Renault Koleos 2014 News

The company recognises that passenger car dealerships can have different priorities when it comes to working with customers buying a work van."We understand that van customers have very different needs to passenger car customers," says Renault spokeswoman Emily Fadeyev.The van-focused Renault Pro+ outlets are attached to existing Renault dealerships but the spaces are separate."The Pro+ dealerships have different hours for service and for sales than regular Renault dealerships, reflecting the customer needs," Fadeyev says.Renault Australia aims to have eight Pro+ dealerships up and running by the end of the yearThe dealerships feature the Renault range of vans, with examples of fitout options such as racks and bulkheads. Previously, customers could see these items only in a brochure or online gallery. The van space also allows customers to get a good look at the haulers. In regular dealerships, the vans are sometimes squeezed into corners out of the way of star attraction passenger models.The first three Pro+ dealerships are at Brighton Renault in Victoria, Main North Renault in Adelaide and Sunshine Renault on the Gold Coast.Renault Australia aims to have eight Pro+ dealerships up and running by the end of the year, doubling that by the end of 2016.Commercial vehicles are important to Renault Australia and Vfacts figures show vans accounted for more than one third of the brand's sales tally in 2014.In that year, the Trafic van was Renault Australia's third bestseller, with 1643 sales, trailing the Koleos SUV with 1709 and Clio with 2611.Renault expects to see a boost in its commercial sales this year thanks to a recently arrived face-lifted Master van and a new Trafic, which has just arrived.

Renault's drive for increased market share in Australia continues. The latest vehicle to receive the makeover and price reduction treatment is the Renault Koleos.Sales of the Koleos have almost doubled in the past 12 months and may improve yet again following a major restyle. Renault is calling the update of the Koleos Phase 3 guise. We first saw the new face of Renault when the Clio was reintroduced to Australia in September.  As well as the bold face, the Phase 3 Koleos has a new design of alloy wheels and chromed side protective strips.Inside are new trims designs and the option of brown leather upholstery. There's a redesigned audio interface and a new 7-inch touchscreen navigation system with multimedia functions. Renault Koleos Expression gains an alarm, lockable glove box and deadlocking.At $27,490, the Expression 4x2 petrol manual costs $1000 less than the vehicle it replaces. Even better, the driveaway price for the Expression is $27,990, but only as an introductory offer. This will increase to $27,490, plus on-road and dealer charges at a time yet to be nominated by Renault Australia.Renault Koleos Expression petrol automatic has a manufacturer's list price of $30,490. This is also down $1000 from the superseded model. There's no driveaway special on the Expression - or indeed on any others in the revised Koleos range.Renault Koleos Bose models now have two-tone 17-inch alloy wheel design, integrated satellite navigation with a touchscreen, front parking sensors, keyless start and an automatically dimming interior mirror. A rear view camera is available as an option on the Koleos Bose.The Koleos Bose has a recommended price of $35,490 for the 4x2 petrol automatic, $38,990 for the 4x4 petrol auto and $40,490 for the 4x4 diesel auto.Topping out the range is the Renault Koleos Privilege. It has two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, and both front seats are electrically adjustable (previously only the driver's seat had this handy function. There's a trim option, with a choice between brown leather or brown interior with beige. The reversing camera is standard.The manufacturer's list price for the Renault Koleos Phase 3 Privilege CVT 4X4 Petrol is $44,740, while the Privilege CVT 4X4 Diesel is now $46,240.The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel has been revamped to increase its power by 17 kW, now producing up to 127 kW. Torque has gone from an already good 320 Nm to an impressive 360 Nm. We have yet to drive the new model but are looking forward to the punch it obviously produces and will report as soon as we have got ourselves into the driver's seat.Brown is the new black in Europe at the moment and it's no surprise the French Koleos introduces an interesting brown metallic to its range. We have always admired the Renault Koleos range for being just that little bit different from other medium SUVs. The touch of French flair appeals to us and this facelift adds further to that look and feel. 

In what must be the last revamp of the current model before a totally new replacement, Renault has released a revised version of the Nissan X-Trail-based Koleos compact SUV. It's a pretty thing as opposed to the first version -- with the current model falling in between.It's pretty much the same underneath in front wheel drive and all wheel drive variants, and the Koleos's new clothes should be universally appealing as well as being identifiable as a Renault.CHANGESThere's a new front, redesigned two-tone wheel, chrome finish of the side protective strips and a striking new colour called Ebony Brown. The cabin, benefits from new trim and when fitted, new leather upholstery.New Koleos is equipped with the new in-dash Renault R-Link multimedia system complete with seven-inch touchscreen display. R-Link permits the selection of one of 26 languages and packs all the latest multimedia functions, from navigation, radio and telephony to Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming, as well as connectivity for portable music-playing devices.It also proposes services associated with the vehicle's own systems, plus access to the Renault R-Link Store which has a catalogue of more than 50 applications (depending on country) that can be downloaded directly to the vehicle or using a personal computer.Another important new feature of the car is the Blind Spot Warning (BSW) function which provides a visual alert whenever a vehicle is detected in the blind spot in order to facilitate safe overtaking.A reversing camera combined with rear parking sensors provides a real-time image of what is behind the car on the R-Link system's display. A hands-free card, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control functions, and Bose audio round off the extensive list of high-end equipment available for New Renault Koleos.

