Renault Kangoo E-Tech Reviews

Renault says the new range would form the foundation of solid growth in Australia in the next five years. Heading the list is a compact all-wheel drive.Yet to be named, the vehicle is based on the Koleos concept and is expected to go on sale here late next year.“Koleos will take Renault Australia into a very exciting market segment,” Renault Australia managing director Rudi Koenig said.“The Koleos concept boasts a new four-wheel drive chassis and an excellent 2.0 dCi engine, both developed as part of the Renault-Nissan alliance."“It's a crossover vehicle that is in its element in any conditions and is sure to deliver what the road surface."“The model line-up is still being finalised, but we're looking very closely at the diesel and petrol options.”While Renault is the world's fourth largest producer of motor vehicles, in Australia it remains a niche player, particularly with passenger vehicles.It does, however, have a strong commercial presence with small, large and medium vans, Kangoo, Trafic and Master.The company is going through a transition stage from being a French car manufacturer, to global producer on the back of a partnership with Nissan, which it owns, and South Korean company, Samsung, in which it has a major shareholding. “Our growth will come through new markets and new products,” said Mr Koenig.Leading the charge will be the introduction next year, or early 2009, of the Korean-built compact sports utility vehicle, based on the Koleos concept seen at the Paris Motor Show last year, was confirmed in full production guise at Frankfurt.“The Koleos concept show car foreshadows the shape of crossovers to come in the Renault line-up,” said Mr Koenig.“Styled by Renault designers working in collaboration with the Renault Samsung Motors Design Centre in Korea, it combines the high stance and features of a sports utility vehicle with the roominess and stowage solutions of a people mover and the comfort and sporty feel of a modern saloon car,” he said.With Renault Australia having a 91 per cent growth in diesel-powered vehicles this year, the Koleos concept sports a four-cylinder, two-litre, 16-valve, common rail injection turbo diesel engine.Power is put to ground via a six-speed manual transmission, or an auto, and 19-inch wheels.Main competitors to the Renault are likely to be Japanese veterans the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.Standard features include anti-skid brakes, emergency brake assist and electronic stability control. The central part of the dashboard houses navigation and multi-media applications and off-the-beaten-track information like altitude, air pressure, navigation bearings and hill gradients.The Concept has four adult seats and a variety of stowage compartments. Renault also revealed a Laguna Coupe concept, Kangoo Compact concept, a new Clio Sport tourer and new Kangoo van. In addition to new body shapes, it also displayed a new, low-noise, three-litre V6 diesel concept engine for high-end cars such as Laguna.This engine delivers sizeable punch with 195kW of power and 550Nm of torque at 1750rpm and is linked to a six-speed automatic flickshift transmission.It was designed to be serviced every two years, or 30,000km. 

The wide-eyed French wonder has a hybrid HDi drivetrain from which Citroen claims fuel consumption of just 3.4L/100km.As well as saving fuel, the concept aims to cutback on resources used in its construction. The cabin is made up of just over 200 parts, which Citroen says is about half the usual number. Peugeot's sleek 308RCZ concept gives a big nod towards a future body style for the 308 family.The ultra-light 2+2 coupe uses aluminium, polycarbonate windows and carbon-fibre body parts and is powered by a 160kW 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW.Mitsubishi will unveil its Concept-cX compact SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Concept-cX uses interior trim materials made from bamboo and other plant-based resins.The concept is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8-litre diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter, and Mitsubishi's new twin-clutch sport-shift transmission which will be a key element in the Lancer Evo X.GM will show environmentally-conscious concepts at Frankfurt, including the HydroGen4 fuel-cell car, the Volt all-electric car and further adaptions of its EcoFlex technology.The HydroGen4 produces an electrical output of up to 93kW backed by a 73kW electric motor.GM claims it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 12 seconds and has a top speed of about 160km/h. It will also show off its E-Flex strategy, which combines various fuel-efficient propulsion systems in the same vehicle shape and design to suit local demands, in an Opel Corsa small car.Of the production cars being launched at the show, the Mini Clubman wagon is likely to rate highly. The five-door model has double rear doors and a suicide door on the driver's side. The suicide door, which is rear-hinged, is designed to allow passengers easier access to the back.Renault will also show a mini wagon with its Clio Sport Tourer, due to go on sale in Europe early next year.Halfway between concept and reality is the 2008 World Rally Car concept from Subaru.It is both a pointer to what the next WRC will be like and an insight into how the new WRX STI, which will go on sale in Australia early next year, will look. 

