Renault Master E-Tech Reviews

The traditional station wagon has been one casualty among many of the rise of SUVs, but they remain popular in Europe so German and French brands spin them off hatchbacks and sedans across their line-ups. Demand here is tiny, but local distributors are usually obliged to bring them in. They are then faced with the problem of how to sell them. I've lost count of how many times I've heard someone explain that their new wagon will lure people away from SUVs because it drives better, is cheaper to run and more practical. It's usually true, but it doesn't make a difference. The latest to ply this line is Renault, which has added a wagon variant to its Megane range as part of a mid-life freshen up. The wagon is substantially longer - 25cm - than the hatchback and has 40 per cent more cargo space. It starts at $26,490 with a 103kW 2-litre petrol or another $4000 for the most accessible diesel, an 81kW 1.5-litre. Its star turn, however, is the GT220 performance model, with a retuned version of the turbocharged engine in the RS265 hatchback. The RS265 holds the record for the fastest lap of Germany's Nurburgring racetrack for a front-wheel-drive car and is a benchmark among performance hatches. The wagon, with 162kW, gets 33kW less power from the same turbocharged 2-litre unit, but its sports chassis means it's still a hoot to drive and one of the few performance wagons on offer at this level. Available only with a six-speed manual, it costs $36,990, or another $5000 for the Premium version, which adds leather, satnav and a reversing camera. It won't revive Megane sales on its own - supply has been limited to 220 examples - but Renault says a shift in sourcing for the model from Turkey to Spain is responsible for a 7 per cent dip in demand for the Megane and supplies are now back on track. The revised line-up lowers the entry point to $20,990 plus on-road costs, from $25,990 driveaway, for a base manual petrol and introduces an additional trim level called GT Line to widen its appeal. The starting point for the convertible Megane CC drops $9000 to $36,990. Engines and transmissions carry over and, aside from minor styling changes such as LED lights at the front, the revisions focus on retuning the suspension and making more safety kit available, including an intelligent light system. Supplies are now likely to be the least of its worries, with Renault suffering more than most from the prolonged European downturn. First half sales results out this week show Renault sales down 10.3 per cent in western Europe compared with 6.6 per cent for the overall market. Chief executive Carlos Ghosn said recently that Europe might not recover for another two years. Renault might find some consolation in the figures for compatriot brands Peugeot and Citroen, because they are worse - down 11.7 per cent and 16.2 per cent respectively. It's a situation mirrored in Australia, where Citroen demand is down 34 per cent and Peugeot is treading water with a 1.5 per cent increase over the first half of last year. By comparison, Renault is up 44 per cent and on track to outsell Peugeot here for the first time - the importer believes - since the 1970s.  

Renault has finally gotten a handle on what Australians want - and has launched a GT-Line variant of the Meganes to give to us. The hatch and newly introduced wagon join the line-up as part of a mid-life upgrade and prioritise driver involvement over vehicle acceleration.What they miss in a straight line they more than make up for when the roads start to twist and tighten. Toss in a decent ride over broken surfaces and it’s easy to see why Renault Australia expects the GT-Line to give the Megane a decent kick in sales.VALUEEntry to the GT-Line club starts at $26,490 for the 2.0-litre petrol hatch with a better-than-average continuously variable transmission. The 1.5-litre turbodiesel with a dual-clutch automatic is another $2500. Step up to the leather-clad interior of the GT-Line Premium Pack versions and the petrol model is $29,990; the diesel $32,490. Wagon versions of all models attract a $1500 premium over their hatch counterparts.GT-Line versions are easily identified by the honeycomb front grille flanked by boomerang-shaped daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and a revised chassis and suspension tune.  Beyond the “Cool Grey” heated leather seats, the Premium Pack adds a sunroof, reversing camera with overlaid guidelines and driver assistance software.TECHNOLOGYThe drivetrains carry over, making the Visio software the biggest innovation in the facelifted Meganes. The system uses windscreen-mounted cameras to scan the road ahead and will automatically switch the headlights from high to low beam if it detects approaching lights, the tail-lights of a car ahead or street lights indicating the vehicle is in an urban area. The system includes a lane-departure warning chime if it detects the Megane is starting to cross the white lines.DESIGNThe Renault exterior has aged well and still looks contemporary from any angle. It’s a different story inside where the layout has some obvious shortcomings against its competition - including a marked absence of cupholders. The single drinks stowage spot nestles at the front edge of the centre console, meaning tall bottles, or large cups of coffee, can block access to some of the sound system controls.The sound system itself has been overhauled and is operated with a logical joystick/button setup between the seats, rather than the in-car remote seen on earlier versions. The seats are wonderfully comfortable but the pedals are slightly offset to the right. It isn’t huge and drivers adjust within moments. The steering wheel adjusts for reach and height but Carsguide suspects the inclined instrument panel may be prone to reflections with the sunroof open. A road test will tell. Rear legroom is modest to the point not many adults will be prepared to spend much time down back. That’s common in the small-car segment so it’s more of a caution than a criticism.SAFETYRenault stacks up well on the safety front. ANCAP rates it a five-star and it earned a score of 35.83/37, with the local crash-testing authority noting of the offset test: “The passenger compartment held its shape well. There was a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver”.  Six airbags are standard and the fundamentals - steering, chassis and brakes - are good enough to avoid most problems in the first place.DRIVINGThe driving experience has been as sharply honed as the price on the GT-Line Meganes.  The chassis and suspension are tauter than regular models without losing the ability to absorb smaller bumps. The steering has always been a Megane highlight and that continues, with a well-weighted heft and precise feedback on what the front wheels are doing. The focus is on handling rather than outright power, so it shares its engines with the rest of the range. The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre is the straight-line hero but a 0-100km/h time of 10.3 seconds shows it isn’t a hot hatch (the wagon takes another 0.3 of a second).The engine is matched to a continuously variable transmission that doesn’t exhibit the dreaded drone unless the pedal is to the floor. The 1.5-litre turbodiesel is the pick of the engines and has a better engine note than most oilburners when underway and there’s only a hint of diesel clatter when the engine is cold and idling. The dual-clutch auto can hesitate on take-off and occasionally slurs when chasing a higher or lower cog with the foot down. Less enthused driving is its preferred mode and in those conditions it is hard to fault. Natural rivals include the better-sorted cars in the small-car class such as the Ford Focus and Mazda3.VERDICTThe GT-Line Meganes are for drivers who value on-road dynamics without wanting to break the sound barrier. It’s a smart formula on our over-restricted roads and is at least a match for the local suspension tuning that has earned accolades for the South Korean carmakers.

