Renault Master E-Tech Reviews

Renault has had a chequered history in this country. In earlier times the French carmaker enjoyed a popular following here, its cars were locally assembled, it even had a factory team competing in rallies, and won a national rally championship.That was in the 1960s and ’70s when Renault was at the peak of its popularity, with a range of interesting small cars including the popular R8 and 10, the 12 and quirky 16. Since those heady times, however, Renault has gone through some lean times with a series of distributors trying to get the brand kick started again without making a breakthrough.The 19 was launched in the early 1990s when Volvo was handling Renault here. Unfortunately the Volvo attempt to relaunch the brand was also doomed to failure, and further damaged a brand that was by then losing its lustre.There were many reasons why Volvo’s attempt to relaunch Renault failed, among them the French government’s desire and determination to reduce a certain atoll in the Pacific ocean to uninhabitable rubble.I remember well one trip to Melbourne airport in a Renault 19 I had as a long-term test car in 1995. I was driving along the airport freeway, minding my own business, when out of the blue swooped a rather ratty old Laser covered in “Ban the Bomb” slogans.At first the Laser sat on my rear bumper, headlights flashing, horn blaring. Its female driver, nostrils flaring and eyes bulging with obvious rage, then pulled out and roared past before slicing in front of the Renault and slamming on her brakes, forcing me to swerve violently to avoid a collision.It was pretty scary stuff. It was the environment into which Volvo was trying to promote the French company’s cars.Renault had little chance of success when there was such a strong anti-France feeling in the community. It didn’t, and the brand disappeared from local showrooms once again, until the recent merger with Nissan saw it mount another attempt in 2001.It’s a pity that the 19 never had a chance to shine, as it was a good car, one now worth considering if you’re in the market for an affordable budget Euro.MARKET WATCHThe 19 first landed on these shores in 1991. It was a modest entry with one model, the TXE, which was offered as a roomy sedan or five-door hatch.There was just one engine, a 1.7-litre single overhead camshaft fuel-injected four which put out a modest 69 kW at 5250 revs, and drove the front wheels through either a five-speed manual of four-speed auto.The list of standard equipment was quite long, and included power steering, power windows, remote central locking, AM/FM radio cassette sound, velour trim, adjustable steering column, tachometer and a useful split-fold rear seat. Air-conditioning was added to the list in 1992.A three-tier sports pack also became available in 1992. The base pack comprised of 13-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, and a sports steering wheel; the intermediate pack had 14-inch alloy wheels and low profile tyres, while the top pack also had a body kit.The options list was quite short, comprising only air-conditioning before it became standard in March 1992, and metallic paint.A facelifted 19 was launched in 1993 and offered a much expanded choice of models, the RT, RT Plus, Alize and Baccara.All were again offered as a sedan or five-door hatch, with a mild reworking of the boxy shape with a fresh new front with a new bonnet, grille, and headlamps.Power came from the same 1.7-litre single overhead cam fuel-injected four. By 1993 the 69 kW it put out was considered rather puny when most off its rivals boasted bigger 1.8-litre engines punching out a fair bit more power.The transmission choices were also unchanged, with a five-speed manual and four-speed auto available.Among the standard features, the RT had power steering, air-conditioning, power windows, velour trim, tilt column, remote central locking, split-fold rear seat, and fog lamps.The RT Plus was only available with manual trans, and had alloy wheels, metallic paint, rear headrests, power mirrors, and a CD player.Black bumpers and mirrors distinguished the Alize. It also had power steering, remote central locking, four-speaker sound, power front windows and mirrors, rear head restraints, and a split-fold rear seat.Sitting atop the tree was the Baccara, which boasted everything the RT Plus had, plus a driver’s airbag, and seat belt pretensioners.Another upgrade came in the form of the Series 3 in 1995. That brought with it a 1.8-litre engine, and alloy wheels grew from 13 inches to 14, and the Alize replaced the RT.Although the larger engine was warmly welcomed it still didn’t endow the 19 with spirited performance. When it was tag-teamed with the auto it had just 66 kW, at 5000 revs, but when mated to the manual trans it had a more reasonable 81 kW, at 5500 revs.IN THE SHOPThe 19’s performance was nothing to write home about. It was adequate rather than spirited, but the 1.7-litre SOHC four was quite smooth and got the job done.Like most French cars, the 19 had lots of wheel travel and rolled quite a lot, but not to the detriment of handling, which was quite precise despite the wooden feel to the steering. Ride was plush, thanks to the long wheel travel, making the 19 a pleasure to drive.The 19 wasn’t a standout on any front, except perhaps for comfort, but it did everything quite well. It was a good all-rounder.The auto trans can be troublesome, so much so that it’s better to avoid them. Parts to rebuild them aren’t readily available here, and a replacement ’box will set you back $4000-$5000.Parts can be a problem. Renault Australia doesn’t stock parts for old models like the 19, but specialist suppliers can provide most things. More adventurous owners, like Josef Boehm have found the internet useful for sourcing parts from overseas.For a rewarding drive look for a well cared for manual car with low mileage, and a service record.OWNERS’ VIEWSJoe Boehm says the 19 rides well, handles well, is comfortable and economical. He has had no trouble with the engine, which is geared towards low down performance rather than high end, but he knows the troubles with the auto transmission well. After being frustrated at the lack of local expertise to fix the auto, he resorted to the net where he found parts and help to repair the transmission himself. He also says the auto runs hot and he’s fixed that by fitting an external oil cooler.Sean Cole’s 1993 19 TXE five-door auto hatch has done over 200,000 km in the service of his family. It was bought secondhand six years ago, and has since travelled extensively around Victoria and interstate. Sean says “it has always been a pleasure to drive” and “just keeps going”.LOOK FOR• comfortable compliant ride• assured road holding• modest performance• quiet and refined• automatic trans meltdown• parts can be hard to findTHE BOTTOM LINEWorth a look if you’re after a smooth, refined small sedan or hatch that rides superbly and handles well, but don’t necessarily want sizzling performance. Avoid troublesome auto trans.RATING60/100

