Renault Kangoo 2015 News

Are you still trying to figure out how the Budget tax changes affect your small business — and what it might amount to in savings on a new car? You're not alone.It's 10 days since Joe Hockey allowed immediate tax deductions for small businesses or sole traders for assets costing up to $20,000. The car industry is still grappling with the fine print and trying to establish which vehicles are eligible.Is the maximum amount on an eligible vehicle $20,000 plus on-road costs, $20,000 drive-away, or more?What happens if you pay the difference on the amount on a vehicle that costs more than $20,000?With some help from those in the know we've managed to zero-in on the best and worst case scenarios, and sort fact from fiction.Assets acquired and installed ready for use between 7.30pm 12 May 2015 and 30 June 2017For starters, the government will not write you a cheque for $20,000 if you buy a new car, as some believe.The changes also do not apply to private buyers, who typically account for more than half of all new-car sales.Further, the criteria for small businesses and sole traders are tougher than many may realise — and the deal doesn't last forever.The $20,000 threshold for goods that can be used as an immediate tax deduction (rather than spread over eight financial years, in the case of motor vehicles) applies to "assets acquired and installed ready for use between 7.30pm 12 May 2015 and 30 June 2017".Eligible businesses must turn over more than $20,000 and less than $2 million annually, the real estate assets of the business must be worth more than $500,000, other assets must worth be more than $100,000, and the business must have made a profit in three of the past five years. The aim is to prevent rorting.The amount each small business or sole trader may be entitled to as a tax refund will vary — even on identical vehicles — because the purchase price of the asset is counted against taxable income.In a best-case scenario, sole traders in the top tax bracket of 47 cents in the dollar could be eligible for a refund of up to $8500 on a $20,000 vehicle used exclusively for work. Small businesses taxed at 30 per cent could pocket up to $5400 — providing quarterly tax instalments or pay-as-you-go taxes are up to date."If people are rushing to buy a new car they need to consider the non-commercial loss provisions which apply to their business," says chartered tax adviser Amar Deep.In simpler terms, he says: "If your business is making a loss, you can't use that loss to offset your employment income and get a refund from the Tax Office."Meanwhile, dealers are scrambling to find out which vehicles fall under the $20,000 threshold, and how far customers can stretch the limit.The ATO says the asset must cost not a dollar more than $20,000.However, that amount is excluding GST, meaning the most basic $20,900 drive-away trayback utes are eligible.Further, given there is no GST on registration or stamp duty, an eligible vehicle in theory could be priced between $21,500 and $22,000 drive-away, which will bring in some small vans from Citroen, Renault and Volkswagen.You wouldn't be able to buy, for example, a $60,000 SUV and submit three $20,000 tax invoicesAccessories fall into a grey area. For example, experts we've spoken to say you could in theory add a larger ute tray or other accessories — taking the vehicle beyond the $20,000 threshold — providing they were on a separate tax invoice.If the dealer was prepared to split the invoice, already a common practice with some fleet leasing arrangements (where the individual and the employer pick up different parts of the tab), then you could arguably drive away in a $30,000 ute or van loaded to the hilt.But you wouldn't be able to buy, for example, a $60,000 SUV and submit three $20,000 tax invoices to offset against your taxable income. Work vehicles dearer than $20,000 will be deductible over eight years, as per usual.The $20,000 threshold applies to any goods, so it doesn't even have to be a new car. For example, it can be a used vehicle, or a small hatchback for a pizza delivery business or security company.But the amount you may get as a tax deduction depends on how much the vehicle is used for work and what your (or your company's) taxable income amounts to.Understandably, the industry has welcomed the Budget initiative, not least because it has jump-started showroom traffic before June, historically the biggest month for new-car sales."We applaud the government's small business initiative," says Patrick Tessier, chief executive officer of the Australia Automotive Dealer Association, representing 4000 franchises."We believe small business needs a stimulus and we think this will have an immediate benefit."Our dealers are already reporting a spike in interest in showroom traffic and phone calls. There is a lot of inquiry about what these changes mean and what savings might be available."The dealer group also predicts car companies will react quickly and introduce models in June to capitalise on the new arrangements."Some brands will be able to do more than others," Tessier says. "I think we will see more cars limbo closer to that $20,000 mark in June."Popular work vehicles and the deduction to which sole traders and small businesses may be entitled.Toyota HiLux ute: $20,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Mitsubishi Triton ute: $20,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500VW Caddy van: $22,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500  Renault Kangoo van: $19,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Kia Cerato hatch or sedan: $19,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Toyota Yaris automatic: $17,990 drive-away, $5397 to $8455Nissan Micra automatic: $17,602 drive-away, $5280 to $8272Honda Jazz manual: $16,990 drive-away, $5097 to $7985Suzuki Celerio automatic: $13,990 drive-away, $4197 to $6575Hyundai i20 manual: $12,990 drive-away, $3897 to $6105Figures are a guide only and apply to vehicles solely used for work. Consult a tax professional for an accurate estimate on any new vehicle you may consider purchasing.