As the manufacturer’s newest entrant in the compact off-road segment, the Koleos, launched last September, has helped swing the spotlight back on to Renault.As Renault is part of the Nissan alliance, the Koleos shares the best of Japan with the style of Europe. The off-roader is based on the Nissan X-Trail but takes a typically French path to its design and upmarket interior.Two models are available, the Dynamique and the Privilege, with prices starting at $29,990 for the petrol 2.5-litre front-drive Dynamique.The Dynamique is available in both front and all-wheel-drive configurations.Apart from the Nissan-sourced 2.5-litre petrol engine, the Koleos is available with a refined Renault 2.0-litre turbo-diesel in two states of tune, either 127kW or 110kW.In keeping with Renault’s high equipment levels, the car comes with keyless card and start button function, an automatic handbrake, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, dual-zone climate control, satellite audio controls, cruise control (with speed limiter), power windows, roof-mounted child-minder mirror, electronic child locks and adjustment of the exterior mirrors.Joining the Koleos at the Melbourne Motor Show will be the hot special edition Clio RenaultSport R27.The R27 boasts a Cup chassis that is 7mm lower than the ClioSport and gains 17-inch Dark Anthracite BeBop wheels that give it an even sportier feel and higher precision above the ClioSport.It is powered by 2.0-litre normally aspirated engine that delivers 145kW at 7250 revs and 215Nm at 5500 revs.The car will hit 100km/h in 6.9 seconds, yet it delivers a combined fuel economy cycle of 8.4 litres/100km. In keeping with the sharper chassis setup, the model gets Recaro sports seats equipped with side airbags.The new Laguna hatch and wagon will also be featured at the show. The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

There were a handful of hybrids, and a few fuel cell techno treats, but all the real action was just what you would expect in the style-conscious French capital: fast and flashy.Diesel was very big, and there is a lot more to come for Australia, but the headliners at the show were cars that proved there is life in the automobile for many years yet.Audi finally had its R8 supercar ready for the road and then announced it would be coming out to Sydney for the Australian International Motor Show this month.The Mini was bigger, Volkswagen previewed its born-again Scirocco coupe, and Australia tipped in with the outrageous Chevrolet WTCC Ultra, which points directly to the next Holden Viva hatch.Toyota had a thinly disguised and underwhelming new Corolla that looked like a fluffed-up Yaris, Renault finally got into four-wheel drives with its Koleos and previewed the next baby Twingo. Suzuki showed the car it will make in India.Ferrari pulled crowds with the Pininfarina P4/5 custom supercar, as did Alfa Romeo with its 8c Competizione, which will quickly become a hero car for Italy."Europe is still into premium cars," says Michael Simcoe, the Australian design guru who is now based in Detroit with General Motors."All the brands are looking to move up because that's where you get your profit. People are all about being noticed here, so the fuel price doesn't matter."Simcoe had a solid take on Paris, the last serious overseas international show of 2006."This show is growing. GM's presence here is much better than ever before, with a real effort to understand Europe. And it, like all shows around the world, is seeing a lot more non-European stuff. It says a lot about the way the international market is developing."So, too, is the growing emphasis on diesel hero cars, which are driving the economy end of the business in Europe and will soon be making much more of an impact at the top end.But the Audi R8 and the Alfa 8c, which both looked great and are seen as threats to Ferrari and Porsche, were up in lights with old-fashioned petrol power. The Alfa boasts 313kW and a 0-100km/h time that should be in the sub-five second range. The Audi R8 is much more than just another concept car.It, like the Alfa, is a genuine road runner.It is a full-on two-seater with a 309kW, 4.2-litre engine that also punches out 430Nm of torque. The performance numbers are simple and brutal: top speed of 301km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.6 seconds.There is no news yet on price or delivery dates for Australia, but the R8 should be coming and will stick out in a crowd with its radical body — and the latest use of Audi's confronting frontal treatment.The other production heroes included, surprisingly, the chunky Dodge Nitro and Jeep Commando, which drew plenty of interest to the Americans, the vital new Volvo C30 compact and even the sporty Honda Civic Type R, still only a maybe for Australia.Nissan had the X-Trail based Qashqai that is likely Down Under, but there was no sign of the all-new Smart fortwo, even though Paris is packed with the funky little city runabouts.And then there were the concepts.Ford previewed the adventurous new Mondeo, which should be top of the shopping list for Ford Australia thanks to some of the best design work yet from the blue oval brand. What it does do is point to design elements in the new Falcon, due in 2008.Ford Australia's Sinead McAlary says: "Kinetic design is, if you like, the new global DNA of Ford and elements of it will be evident in the Falcon. That is not to say you are going to see a grille like that on a Falcon but there will be recognisable design language."Citroen was outrageous with its C-Metisse, while Renault tested the water for a rear-drive flagship with its Nepta, while pushing towards showrooms with the Koleos and Twingo, and Peugeot went racy with its 980RC.The Volkswagen Iroc is the template for the return of the Scirocco coupe, and looked brilliant with Kermit-green bodywork. Australians will also see production versions of the Hyundai Arnejs concept, which will be the next Accent, and Kia Cee'd twins — hatch and wagon — before long.Paris also featured lots of Chinese cars. Most looked like early South Korean work, or straight rip-offs of existing models, but demonstrated that the world's fastest growing car brands are looking for international expansion. At least one local importer — Ateco, run by Neville Crichton — took a very close look.