Renault Kangoo 2011 News

Mercedes-Benz has announced that its new compact Citan has the best fuel efficiency in the class. The Citan is based on the Renault Kangoo mini hauler and the engine is also soured from the French brand. However, the Citan is available with Mercedes Blue Efficiency features that trim the official fuel economy figure to a remarkable 4.3 litres per 100km for the leanest engine in the range. The fuel saving measures include electric power steering, a controlled oil pump, smart alternator and stop/start technology that kills the engine at idle to save fuel. A clever system recovers some braking energy to reduce the amount of time the alternator needs to run in order to top up the battery. Mercedes has introduced rolling resistance tyres on some models to drive down the consumption. The company revealed the best efficiency figure of its new Citan ahead of its coming out at the Hannover Truck Show later this month. The new van has been confirmed for Australian sale, although it is not yet clear which engine options will be available for the local models. A diesel and a petrol unit are available for the Citan in Europe. There are three different output options for the 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine. The entry-level unit makes 55kW and 180Nm of torque, the second manages 66kW and 200Nm and the range-topper produces 81kW and 240Nm. There is also a 1.2-litre petrol four-cylinder turbo unit that generates 84kW and 190Nm. A five-speed manual gearbox is used for the two lower output diesels, while the petrol Citan and the higher output diesels are fitted with a six-speed manual. There is no word of an automatic version. Both manual transmissions come with a shift indicator system that advises the driver when to make changes and shows arrows to indicate whether an up-change or down-change is required.  

French carmaker Renault has presented His Holiness Benedict XVI with two specially modified electric Kangoo Maxi ZE (zero emissions) vans. Modifications include an opening roof, electric folding door steps, removable rear side windows and “particularly comfortable” separate seats in the rear as the ageing Pope prefers to sit rather than stand. One will be used by the Pope for travelling at his summer residence and the other by the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City for the Pope's security. The Pope's “green'' van is white with the Papal coat of arms on the doors while the other has white and yellow livery. The new Pope Mobile is powered by a 44kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery with a range of 170km. Over the years Pope Mobiles have been based on a variety of vehicles including Mercedes-Benz SUVs, a Seat Panda and a big GMC pick-up truck. Some have been open air, but most have bulletproof glass since the Ali Agca assassination attempt in 1981. Some allow the Pope to sit, while others are designed to accommodate the pope standing. In Australia, Renault is introducing a range of electric vehicles over the next few years starting with the Turkish-made Fluence ZE expected to arrive later this year at under $40,000 plus the cost of leasing a battery.  

The Citan, which is due to arrive in Australia in the middle of next year, is not a new stand-alone model but is heavily based on the Renault Kangoo. While the mini van has its own distinctive face, its Kangoo likeness is clear from the familiar body. This is not a cheeky clone though. It’s all part of an agreement between Mercedes and Renault that will lead to the Citan being built alongside the Kangoo on a Renault production line in France. The Citan has its own face and a fresh interior, but shares many other components with the Renault. Mercedes has announced there will be two diesel engines and supercharged petrol unit although it is unclear if the powerplants are shared or unique. The Citan will come in three lengths: 3.94 m, 4.32 m and 4.71 m. It will be sold mainly as a cargo van, which is a size smaller than the existing Vito. A special five-seater crew version based on the longest model called the Mixto, which seats five and has a removable second row, will also be offered from launch. Mercedes-Benz is not ready to state the exact payloads of each model, but says the maximum gross vehicle weight (the weight of the van and the load) will be 2200kg. Looking at the comparable Renault models, this should mean a maximum payload of around 850kg. All models will come with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), daytime LED running lights and height adjustable seatbelts. Up to six airbags will be available, but it’s not yet clear how many will be fitted as standard. The panel van version will come with a wall behind the driver and passenger to prevent any cargo entering the cabin area.  

The electric-only Renault Kangoo ZE compact van is being hailed as an eco friendly model that will match the running costs of existing combustion-engined version. Renault Australia says the business case to bring the electric Kangoo is ‘well advanced’ although it is still waiting for the final green light. That means it is not clear when the vehicle might be available locally, but Working Wheels understands it could happen within the next two to three years. One of the vehicle’s advantages is the reduced maintenance cost, with estimated savings of 20 per cent. The savings would come from not having to worry about oil changes, timing belts, air filters or fuel filters. Running costs are also cut by a dramatic reduction in fuel bills, with the actual cost per km dependent on electricity prices in various areas. There is no way to tell how much the electric Kangoo would cost by the time it came to Australia, but the European model will cost the equivalent of $26,700. However, there will also be a $100 per month battery lease. Currently, there are no considerable incentives for eco-friendly vehicles in Australia, but many European governments offer financial assistance for electric vehicle purchases. For example, in France, the Kangoo would attract a $5000 subsidy. The Kangoo ZE features an electric motor (44kW and 226Nm) in the engine bay, which is fed by a 22kWh (kiloWatt hour) lithium ion battery that sits behind the front seats and below the load floor. Renault says the vehicle has a range of 170km, when driven according to the same test that determines the fuel consumption ratings for internal combustion-engined vehicles, although this is dependent on the way the vehicle is driven. The payload is 650kg, while the load volume ranges from 3m3 to 3.5m3. Renault says the recharging time, using a wall-mounted Renault charger, is between six and eight hours. It will be possible to top up at public charging centres (which are way more prominent in Europe than Australia), but it will take an hour to gain an extra 20km of range.