Car dealers across Australia are reporting a surge in interest in vehicles below $20,000 as "Tony's Tradies" and small businesses try to get in before the June 30 end of financial year.June is already historically the biggest month of the year for new-car sales -- and the single biggest month for deliveries of commercial utes and vans as businesses update their models before tax time -- but this year is expected to break all records.Sole traders will be eligible for a refund of up to $8500 on a $20,000 work vehicleFollowing changes announced in this week's Federal Budget, small businesses and sole traders will be able to claim a deduction on "tools of trade" valued up to $20,000 in this financial year, rather than have the refunds spread out over eight years.The changes mean sole traders will be eligible for a refund of up to $8500 on a $20,000 work vehicle (after accounting for GST) while small businesses could pocket up to $5400 -- providing quarterly tax instalments or pay-as-you-go taxes are up to date.Sole traders in the maximum tax bracket of 47 cents in the dollar stand to make the most gains, while companies with a turnover not exceeding $2 million may be eligible for an instant tax refund of 30 cents in the dollar.Many brands are well placed to move new metalPrivate buyers, however, will not benefit from the new scheme. And tax experts have warned private buyers to not be tempted to establish a business name, because the company must demonstrate to the tax office that it is viable and has an expectation to earn income.New vehicles purchased for more than $20,000 do not apply to the new scheme and will continue to be deductible over eight years.Many brands are well placed to move new metal. The Toyota HiLux, Australia's top-selling ute, and the Mitsubishi Triton ute, are available from $20,990 drive-away in their most basic form, with a drop-side aluminum tray, a popular choice with tradies.Once the 10 per cent GST is removed from the drive-away price, they fall under the $20,000 threshold and buyers will be able to claim a deduction of between $5400 and $8500 on those models, depending on their circumstances.In effect, it brings the price of a basic ute to between $12,490 and $15,590 drive-away once the tax refund has been taken into account, which is the equivalent price of some of Australia's cheapest cars.Take advantage of the offer with cars such as the Hyundai i20, Suzuki Celerio, Nissan Micra, and the Kia CeratoSimilar savings apply to the Volkswagen Caddy and Renault Kangoo vans.Small businesses needing a city runabout to deliver parts or other goods are also expected to take advantage of the offer with cars such as the Hyundai i20, Suzuki Celerio, Nissan Micra, and the Kia Cerato, with savings range from $3897 to $8500, based on figures calculated by News Corp Australia.Indeed, the $12,990 drive-away cost of a Hyundai i20 manual -- Australia's cheapest car from a mainstream brand -- can be almost halved to just $6885 for eligible sole traders, once the tax refund is taken into account."We applaud the government's small business initiative," said Patrick Tessier, the chief executive officer of the Australia Automotive Dealer Association, representing 4000 franchises."We believe small business needs a stimulus and we think this will have an immediate benefit.""Our dealers are already reporting a spike in interest in showroom traffic and phone calls; there is a lot of inquiry about what these changes mean and what savings might be available."Mr Tessier said the tax rebates will vary depending on the individual circumstances of each small business or sole trader.We will see more cars limbo closer to that $20,000 mark in JuneThe AADA also predicts the car companies will react quickly and introduce models in June to take advantage of the new arrangements."The car industry will respond to this, but some brands will be able to do more than others," said Mr Tessier. "I think we will see more cars limbo closer to that $20,000 mark in June."Brands such as Holden, Ford, Mazda and Isuzu that don't currently have a special drive-away offer on a ute close to the new $20,000 threshold are understood to be scrambling to introduce changes to take advantage of the new tax agreements.“If people are rushing to buying a new car they need to consider the non-commercial loss provisions which apply to their business,” said Amar Deep, a chartered tax adviser.“If you’re business is making a loss, you can’t use that loss to offset your employment income and get a refund from the tax office.”Eligible businesses must turnover more than $20,000 per year and less than $2 million, the real estate assets of the business must be worth more than $500,000, other assets must be more than $100,000, and the business must have made a profit in three of the last five years.Drive your dollar further: popular work vehicles and the tax refund sole traders and small businesses may be entitled to following changes in the recent Federal Budget.Toyota HiLux ute: $20,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Mitsubishi Triton ute: $20,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500VW Caddy van: $22,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500  Renault Kangoo van: $19,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Kia Cerato hatch or sedan: $19,990 drive-away, $5400 to $8500Toyota Yaris automatic: $17,990 drive-awayNissan Micra automatic: $17,602 drive-away, $5280 to $8272Honda Jazz manual: $16,990 drive-away, $5097 to $7985Suzuki Celerio automatic: $13,990 drive-away, $4197 to $6575Hyundai i20 manual: $12,990 drive-away, $3897 to $6105Tax refund figures are a guide only. Consult a tax professional for an accurate estimate on any new vehicle you may consider purchasing.