The world's biggest motor show is weeks away, yet the car companies are already scrambling over each other to release clues about their exhibits.Among the highlights of the 62nd Frankfurt International Motor Show are cars made out of bamboo, a boxer diesel engine and yet more “urban crossover SUVs.”Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will unveil its Concept-cX compact SUV at the show.Concept-cX uses interior trim materials made from bamboo and other plant-based resins.The concept is powered by a new high-output, high-efficiency 1.8 litre diesel engine, featuring a variable geometry turbocharger for optimum boost control and a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter, and Mitsubishi's new twin clutch sport shift transmission.Dodge will also launch a crossover wagon, called Crew, which hits Australia late next year.The seven-seater is based on the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring sedan platform but with all-wheel drive and powered by 2.4-litre petrol and 2-litre turbo-diesel engines.The Crew looks like a shrunken Chrysler Voyager people mover, but with a longer nose and higher ground clearance.It will be built at Chrysler's Toluca plant in Mexico with production due to start in December.Subaru will use the show for its biggest new model blitz yet.Leading the line-up will be the new Impreza five-door hatchback in its 1.5 and 2 litre naturally aspirated formats, which arrives in Australia the same month.Other Subarus on show include an Impreza-based World Rally Car Concept, facelifted Tribeca luxury SUV with more efficient 3.6-litre boxer engine and five-speed auto, new Justy one-litre supermini and the world's first horizontally opposed boxer turbo-diesel engine, due to be progressively installed in models from early in 2008.Mazda will debut its Mazda6, the second Mazda new generation product to evolve to the next stage following the new Mazda2.Although Australia is yet to see the Kia cee'd five-door, the Korean company will debut its new sporty three-door Pro-cee'd, the third model in the family of cars designed for Europe and made in Slovakia.Only the bonnet and the front wing panels are carried over from the five-door model.Volkswagen will revive the 'people's car' with a concept Beetle.It is called the City Expert because The Beetle name has been taken by the more expensive new-generation car.The City Expert goes back to Beetle roots with a rear-mounted, flat-four boxer engine and a cheap price tag.VW will also reveal six new models with BlueMotion diesel technology, including the new Golf BlueMotion claiming economy of 4.5 litres/100km down 0.6-litres from the previous model, and CO2 emissions down 16g/km to 119g/km.Range on a 55-litre tank is now more than 1200km.Peugeot's 308RCZ concept will give a big hint towards a future body style for the 308 family.The ultra-light 2+2 coupe uses aluminium, polycarbonate windows and carbon fibre body parts and is powered by a 160kW 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo jointly developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and BMW.Renault will show a wagon version of its Clio mini.The Clio Sport Tourer will go on sale in Europe early next year.Mini is also on the bandwagon with the return of the Clubman van.The five-door model has double rear doors and a suicide door on the driver's side.The suicide door, which opens the opposite way, is designed to allow passengers easier access to the back.It would make more sense on the other side, but clearly the former British car now owned by BMW is designed for left-hand-drive markets with the blinkers also on the left.Ford will show its Kuga crossover all-wheel-drive probably powered by a range of petrol and turbodiesel engines, including the 2-litre 100kW/320Nm TDCi that has just appeared in the Focus.The Kuga is based on the Iosis X concept unveiled at last year's Paris Motor Show.In a surprise move, Suzuki will show it's expanding from small cars and SUVs into the family market.Their Kizashi family car looks mean with a massive black grille, sloping lamp clusters and low-level fog lamps.Also looking mean is Saab's 9-3 Turbo X which will rekindle the spirit of the 1980s Saab 900 Black Turbo.It will feature Cross-Wheel Drive allowing torque to be split to either side of the rear axle via an electronically limited slip differential, based on information from the stability and traction control systems.However, the show-stealer is likely to be seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher when he unveils the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, a lighter and faster development of the existing 430 coupe and convertible.Power is up to 380kW, weight is down 100kg and the F1 transmission has new software that cuts shift times to 60 milliseconds. 

