Renault Master News

Renault Australia has extended its capped-price service plans from three to five years for its light-commercial range, encompassing the Kangoo, Trafic and Master models.Dubbed 'Easy Life' by Renault, the program is designed to assuage business customers o

Renault has detailed its updated Master large van, which will hit showrooms in March with a fresh face, new standard equipment and a significantly refreshed interior.Entry to the range has been raised by $500 to $44,490 plus on-road costs for the manual S

Renault has added yet another commercial vehicle to its range, the 12-seater Master bus.

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.

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.

Renault’s continued drive to become a mainstream player in Australia is proceeding at pace. The French marque’s car range has everything from low cost small hatchback, to family station wagons, with a delicious sprinkling of high-performance models from the RenaultSport division.Then there are the Renault light commercials. Small vans to large ones and most recently the introduction of a Renault Master cab-chassis with rear-wheel drive that we previewed late last year.Cab-chassis are imported only for one reason - to let Australian designers and engineers come up with a huge variety of bodies suited to very specific tasks. Indeed, as the local car industry moves away from large scale manufacturing it’s likely that many of the best people will move into designing and engineering vehicles based on cab-chassis, and others will manufacture them.Renault Australia and Sunliner, the latter a long established Australian family company, have entered into a partnership to build the Sunliner 40th Anniversary Model motorhome.We are delighted to report that French flair is very much part of the motorhome package; the bold frontal appearance of the Renault Master simply demands a futuristic looking motorhome. Even better to our eyes, the interior of the Sunliner breaks completely away from interior design and materials tradition. More luxury apartment than any olde-style caravan, it works brilliantly to our eyes. To quote the managing director of Sunliner, Nick Harding, “The interior is inspired by the design of super yachts and boasts the same sophisticated quality and style that people expect in a luxury product, including curved cabinets, leather and feature lighting.”We were impressed not only with the quality of the materials, but also the way they have also been crafted by men and women used by Sunliner who obviously know their trades very well.A slide-out wall not only increases Sunliners’ interior space, but also gives a feeling of extra room beyond that which actually exists. That’s clever.An interesting feature is the use of a drop-down bed. This allows you to sleep on a conventional mattress rather than the usual converted seat-and-table that inevitably compromises comfort.Swivelling front seats also improve interior space. Note that if you specify these the optional side airbags aren’t available. Front airbags are standard. An interesting feature is the outside TV inside a slide-up panel on the left of the Sunliner 40th Anniversary. Power down the large external awning by remote control, power up the TV by its remote, pour your favourite drink (not yet offered by remote control, but maybe one day!) and sit back to enjoy the great Aussie outdoors anywhere your Sunliner/Renault takes you.Renault Master is powered by a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel direct-injection four-cylinder engine, producing 110 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque, the latter between 1500 rpm and 2750 rpm. Whereas the front-drive models have the engine mounted east-west, the powerplant has been turned through 90 degrees to give it a conventional layout for the truck class.The engine drives through a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automated ZF manual. It features electrically controlled clutch engagement/disengagement that makes it more precise at very low speeds than is usual is automated manuals.Sunliner 40th Anniversary Model motorhome is priced at about $170,000 driveaway. Prices will very state to state due to differences in government and dealer charges. Contact your local Sunliner dealer for details.At this stage we haven’t had a chance to road test, or bed or kitchen test, a Sunliner, all we have done is check it out in a stationary position. We hope to carry out a full review soon and will get back to you with a full report then.

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.