The major brands are keen for a good start to 2015 and that means a lot of sharp deals for the first two months of the year.Low profile brand Citroen currently has a hot deal on its Berlingo compact hauler, offering the 66kW diesel manual long body version for $25,990 drive away. It has also thrown in an extended warranty, covering it for five years/200,000km.Volkswagen has two limited edition vans available now, with special drive-away pricing.They are called Runner models and are effectively entry-level models.The Caddy Runner is based on the TSI 160 petrol version of Volkswagen’s small van. It is not loaded with gear, but does have airconditioning as well as stability control, and costs $23,990 drive away.The Transporter Runner, based on the TDI 250 diesel, is not completely void of features either and has just picked up Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control in addition to AC and stability control.Volkswagen is currently offering it for $32,990 drive away.Renault is receiving initial stock of the new Master large van, but there are a fair few of the old one left and that means bargains are to be had.The company hasn’t locked in incentives with the dealers, instead asking them to check in when someone is interested, so it might well be worth asking.The company does have an extended warranty offer in place at the moment to help its Kangoo compact van, which covers it for five years or 200,000km.Ford is offering two special deals with price cuts and extended warranty deals for its front-drive Transit Custom vans.The first is a short wheelbase model at $38,990 drive away and the second is the long wheelbase version for $40,990 drive away.These are keen prices, especially as Ford has now introduced an extended warranty that lasts for five years/200,000km.Both models are standard, but the Transit is very well specified and each van has a five-star crash safety rating, stability control, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a bulkhead and even heated seats.There is only one transmission, a six-speed manual, as an automatic is still being developed, and only one engine, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel.Fiat is not doing any special deals on its just-introduced Doblo and Ducato vans, maintaining the strong pricing structure from the launch, including the well specified Doblo compact van from $22,000 for the petrol 1.4 and the larger Ducato with a 3.0-litre diesel from $38,000, but neither price includes drive-away costs.

As volunteer Rod Bates and his partner Joanne were returning from weekend spent supporting fire-fighters outside Adelaide in January, their journey home took a turn for the worse when they rolled their Renault Kangoo on the freeway.A moment's inattention led to the vehicle ploughing off the freeway into the ditch between the carriageways and then rolling over. The almost new Kangoo diesel  van left the road, traversed the central median and rolled across the oncoming lane, coming to rest at the far edge of the carriageway. Fortunately both Rod and Joanne climbed out of the vehicle, very little the worse for wear."We were very lucky that we didn't hit any other cars or any poles or trees," Rod says. "My only memory of the accident as it was happening was that I was pinned to the seat by the seat belt. I didn't feel any of the impacts, but I did feel the seatbelt holding me tightly," he says.Rod says he has no recollection of his head hitting the airbag, though he remembers the noise it made. "It is a noise you don't forget. I ended up with a scratch and burn from the airbag deployment and my partner ended up with a couple of black eyes, minor seatbelt bruising and a mild concussion. When the emergency services guys arrived they couldn't believe we had walked away from the car," Rod says.While the Kangoo suffered significant body damage, the passenger compartment was largely untouched. Some minor damage occurred to the stock Rod had in the rear of the vehicle, but the full size cargo barrier protected the passenger cell from intrusion from behind. The interior was, however, liberally sprinkled with freeze dried coffee beans and the contents of a cup that had been residing in the cup holder."I had bought the Renault Kangoo only a few weeks before the accident. I had been looking or a small runabout van for my lighting and sound company. We have a bigger van but it is a bit cumbersome and quite thirsty to drive round town all the time," he says. "The fuel use had been very impressive, about half what we were using in the bigger van," he says."It is such a shame that the Kangoo was written off as we'd only put about 6,000km on the clock, but I am hoping to replace it with a new Kangoo Maxi as soon as they become available."Commenting on the crash performance of the Kangoo, Renault Australia Managing Director, Justin Hocevar says: "Naturally we are relieved that Rod and Joanne were able to walk away.  The Kangoo is small, but it is strong, and the safety engineering that has gone into the Kangoo, which is built on a passenger car platform, really did its stuff." 

At the same time, Renault has added a manual version of the regular sized petrol version, setting a new entry-level price of $20,990. Renault has decided to cut the regular wheelbase diesel Kangoo from the line-up, reasoning that most customers would opt for the bigger model. The Maxi is a longer wheelbase model that adds 384mm to the van’s length and increases the cargo room over the old version by 33 per cent to 4.0 cubic metres. It can also carry heavier gear, with the payload increasing by 25 per cent over the standard vehicle to 800kg. The Maxi gets a boost under the bonnet. It runs the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel as before, but power is up 25 per cent to 82kW and torque rises by 17 per cent to 240Nm. The only transmission available is a six-speed. The fuel economy is still excellent, with an official fuel consumption average of 5.5-litres per 100km. Renault has set the price of the Maxi diesel at $24,990. It comes with sliding doors on both sides as well as barn doors at the rear. A liftgate hatch is available as a no-cost option. The petrol Kangoo, now available with petrol or automatic has 3.0 cubic metres of cargo space and 650kg and dual sliding doors. While the five-speed manual petrol is $20,990, the petrol four-speed automatic costs $22,990. Renault has removed the body-coloured bumpers and wing mirrors as well as wheel covers on the Kangoos and says the new unpainted bumpers will be cheaper to replace. Customers will be able to select body-coloured bumpers in the Premium Pack, which costs $3000 and includes sat-nav, rear parking sensors, a wooden cargo liner, fog lamps and side airbags.  

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.

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.