A Megane diesel sedan and the red-hot RenaultSport Megane R26 lead the way, and will be joined by a half-dozen other newcomers within a year.Diesel will be a big deal for Renault, but it is also looking closely at a return for the baby Clio and is banking on the success of a mid-sized four-wheel-drive.“Next year is the start of the Renault product revolution. We'll get our share of the new vehicles,” says Renault Australia managing director Rudi Koenig. “We're looking at in excess of 3000 cars. The plan is between 3000 and 3500, depending very much on how the sedan goes and the uptake of diesel.”Koenig already knows the R26 hot hatch will be a sellout, despite lifting the order from 30 to 80 cars for Australia. He is more concerned about the diesel Megane. He believes the car will be pivotal to the success of the sedan version, which has not polarised people in the same way as the “J.Lo” butt on the hatch.“Diesel is the critical vehicle for us. We hang our hat on the sedan, and the diesel gives us pretty well the lowest-priced diesel in the market,” Koenig says. “We've got to have a car that gives us consistent volume we can build the brand on. And we haven't had that.”But he denies the success or failure of the Megane diesel which will decide the future of Renault in Australia.“It's never make-or-break. Renault is very much committed to this market and we have a lot of product coming in the future. We're hoping for about 40 diesels a month. That would make it about 40 per cent of our Megane sedan volume, and the biggest individual Renault model.”And there is much more to come. Even if Renault Australia has ruled out the baby Twingo for Australia. Koenig says the Clio is looking good, there will be a revitalised flagship, and the production version of the Koleos concept vehicle.“Next year we will get the new Laguna in the second quarter, the Clio 3 RS version also, and we will get the SUV. The production version of the SUV, which is called Koleos as a concept, is going to be launched next month at the Frankfurt Show and we'll have it at the end of next year.“Clio 3 is a great car and we're studying the production situation very closely.” 

Renault believes it can score strongly with the new generation of cars it is producing in the style of Mercedes AMG and BMW M in Europe and Australia's HSV and FPV.Renault sport Technologies is gearing up to more than triple production in coming years, following the success of limited-edition models including the Megane turbo cars which have been a big hit in Australia.It already has go-faster Clio and Megane models and is planning to expand the range with RS models based on other cars in the Renault family, including the baby Twingo and the upcoming four-wheel drive known at present as Koleos.The overseas sales chief of Renault sport, Jean Calcat, has just visited Australia and can see strong potential for his company's cars.“One of the objectives of the Renault sport business unit is, within five years, we want to move from 15,000 units to 50,000. That is a three-fold increase, which is by no means easy,” Calcat says.“Renault sport is a brand, but it is practically unknown. The idea is to improve the brand the way Mercedes has with AMG.“In Australia we are only marketing the Megane, so I personally do have a lot of hope in this country and this country's customers.”One of the first opportunities is with the compact Clio, which was dropped by Renault Australia but is being considered for a comeback in 2008.A Renault sport model might make the difference.“Right now we are studying with Renault Australia a Clio RS,” Calcat says. “We can sell this car with a bigger profit than the regular range.“An enthusiast will pay for his toys and at the same time there is less competition.“We have named the special edition Clio the R27, following the Megane R26 with a link to the Renault team in Formula One. It is a car which is not yet in the Australian market.“I understand it may come in the future. I am pushing a lot.“The management of Renault Australia is quite excited about the project. But they want first to ensure the successful launch of the R26.”Beyond the Megane and Clio, Calcat says there are significant expansion plans including a full range of Renault sport GT cars to sit below the existing RS models.“One of the things we want to do is position the RS as the exclusive cars they are today, and then launch a GT label. “For us, it will be in order to bridge the gap between the exclusive RS and the, should I say it, more mundane models.“The idea is really to develop the sale of RS derivatives. This kind of car helps us boost our awareness and image where there is not a high profit.“The main objective is to develop a range of cars that appeal to enthusiasts and create a link between motorsport success and mainstream cars.” 