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.

One of the perks of this job is getting to drive cars before anyone else. One of those is the blistering Renault Clio RS 200 EDC, the hot version of Renault's small hatch that's due here early next year.VALUEIt's tempting to call the Clio a little firebrand. But it's a larger, more refined car than before and almost the size of a Golf. Australia is one of the largest markets for Renault Sport products. We love our sports models and with this in mind the local outfit has opted for the harder edged Cup edition.There's no word yet on how much the car will cost, apart from a pledge that it will be less than the current RS 200 that retails for $36,490.TECHNOLOGYThe engine has been downsized. Power in the new RS comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged four that develops 147kW of power and 240Nm of torque. A version of the same engine will power the new Nissan Pulsar SSS and it is hooked up to a six-speed twin clutch transmission that Renault calls EDC (Efficient Double Clutch). There is no manual.The dash from 0-100km/h takes a rapid 6.7 seconds and the car has a top speed of 230km/h. The RS's most direct competitor is the Peugeot 208 GTi that delivers the same amount of power but considerably more torque at 275Nm. That's on paper.Don't dismiss the RS because it's a cracker, with some lovely snack, crackle and pop from the exhaust and a transmission that blips the throttle on the downchange. Who needs a Ferrari? But in this segment it's all about the figures. In this context you might also like to look at the Polo GTI, Citroen DS3 and Opel Corsa OPC all of them cheaper.DESIGNThe new RS combines benchmark dynamics with carefully optimised fuel consumption. You can say what you like about Renault, but one thing it sure knows how to do is build performance vehicles. The Megane RS 265 is a case in point, one of the finest handling fronties we've ever driven.The design has been refined through racing, so you get a chassis that is a match for the increased performance of the drivetrain. Hell, this thing could take a lot more power without blinking and we look forward to special editions.SAFETYIt gets 5 stars from Euro NCAP, even though it comes with only four airbags, how does that work?DRIVINGYou can't help but love this car. The purists will deplore the lack of a manual, but the EDC transmission is a thing of wonder. We had a short crack behind the wheel over some winding roads outside Paris earlier this year.It was the first time anyone from Australia had driven the harder-edged Cup version on the road. There's two things you need to know. The change paddles are a lift from the Nissan GT-R and fixed to the steering column, so there's no chasing them around the wheel.The second thing is the Renault Sport button that delivers various drive modes including a full track mode with everything off. Having driven the RS on the road we're looking forward to having a second crack on the track.VERDICTA worthy successor to the previous RS. It's larger, sleeker and easier to drive and is sure to hit the sweet spot with discerning drivers.

...which is expected to be come more of a family-friendly crossover in 2015. It's currently tied to the Nissan X-Trail but could become a Megane-based model with the upcoming change.