Prices start from $43,990 and Master comes with a three-year 200,000km warranty, with roadside assistance for three years.The front-wheel drive Master is the largest of Renault's vans sold here and sits above the Kangoo and Trafic in terms of load capacity. The 4.3-metre long wheelbase version can carry up 12.5 cu m with a maximum payload of more than 1600kg.Three standard pallets fit in the back, with the ability to load a pallet through the side sliding door. New Master's cabin offers the comfort and the practicality of a mobile office for customers who need to be able to work on the move.Innovations include a folding seat-back table that forms an ideal swivelling desktop and an optional lidded dash top cubby big enough for a laptop computer with the convenience pack. Many of the changes and improvements have come about through customer feedback.The 2012 Renault Master range comprises four models. They're all powered by the same 2.3 dCi turbo diesel engine that has been engineered to meet the specific requirements of commercial vehicle operators.Power is up 19kW to 107kW and maximum torque has increased to 350Nm between 1550 and 2750 revs (up 50Nm). There's a choice of six-speed manual or the Quickshift automated gear change.Quickshift models deliver 8.5 litres/100km and the manual transmission a competitive 9.0 litres/100km. With a 105 litre tank it means the van can travel up 1230km on a single fill.New Master has the latest-generation ABS with EBD (Emergency Brake force Distribution), ESP stability programme and ASR traction control to ensure enhanced stability when braking or cornering when fully loaded.Two airbags are standard and side airbags are optional. Drivers will notice a 'snowflake' and 'kg' button on the dash of Quickshift models. The snowflake will automatically select second gear for take-off in slippery conditions while kg changes the clutch mapping when carting heavy loads.Renault has adopted more longer-life and maintenance-free components. There is a fitted-for-life timing chain, longer lasting coolant (now 60,000km/48 months), longer life brake pads (20 per cent longer) and clutch, and a no-maintenance particulate filter for the exhaust system.

And it hopes it will change the brand’s minnow status here, following in the path of Europe – where it is the biggest van seller. The French company is hoping that will be helped by the introduction of a new generation Master van which has a payload of up to 1650kg.This is a big van, sitting above the small Kangoo and mid-sized Trafic, and the long wheelbase version can fit three standard Australian pallets. The medium wheelbase model can still fit two. The cargo area measures 10.3 cubic metres for the medium wheelbase Master, while the number for the long wheelbase version is 12.5. To make for easy loading with a forklift, the rear barn doors open up 270 degrees.The Master comes with one sliding door (on the left side), which is 1200mm wide, while a second sliding door is available as an option. Its payload rating starts at 1596kg for the automated long wheelbase model and runs up to 1645kg for manual medium wheelbase model. Renault Australia decided to fit a steel bulkhead to the Master along with a locally-compliant cargo barrier and standard equipment.It comes with electronic stability control (ESC), traction control, anti-skid brakes and a front driver and passenger airbag. Extra protection is available in the $1890 Safety and Security Pack, with a seat-mounted head and thorax airbag for the driver, automatic headlights, alarm, heated rear windows, automatic windscreen wipers and cornering headlights.Pricing starts at $43,990 for the manual medium wheelbase model and runs through to the long wheelbase with automated transmission for $47,490.The new Master is powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel, with 107kW (up 19kW) and 350Nm (up 50Nm) that goes through the front wheels. It is fitted with a six-speed manual as standard, while an automated six-speeder is available as a $2500 option. This is an automated transmission, rather than a torque convertor type automatic.The all-important fuel consumption figure comes in at 9.0 litres per 100km for the manual and 8.5L/100km for the automated version. The numbers are the same for the medium and long wheelbase variants. When it comes to emissions, the manual master generates 238g/km and the automated version generates 226g/km.Renault says it has improved running costs with a new fitted for life timing chain, coolant that now lasts for 60,000km or 48 months, an exhaust particulate filter that requires no maintenance and brake pads that are designed to last 20 per cent longer than the previous model.The warranty is also fleet friendly, coming in at three years or 200,000km.Standard comforts include a sound system with Bluetooth connectivity, manual airconditioning and cruise control. There is also an additional Premium Pack available for $1490, which includes a Tom Tom satellite navigation unit that sits above the rear-view mirror and a rear view camera that is mounted on the back of the sunvisor.The Master is a relaxing van to drive. It is far quieter than you might expect, thanks to a refined engine and the bulkhead, which stifles a lot of the road noise. Its interior is car-like with high-quality surfaces and plenty of hidey-holes and places to stow folders and coffee cups. The rear doors swing wide, opening all the way to the bump stops located on the van exterior. There are a dozen tie down points on the interior of the cabin.Engine performance is spritely, although we werent carrying a full load. There is no rear drive option, which is preferred for bigger loads. The high mounted satellite navigation is not ideal, you have to take your eyes off the road and to view the rear view camera you have to flip down the visor. Overcome these niggles and the Master is well worth a look.