test car raced in the famous hill-climb event with Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares at the wheel.

Even with all that camouflage we think the new Clio will look the business. It looks to have grown quite a lot since the Clio III and you’ll also notice, from the close up shot of the driver, a large paddle shifter. Double clutch transmission for the next Clio RS then?

The Clio IV is expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in September and, for the first time, could be a five-door only option (if you look closely enough at some of these pics you can just make out a shut line for the rear doors). Concealed door handles, a la Alfa Romeo, will help to keep the appearance of the familiar Clio three-door shape.

[Source: Facebook | Additional pics: Autoweek.nl]

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New vehicle sales report – May 2012

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Last month Australians set a new vehicle sales record for the month of May. A total of 96,069 vehicles were sold, representing a very healthy increase of over 24% (18,668 vehicles) compared to May 2011.

Year-to-date numbers are up almost 9% on 2011 numbers, with a total of 435,288 sales in the first five months of 2012.

Toyota, as usual, claims the major monthly honours of top selling manufacturer (20,443) and highest selling individual model with the HiLux (4,626). Holden (9,017) and Mazda (8,346) fall in behind Toyota on the sales charts.

With such a bumper month it’s no surprise to see so many manufacturers releasing brag sheets. You can read them all after the break.

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Renault

Renault Alpine A110-50 photo gallery

Renault Alpine A110-50

Here we bring you an extra 50 images of the spectacular Renault Alpine A110-50 concept car. It includes images from its appearance at the Monaco Grand Prix, as well as sketches, studio shots and more. If you can think of a way for us to get a drive in this car please make it so!

Enjoy the pics, and remember, simply click on them to launch 2000px wallpaper-friendly super images.

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Renault

Renault Alpine A110-50 revealed

Renault Alpine A110-50

Here, after the leaks, is the official word on the Renault Alpine A110-50 concept car made to honour the Alpine A110. And what a beautiful set of numbers it brings. Here are the key stats:

  • Engine: Mid/rear mounted 3.5 litre V6
  • Maximum power: 400hp at 7200rpm
  • Maximum torque: 422Nm at 6200rpm
  • Gearbox: 6-speed sequential
  • Kerb weight: 880kg

That power, in a chassis that light—Renault has given us an awesome track weapon that looks pretty damn special as well. We can only begin to imagine how sharp its responses would be; how alive it would make you feel.

Official pics, video and a detailed press release can be seen after the break. We recommend you soak up every detail of that release, too, the specs are quite impressive.

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Renault

Renault Alpine A110-50 leaked in pics and video

Renault Alpine A110-50

The Alpine A110 was produced 50 years ago and while not strictly a Renault there is a close association due to its use of parts and engines from the French car maker. To celebrate that anniversary Renault will be launching this special A110-50 in Monte Carlo later tonight.

The look is based on the 2010 DeZir concept model, while the chassis and drivetrain are sourced from the mid-engine Renault Megane Trophy racecar.

Using a motorsport derived chassis makes sense, too, thanks to the Alpine 110’s strong rally heritage. It’s expected the 3.5 litre V6 in the Alpine A110-50 will be good for around 400hp.

We look forward to bringing you the official word from Renault as soon as it comes to hand. For now there’s more pics and a short teaser video after the break. A couple of old clips showcasing the DeZir concept and Megane Trophy have been included as well.

[Source: WCF & ZerCustoms]

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Renault Subaru

Renault Megane 265 Trophy v Subaru BRZ

Renault Megane 265 v Subaru BRZ

Okay, it’s probably no surprise that the 265hp on offer in the Renault Megane 265 Trophy—one of the world’s best front-wheel drive chassis—can see off the 200hp found under the bonnet of the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ. But watch this video from Evo, filmed at Bedford Autodrome, and see if you think everything went according to script.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Renault

Red Bull Taxi caught smoking in Melbourne

Red Bull Taxi

This year the Red Bull Race Off returns to Albert Park for the 2012 Australian Grand Prix. Helping to promote the event Red Bull sent V8 Supercar driver Rick Kelly and Kiwi Drifter Mike Wihddett out on Melbourne’s streets in a couple of Renault Megane RS 250s to offer a few free taxi rides.