The first carmaker to throw its weight behind independent safety testing in Australia is now questioning the value of ANCAP star ratings. Renault, which has been a long-term five-star maker, now says the Australasian New-Car Assessment Program is going down a blind alley by pursuing a unique local agenda at a time when Australian cars are less and less popular with consumers.Its attack turns on ANCAP's decision to downgrade its upcoming Captur SUV to a four-star ranking, after a five-star result in Europe, because it will not be fitted with rear airbags. “They are pushing themselves off to obscurity,” the managing director of Renault Australia, Justin Hocevar, tells Carsguide.“I think ANCAP is at risk of misleading Australians. It is encouraging Australians to buy a car that could be of a lower safety standard, yet have a higher airbag count. That's the shame.” Hocevar says he has asked ANCAP for answers to a range of questions but is yet to get a satisfactory reply.“We're asking them to please come and justify, with data from Australia, why they have a right to second-guess EuroNCAP. With fewer and fewer locally-made cars, what are they testing? And why would they differ?“EuroNCAP crash tests far more vehicles every year than ANCAP. And it's one that is moving forward. Not one putting out papers and then deviating from the rest of the world.“They have essentially refused to answer any of our enquiries. They seem to prefer a public debate through the press, instead of responding with data-driven answers.”Renault has already achieved matching five-star ratings from EuroNCAP and ANCAP for its baby Clio, which does not have rear airbags, but that car was introduced before the 2014 start date for a new ANCAP requirement for five-star cars.It's part of a safety roadmap that tightens the requirements and demands extra safety equipment for a five-star score in coming years. “It does call into question what vehicles will be rated in the future. They have already given five stars to a number of vehicles that do not have rear airbags.”Hocevar says he intends to promote the Captur as a five-star vehicle, regardless of the ANCAP score. “As far as we're concerned, we're going to communicate that the car is a five-star car and that it's a EuroNCAP rating.“From our point of view, the message is clear. We don't want to mislead anyone. They (ANCAP) may take a view that the vehicle is downgraded, but we will communicate that it's with the most relevant testing authority.”Hocevar also intends to confirm to shoppers that the Captur, like the Clio, was designed without rear airbags because they are not needed to achieve five-stars. “We have not de-contented the Captur. It was designed and built with a number of airbags and it achieved the highest possible safety rating.“A car with less-robust design and construction could have a bunch of airbags and not get five stars. That's where customers are potentially being misled.” Hocevar admits that he could avoid an ANCAP confrontation by advancing the Captur's Australian on-sale date into the back end of 2013, but he does not intend to be that mischievous.“Yes, I could just stick one on a plane, bring it out and then tell them it's been launched,” Hoceva laughs. “But I'm not going to put the launch of the vehicle ahead of schedule just to get a better ANCAP score, when I think it's so misguided.”This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

The baby SUV is set to be docked a star by NCAP in Australia because it is not fitted with rear airbags, even though it has just received the top five-star ranking from European NCAP without them.It will also take the hit because it must pass a roof-crush test, although that is in the plan for ANCAP testing in 2014.The head of ANCAP, Nicholas Clarke, says he is stunned that Renault is not demanding cars for Australia with rear airbags because the Captur follows the Clio which is also airbag-free in the rear."It beggars belief that they could not get it up. If they are going to sell the car here then that is what we require," he tells Carsguide."It strikes me as a bit odd that this has blown up. I understand that Renault is not happy about it."But he is adamant."The Captur result will be capped at four stars. It's required to have rear curtain airbags, or rear head protection technology. The other thing for the Captur is that from 2014 we require a roof crush result. That's mandatory for five stars from January."He admits the Captur could clear the roof hurdle, and ANCAP is intending to check that locally by buying a car to test, but says all carmakers including Renault have had plenty of warning about the rear-airbag requirement for a local five-star ranking."In our forward plan, which we developed from about 2009 and then published at the beginning of 2011, it was made clear at that time that from 2014 we would require head protecting technology in the rear and the roof.""This was negotiated with industry through the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, which Renault is a member of. It shouldn't be news to anybody."Clarke also says Renault has a long history with five-star cars and rear airbags, and questions the decision not to fit them in the Clio and Captur."There are lots of small cars with full-length rear airbags. So it's not impossible to fit them. I think, also, that Renault have had curtain airbags in the rear for a number of years."Despite the push-back from NCAP in Australia, the result for European NCAP is the fifteenth five star result for Renault and backs the recent result for the Clio on which the Captur is based.

