Renault Master 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 recently sealed a huge deal to provide Australia Post with its vans, and the model chosen to replace the existing Mercedes Sprinter fleet is the new Master L1H1.L1H1... it might sound like the name of a terrible virus but it is a new Renault van that helps bridge the gap between the mid-sized Trafic van and its big brother, the Master.The L1H1 Master, which Renault refers to as the Low Roof model, follows the addition of a Master cab chassis model and a high roof van variant to the Australian Renault line-up.It is 500mm shorter than the next smallest Master and its roof is 195mm lower. The smaller footprint makes the van more agile — it has a relatively small turning circle of 12 metres.Renault says the new compact Master is aimed at urban operators making several stops per day, who need a little bit more cargo volume than a Trafic. The L1H1 has 33 per cent more cargo capacity than the long-wheelbase Trafic, which is physically longer than the new Master variant.Its cargo capacity is eight cubic metres, putting it between the 6m3 of the long wheelbase Trafic and the 10.8m3 of the medium wheelbase Master. It has a payload of 1600kg. The L1H1 has seating for three and space for two 1200mm square pallets in the back.There is just one engine, a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel (110kW/350Nm). Renault Australia light commercial vehicle manager Lyndon Healey says the L1H1 is a city-friendly van for operators who want decent carrying capacity in a shorter vehicle."The L1H1 is almost the same length as a typical large Australian family sedan, so it can fit into metered parking spaces, a big advantage over some rivals," he says. 

The French brand is expanding the line-up of the mid-sized Master van by adding two fresh cab-chassis models which allow for a tray to be fitted to the back.With a dual rear wheel set-up, the new models are able to lug a maximum 2.5 tonne of cargo and tow up to three tonne. The Master cab-chassis could be a perfect fit for tradies wanting something larger and more capable than one-tonne utes.The Renaults are also cheaper than some of the more expensive utes in the market. Renault will offer a single cab version of the new cab-chassis for $45,490, while a double-cab variant, that seats up to seven people, will be priced at $50,490.Both will be powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder common rail turbo diesel that has recently been upgraded to produce 110kW and 350Nm of torque. All of that torque is available from just 1500revs, which should be especially helpful when the tray is fully loaded.The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, while customers can also pick a six-speed fully automated manual, with no clutch pedal, for an additional $2500. The dual cab model will come standard with an automatic differential lock, which helps maintain traction on slippery and uneven surfaces.This feature is also available as an option on the single cab model. There is only one dual cab model, which has a wheelbase of 4332mm. You can choose from two single cabs, one with a standard length of 3682mm and a long version that has the same wheelbase as the dual cab, enabling a tray of up to 5500mm to be fitted.Standard equipment includes dual airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, aiconditioning, a chilled glovebox, electric windows and central locking. Options include factory trays, made from steel or aluminium, satellite navigation and a rear-facing camera.