Lewis Hamilton kept the Formula One world waiting until the last corner of the last lap of the last race before triumphing as world champion in the most nailbiting championship finish in recent memory.Ferrari's hometown hero Felipe Massa won the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, but Hamilton snatched the fifth place he needed in the dying seconds of the race to become F1's youngest champion.The 23-year-old McLaren ace denied Massa the crown when on the final turn he squeezed past German Timo Glock, who was fighting to keep his Toyota in a straight line on a wet Interlagos track.The Ferrari team briefly celebrated as Massa crossed the line before their faces turned to disbelief when Englishman Hamilton took fifth.Hamilton, too, was unsure immediately after finishing, saying: “I thought, `Do I have it?' They told me and I was ecstatic. I must thank God.“I'm speechless — that was so pretty close. You guys (his McLaren team) have done an amazing job all season.“It's been such a long journey — all the sacrifices we've made, I'm so thrilled to do this for everyone. It was one of the toughest races of my life.”Showers turned the race into a game of skill and pitstop strategy. When heavy rain began to fall again with five laps remaining, the frontrunners darted into the pits for wet-weather tyres.But Glock elected to remain out on dry rubber and had the fifth spot Hamilton needed if he was to win the world title.The Briton rejoined in sixth and his gamble paid off when Glock — with virtually no grip — was forced to slow at the last corner.“It was just impossible on the last lap,” Glock said. “I was fighting as hard as I could, but it was so difficult to just keep the car on the track.”Hamilton, the first British F1 champion since Damon Hill in 1996, had been in danger of losing the title in Brazil for the second year in a row.“(It's) the most dramatic race of my whole life,” Hamilton said. “It's pretty much impossible to put this into words. I'm still speechless.”Hamilton slipped to sixth place after being overtaken by Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel with two laps to go.Vettel then passed Glock, putting the German in Hamilton's sights.“Even when (Vettel) got past Lewis, we never gave up, and Lewis never gave up because we knew that Timo was on dry tyres,” McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said.“Who would have thought that Glock would have stayed out on dry tyres? It seems like Toyota have made a mistake with the tyres they chose.“Lewis took his chance brilliantly and the result was one of the most thrilling finishes in sporting history.”Last year Hamilton lost the title by one point to Massa's teammate Kimi Raikkonen.Massa was followed home by Renault's Fernando Alonso and outgoing world champion Raikkonen. Vettel was fourth.AAPGoing out on top, Page 87 LEWIS HAMILTONBorn: 07/01/1985, Stevenage, EnglandMarital status: SingleTeam: McLaren MercedesWins: 9Points scored: 207Grands Prix: 35Pole positions: 13Podiums: 22First GP: 2007 (Melbourne)Best result: 1st2007 championship: 2nd BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX1. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1hr 34min 11.435sec2. Fernando Alonso (SPA/Renault) +13.2983. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 16.2354. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Toro Rosso) 38.0115. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/McLaren) 38.907 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP1. Lewis Hamilton (ENG) 982. Felipe Massa (BRA) 973. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 754. Robert Kubica (POL) 755. Fernando Alonso (SPA) 61 