This new French concept is a crazy mid-engined little beastie, but the body is another clear pointer to the way the Twingo will look next year.It's called the Twin'Run concept and it hot-lapped the F1 course last weekend during the run-up to the Monaco Grand Prix, where Renault-powered Red Bulls finished - ironically - second and third behind a Mercedes-Benz.The Twin'Run is the second Twingo teaser and comes hot on the heels of the Twin'Z, as Renault shows the twin-edged potential of the new Twingo. "The Twin'Z took an environmental focus and this is the sporty one," says Renault Australia spokesperson, Emilie Ambrosy."It actually runs. It was driven at Monaco by Carlos Tavares, who is the chief operating officer of Renault." "The point of the car is to show what a future generation of the Twingo might look like, but also to pay homage to some icons from the past." Those cars are the pocket-rocket Renault R5 Turbo that won the Monte Carlo Rally and the Clio V6 racer.So the Twin'Run has a Nissan V6 engine - picked up through the Renault-Nissan Alliance - where the back seat and boot would normally live, turning the rear wheels through a six-speed racing gearbox. The car can zap to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h.Because it's a concept, and focussed on racing, it has a full motorsport cabin and bodywork formed from carbon composites. But rip off the rear wing and driving pods to reveal the basic body shape and you get a good look at the Twingo thinking.“Twin’Run is a cocktail of energy, passion and athleticism, rekindling the memory of emblematic Renault racing cars,” says Laurens van den Acker, head of design at Renault. “Following its twin, Twin’Z, a stylish urban concept car, Twin’Run shows that personalisation is a core strategy at Renault.”But there is a more important consideration for Australia, and the potential for Twingo sales in 2014 and beyond. "It has to be the right car, with the right specification, at the right price," Ambrosy emphasises once again.She also hints that the Twin'Run could come to Australia, perhaps as part of Renault's involvement in next year's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne,. "Of course, we would love to get the Twin'Run to Australia. It's a great looking thing and it sounds like fun. But we'll see if that happens," she says.if (window.tconf) { window.tconf({"tags" : "content:type=video", "plugins": {"vcms": {}}});}     

Better Place has filed for liquidation, citing the lack of commercial success of a novel battery-switching system for electric cars that the Israeli company had developed in a partnership with French automotive group Renault. The financial collapse of Better Place, 28 per cent-held by shipping-to-fertiliser conglomerate Israel Corp, is a blow for Renault and its chief executive Carlos Ghosn, who had championed the technology as one of the pillars of the French auto maker's ambitious €4 billion ($5.36AUD billion) electric-vehicle strategy. Founded by Israeli entrepreneur Shai Agassi in 2007, Better Place developed a system where electric-car owners could drive their vehicles into a network of stations around Israel and replace the car's battery with a new one in about the same amount of time it takes to fill a gasoline tank on a regular car. The "quick drop" system was supposed to remove one of the main obstacles to the adoption of electric vehicles, namely the several hours it takes to recharge a flat battery. Better Place raised around $US850 million ($883AUD million) from investors that included HSBC, General Electric, Lazard Asset Management, Morgan Stanley and VantagePoint Capital Partners as well as Israel Corp. The first cars equipped with Better Place technology were Renault Fluence Z.E. sedans. The project drew global attention, with Mr Agassi named one of the top people of the year by Time magazine in 2009 while Israeli President Shimon Peres often spoke publicly of the project, touting it as a step toward national energy independence. In late 2012, Better Place said it hadn't sold as many cars as expected and said it would seek an additional investor. Around the same time, Mr Agassi left the company. His successor, Evan Thornley, quit after two months. Mr Ghosn recently said Renault wouldn't equip models other than the Fluence with the battery-swapping technology. Better Place struggled partly because it only had a few dozen battery-switching stations in Israel and Denmark - the company abandoned projects in the US and Australia - while the specially adapted Fluence sedans were too large given the small-car preference of local consumers. The battery-switching system also couldn't be transposed to other vehicles. Better Place's business model was based on car owners paying a fee according to the number of miles they drive, which Mr Agassi likened to a mobile-phone subscription. Better Place initially ordered 100,000 cars from Renault but the auto maker has so far sold only about 2500. "Unfortunately, after a year's commercial operation, it was clear to us that despite many satisfied customers, the wider public take up would not be sufficient and that the support from the car producers was not forthcoming," said Better Place chief executive Dan Cohen in a statement. Renault said it would continue to explore all charging technologies, including quick drop. "This decision does not at all call into question the electric vehicle strategy of the Renault-Nissan Alliance," the company said in a statement. Renault's first compact rechargeable electric car, the ZOE - whose battery isn't replaceable - has just gone on sale in France. Current and former Better Place officials said that poor execution of the company's strategy rather than the technology itself was the root cause of the company's collapse. "There is definitely interest in the technology from China and India," one former executive said Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They understand the potential for extending range and lowering cost."