Video and full details after the break.

[Thanks to Anthony for the tip]

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Renault reminds us they make F1 engines

Renault Megane RS, Formula One livery

Red Bull Racing, Williams, Caterham and Lotus will all be running Renault engines in 2012. And just in case you had forgotten, they have prepped these four Megane RS models to act as a reminder.

As these cars are left hand drive we imagine they’ll be touring around the globe with the F1 circus so fans the world over will get a chance to see them up close.

The promotional cars are designed to help demonstrate to buyers there is a direct link from F1 car to road car. So, are you convinced?

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2012 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2

2012 Geneva Motor Show

Here’s the second and final part of our 2012 Geneva Motor Show photo gallery, featuring manufacturers from L–Z (well V actually). Highlights include the Aventador J pictured above along with a reappearance of the stylish Mazda Takeri concept. The awesome Pagani Huayra is also on show, check the raw carbon fibre model, it looks sublime. Oh, we’d love to hear what you think of the Valmet Automotive Dawn, if it was a person it would no doubt be referred to as one weird cat.

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Formula 1 Renault

Is economy the key to F1 success?

F1 Jerez pre-season testing, February 2012

It’s widely accepted in F1 circles that the Renault engine is lacking power compared to the competition from Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. However, what’s less discussed is the fuel economy of the major players.

Jean François Caubet, Renault’s F1 director, claims efficiency has more than made up for any lack of power.

“The Mercedes engine is about 15hp more power than ours, so too does Ferrari offer more power,” admitted Caubet to AS.

“But, as far as driveability and fuel economy go the Renault engine is out in front as we need less gas.”

According to Caubet that means double world constructors’ champions Red Bull Racing “can start races with 15 or 18 litres less fuel in the tank than their competition—and that makes the difference.”

[Source: PlanetF1 | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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New vehicle sales report – December 2011

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Australia registered over one million new vehicle sales in 2011 the latest FCAI press release reveals. The final tally of 1,008,437 represents the fourth time the country has passed one million sales in a calendar year.

Despite dropping more than 27,000 sales (-2.6%) on 2010 numbers, FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers reminds us this is still something the motor industry should be proud of.

“2011 full year sales are an exceptional result given the effects of natural disasters both at home and abroad throughout the year,” Mr Chalmers said.

“The uptake of new vehicles was impacted early in the year by economic uncertainty, closely followed by natural disasters in the key markets of Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

“Sales were further subdued by Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, with a resulting shortage of export vehicles from that country a secondary outcome of the extreme loss of life experienced by the Japanese people.”

The top three highest selling brands in 2011 were Toyota (181624 sales), Holden (126,095) and Ford (91,243).

Illustrating the continuing demand for smaller cars in the local market the Mazda3 was the highest selling model in Australia last year with 41,429 sales. Traditional volume seller Holden Commodore (40 617) was close behind and the Toyota Hilux (36,124) maintained its recent grip at the top of the sales charts.

More detail and 2012 forecasts from FCAI after the break.

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Formula 1 Lotus Renault

Romain Grosjean to join Raikkonen at Lotus

Romain Grosjean

Romain Grosjean will return to the driver’s seat with Lotus Renault GP in 2012. The 25-year-old Frenchman won the GP2 series this year and will join Kimi Raikkonen at the newly branded Lotus team. He’s pretty happy about that too.

“I am thrilled to be one of the team’s race drivers in 2012. There’s a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year’s car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity,” said Grosjean.

“To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula 1 will be a great experience, and I’m sure will help raise my level of performance too. I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport.”

Grosjean’s boss, Eric Boullier, is also making the right noises, “Romain has shown a lot of maturity in the past twelve months both through his GP2 Series victory and his development as third driver with us. We were impressed when he drove for us in the first practice sessions in Abu Dhabi and Brazil.”

Boullier also made this heartfelt comment about his former drivers, “I would like to thank Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for their contribution to the team’s performance this year and I wish them all the best for the future.”

More after the break, including a video interview with Grosjean.

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