Another week, another diesel. Nothing wrong with that, because they all deliver great fuel economy, most with excellent refinement. Some even manage the trifecta: strong performance as well.This has been a European-led invasion because they were the first to face high petrol prices and focused on diesel as the antidote. They have made great strides in driver-friendly technology.While Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot have been the long-term believers in diesel for Australian motorists, brands like VW, Citroen, Audi, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Saab and Fiat have joined in.Even Holden and Ford, Mazda, Dodge and Chrysler have jumped on the diesel-car bandwagon lately.So when Renault brings in a diesel version of its small car, the impressive Megane, the major surprise is that it has taken five years to get around to it. They were waiting for Australia's diesel fuel to improve, they say, then had to wait for an automatic transmission to be ready.Like the best of the breed, it is so quiet and refined you soon forget there is a diesel engine humming away up front. No rattle, no clatter, no chugging. It just trots along smoothly.Renault has 'repositioned' the Megane sedan (a polite way of saying they cut up to $4500 off the price), so petrol versions start from $24,990.That's bargain territory for a European-designed car, it is built in Turkey, packed with safety equipment and creature comforts.The diesel option adds $3000 to the entry-level Megane Expression sedan (including alloy wheels, which otherwise would be a $1000 option), $3500 to the upmarket-trim Privilege model. Coming in a couple of months will be a diesel version of the roomier and dearer Scenic, a five-seat 'people-mover' based on the Megane.Compared with the petrol Megane, power is down marginally, but torque is far greater, so no worries about the heartiness with which it pulls away once rolling. Just don't expect lightning acceleration from a standing start.Fuel economy is the strong point: 5.8 litres per 100km for the diesel manual versus 8.2 litres for the petrol equivalent.The Megane's four-speed automatic transmission is teamed with a less-hearty engine. Torque is 260Nm, a strong dose of pulling power though well short of the 300Nm which comes with the manual gearbox.Overall, the Megane arrives at a comparatively bargain price for a European car with a diesel of this size, this output, with an impressive list of standard features, especially its safety gear.It is very comfortable, with a huge boot and genuinely roomy and packed with clever touches. Key pointsRenault Megane dCiDetails: Compact sedan with 1.9 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Power 96kW. Torque 300Nm manual, 260Nm automatic. Six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.Features: Stability control, anti-lock brakes, airbags, airconditioning, automatic wipers and headlights.Cost: Expression $27,990 manual, $30,490 auto; Privilege auto $35,990.Rivals: VW Jetta, Peugeot 307, Citroen C3, Holden Astra, Ford Focus, Alfa Romeo 147.For: Refinement, fuel economy.Against: Renault's low profile here. 