It admits that an international network may have obtained data about its EV programs - allegedly leaked by three Renault employees who are under investigation - but says its vital technology secrets are safe.In a newspaper report in France on the weekend, it says production of EVs will not be held up.  French newspaper Le Monde on the weekend states Renault's Chief Operating Officer Patrick Pelata saying: "Renault is the victim of an organised international network".He says information leaked is likely to refer to the costs and economic model of the EV program and not technology, including 200 patents that are being lodged."It's serious, but not as bad as if it had been the technology," he says.  "Whether it's the chemistry of the electrodes, the structure of the batteries, the different elements of assembling, be it the charger or the engine itself, we feel OK."Mr Pelata says despite the espionage, Renault's EV program was still on track.  "We have not lost one day to launch our four electric cars," he says.Renault will launch three EVs in Europe this year - the Fluence sedan, Kangoo delivery van and the two-seat Twizy.  The city car, the Zoe, will launch next year and is predicted to become the company's best-selling electric car.Renault's work parallels that of its alliance partner Nissan that is globally rolling out its Leaf EV.  Mr Pelata says the three employees had been on suspension without pay since last Monday.Renault aims to press criminal charges against the three. Two of the employees are Matthieu Tenenbaum, deputy head of Renault's electric-vehicle program, and Michel Balthazard, vice president for advance engineering and a member of the management committee.Renault and the French Government (Renault is 15 per cent owned by the French state) are also investigating a possible link in the espionage to China.In 2007, a Chinese student on a work placement at car parts maker Valeo was given a prison sentence for obtaining confidential documents.  A court stopped short of an industrial espionage verdict, instead finding she had "abused trust".

The carmaker has closed its doors on publicly commenting on the allegations but it has outraged the French Industry minister Eric Besson who says it has led France to "economic war".The minister, angry because Renault receives public money for some projects such as the electric vehicle, is calling for improvements in industrial security.Renault and its alliance partner Nissan spend an estimated $400 million a year on EV research and development that has a total budget of $5.5 billion.  The company this week suspended without pay three of its executives after an investigation started four months ago.Bloomberg News reports that the highest ranking of the three suspended executives is Michel Balthazard, vice president for advance engineering and a member of the management committee.  Balthazard, a 30-year veteran of Renault, began his career at Renault in 1980 in the body engineering department.The employees are now being given the chance to respond to the accusations, before any further action is taken.  Renault and its partner Nissan have invested heavily in electric vehicles, which will be one of the key issues in Detroit next week at the launch of the North American International Auto Show.The espionage allegation comes as Renault plans to launch three electric vehicles this year.  Renault has aspirations this year to become the first full-line manufacturer to market zero-emission vehicles accessible to the greatest number of buyers."The Renault-Nissan Alliance is developing a complete range of 100 per cent electric powertrains with power ratings of between 15kW and 100kW,' it says.Electric vehicles planned for this year include the Kangoo Express ZE van; the Fluence mid-size sedan; and the Twizy small car.  In 2012, Renault plans to expand that electric lineup with a new city car before offering electric in all its segments.Renault plans to build more than 200,000 EVs a year by 2015-2016.  In Australia, a Renault spokesman says he had no information from the company other than what was published.

The new mini van is longer, wider, has more standard features and is available with a petrol or diesel engine.Importantly, it can also carry more with the cargo capacity increasing across the range. The diesel Kangoo's carrying capacity increases from 2.75 cubic metres to 3 cubic metres, while the payload has increased from 530kg to 800kg. The petrol Kangoo has the same cargo room and its payload has risen to 650kg, up from 530kg.The petrol unit is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder with 78kW at 5750 revs and 148Nm at 3750 revs and is linked to a four-speed automatic transmission. This engine and transmission combination delivers an official combined fuel economy figure of 8.3 litres per 100km.The 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine generates 63kW at 3750 revs and 200Nm at 1900 revs and is linked to a five-speed manual transmission.This is the economical choice, with the diesel returning the impressive fuel economy rating of just 5.2L/100km, which means it is the most miserly van in its class.The new Kangoo is built off the same base as the Scenic people mover, which Renault says means it has a similar level of driving refinement to a passenger vehicle.It is 178mm longer than the old model and 102mm wider, while the wheelbase has been stretched to 2697mm, 100mm longer than the existing model.The internal load length, when the passenger seat is upright, is up by 60mm to 1731mm while there is now 1218mm of space between the rear wheel arches.There is a left hand door as standard, while an additional right hand door is available as an option.Renault has upgraded the exterior, with a new look that borrows cues from the European Twingo baby car. It has also fitted some handy standard equipment including Bluetooth phone connectivity, airconditioning and cruise control.Other standard features include electric windows, electric wing mirrors that fold back and also have a heater function, a trip computer, a height adjustable steering wheel, fog lights, a load liner and protection bars located behind the driver's seat.The Kangoo comes standard with anti skid disc brakes and a driver's side front airbag and pre-tensioning seatbelts.You can get electronic stability control (ESC) as an option for the petrol model but not the diesel, while a front passenger airbag as well as side airbags for the driver and passenger are optional on both.