With the local car industry now at the halfway point in the 2007 sales race, it is easy to see who's winning and who's losing.Toyota is basking in the glory of not only being No.1, but also cementing its sales lead so convincingly that — barring a catastrophe — it will take out the sales crown this year.The Altona-based Japanese company is 40,404 vehicles clear of its nearest rival, Holden. It is also relishing the positive spin of the Corolla knocking off the Holden Commodore last month.But apart from Toyota, other players are also revelling in the good times.Of the importers, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Peugeot managed strong June sales.Mazda sold 6932 cars, with the Mazda3 being the strongest seller on 3037.The company experienced the biggest market share gain of any importer.Its record half-yearly result is 20.3 per cent up on the same time last year, lifting market share from 6.7 per cent in 2006 to 7.5 per cent, a gain of 0.7 percentage points.Subaru's tally was 4085 for the month, with the Forester, Impreza and Liberty all breaking through 1000 sales.Suzuki, like many importers, was buoyed by keen end-of-financial year deals.It sold 2368 cars for the month, bringing its year-to-date tally to 10,910 vehicles, a 43 per cent lift over last year.Of the French, an ever-expanding Peugeot line-up continues to bolster sales, but Renault flops around due to a lack of new product.Peugeot sold 1016 vehicles last month, bringing its year-to-date run-rate to 4549, a 13 per cent lift over last year. The 307 continues to be Peugeot's best seller.By contrast, Renault has a year-to-date total of 1431 vehicles, 32 cars fewer than last year.Even Saab experienced some solid growth, albeit off a low base, as the 9-3 turbodiesel helped lift the marque's appeal.Saab sold 336 cars last month, its best month for 10 years, taking its year-to-date tally to 1148, a 170 per cent lift over last year.The X-Trail, Tiida and Navara continue to drive Nissan sales. The Japanese importer sold 5845 vehicles last month with 31,176 year-to-date, a 20 per cent lift over last year.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries monthly Vfacts figures show that most of the extra volume last month was generated by the light, small and medium car segments.A breakdown of large car sales shows that Holden sold 5588 Commodores last month, Ford 3206 Falcons, Toyota 2626 Aurions and Mitsubishi just 877 380 V6s.All three were eclipsed by the new four-cylinder Corolla, which secured 5890 sales.But a finer look at the figures shows that much of the Corolla's success was down to fleet purchases and pent-up demand for the new car, which spiked figures.But a sale is a sale. Holden's own figures point out that 29 per cent of VE Commodores are bought by private buyers, as opposed to 18.6 per cent for the VT Commodore.Apart from the Corolla, other small car stars were the Mitsubishi Lancer with 2143 sales, Holden Astra 1763 and Ford Focus 1550.Of the tiddlers, Toyota again ruled last month. The Yaris managed 2926 sales against 2486 for the Hyundai Getz, 1361 for the Kia Rio, 1351 for the Suzuki Swift and 1392 for the Honda Jazz.Despite the dominance of the light, small and medium segments, large cars were up 3.7 per cent in June and, in year-to-date terms, are running 5.1 per cent ahead of last year.However, Ford's overall market share has slipped 2 per cent and Holden's by almost 1 per cent, despite its Korean strategy, which was hoping to deliver an increased share.Mitsubishi is a bit stronger, experiencing a 0.6 per cent overall drop in share and, despite Toyota's increasing sales, its share has increased by only about 0.6 per cent.One of the more interesting results was for the Ford Fairlane.Ford sold 149 Fairlanes, bolstered by the news that the long-wheelbase sedan will be axed at the end of the year.Dealers are also reporting a slight pick-up in interest for the car from fleets.Overall, the year-to-date sales figure of 524,376 means that a record 1 million market is likely by December.   Top 10 makes  1 Toyota 24,5392 Holden 14,2563 Ford 10,3044 Mitsubishi 81945 Mazda 69326 Nissan 58457 Honda 57508 Hyundai 50239 Subaru 408510 Volkswagen 2848 Top 10 models1 Toyota Corolla 58902 Holden Commodore 55883 Toyota HiLux 42494 Ford Falcon 32065 Mazda3 30376 Toyota Yaris 29267 Toyota Camry 26458 Toyota Aurion 26269 Hyundai Getz 248610 Mitsubishi Lancer 2143 

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.“Until now, anyone confined to a wheelchair suffered from difficult access to vehicles, or at best a very steep ramp,” he said.“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.“Until now, anyone confined to a wheelchair suffered from difficult access to vehicles, or at best a very steep ramp,” he said.“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.

An Australian company has promised a wheelchair conversion for vans and people movers that provides a “dignified approach” for passengers.Tysons sales manager Ryan Tyson said their Glide Rite wheelchair access system would not leave a wheelchair-bound person in full view of passing traffic.“Until now, anyone confined to a wheelchair suffered from difficult access to vehicles, or at best a very steep ramp,” he said.“They were also positioned in the back of vehicles, away from other passengers and either stuck up in the air on a platform, or down in a pit in the rear of the vehicle. It robbed them of dignity.”Glide Rite uses airbags to lower the vehicle and the floor. An access ramp also deploys to allow entry to the vehicle for manual and electric wheelchairs as well as mobility scooters.The passenger is not confined to the rear or in a lowered floor area.A low ramp angle and “soft-start” winch allow the carer to be with the wheelchair-bound passenger at all times and reduces the risks involved in high-lift transfers.The ramp folds into a dedicated area and cannot be seen from outside the vehicle.An alloy/honeycomb construction reduces the weight of components and the risk of injury to carers.The system is available for Mercedes Benz Vito Wagon and Vito XLWB, Renault Traffic and Master and is under development for the Volkswagen T5 van.Tysons is an Australian family business that has been converting vans for various uses for 30 years.The basic conversion cost for the fitted Glide Rite system is about $15,000, but most people spend around $28,000 having the whole interior fitted out with extra seating.