Despite a debut this month at the Paris motor show, with styling that finally ditches the dumpy J.Lo rump in favour of a chic new set of curves, the timing for a Down Under debut is not set and not certain for next year. Renault Australia says it is committed to the new Megane hatch and coupe, as well as the many other Megane-based models that will follow, but says it can't short-cut the French company's global roll-out plan. “We aim to be on sale in Australia within 12 months of the first sales in Europe,” says Renault Australia marketing chief Craig Smith. “Megane is rolled out in Europe in November, and it's a staged roll-out that goes for quite a while after that. “So the indicative timing here is late 2009 or early 2010 ... it's a case of being able to access the models we need.” Smith says Renault concentrates first on left-hand drive at home in France, gradually spreading the footprint from there. But he says the roll-out for the new Megane is also complicated by plans to build the cars in a number of factories. “The international models don't come on stream for a while,” he says. “Some will be manufactured in Europe and some will not. The difference is the cost base.” Renault's plan for Australia is still under discussion with head office and it is likely to be a mix-and-match process. “We'll take both models,” Smith says. “So the final line-up will have cars made in Europe and some made somewhere else.” However, just where else they might be made is not a certainty, according to Smith. “That is still to be confirmed,” he says. “The Koleos is made in Korea, we have factories in South America and eastern . There are all sorts of choices.” And what about the Megane line-up, which stretches to nine body styles in France? Smith says it probably won't be all nine models, but also won't be too far off that. The company will “definitely be looking at the RenaultSport models”. He has already seen the cars and is confident they could provide the final breakthrough for Renault Australia after more than five years of struggle and sluggish sales. “The cars are sensational,” Smith says. “From a local point of view we can't get the cars soon enough. They are everything we need. “It's a great looking car, the right size, and the right range of powertrains.” And despite the 12-month delay before the arrival of the new Megane, Smith says the Megane sedan will take Renault part of the way through next year, but he says there will be a gap between the two. Despite the delay, Smith says Renault Australia plans to be aggressive with their pricing, although he can't commit to a significant reduction from the current stickers, which run from $24,990 for the Megane sedan and $26,990 for the hatch. “We'll aim to be in the largest segment of the market pricing below where we are at the moment and with the same product.”  

A purpose-built 4x4 track at the Australian International Motor Show offers visitors the chance to evaluate a range of different vehicles.Show-goers are able to experience as close to a real-life off-roading situation as you can get in the city.Exhibiting 4WD brands are:Hyundai - Santa FeJeep - WranglerKia - Sportage, SorentoLexus - LX 570Mitsubishi - Triton GLX-R, PajeroNissan - X-TRAIL Turbo DieselRenault - KoleosToyota - Landcruiser 200Volkswagen - TouaregVisitors to the show interested in a particular 4x4 will receive a VIP pass to the 4x4 track to experience the vehicle’s performance and are driven around the track by a professional driver.Track is built to demonstrate the abilities of each vehicle and obstacles are designed to demonstrate the vehicles’ increasingly advanced technology and abilities.The see-saw gives an indication of vehicle balance, the hill structure tests traction and control, the moguls and rocks show-off ground clearance and the new addition of the u-turn at the end of the track demonstrates the tightness of the turning circleThe vehicles navigate the track in slow motion; just as experienced four-wheel-drivers would approach such obstacles in real-life situations.

Not that the end result is always what the rest of the world desires.Renault learned that with its quirky Vel Satis - altogether too different for anyone outside France - and even the decisive big-butt Megane. This time, however, the French polish on a decidedly non-French segment could see Renault on a winner.The Koleos is claimed to be the first French off-roader on the Aussie market -true, if you ignore Renault's failed soft-road makeover of the Scenic.“This is the most important product for Renault since the relaunch into Australia in 2001,” Renault Australia boss Rudi Koenig says. “It doesn't matter who you are, you have to have the product. For us, it's the Koleos.“We tried with the Scenic but that didn't really work. With the Koleos we will go from competing in 34 per cent of the market to 40 per cent ... that is very significant.”Renault has thought long and hard to give the Koleos every chance in one of the most competitive segments in Australia. Renault hopes to sell 150 Koleos a month, sales Koenig is confident will be largely incremental.It will launch in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations with a mix and match of petrol and diesel engines with manual, automatic and CVT (continuously variable transmission) gearboxes.The end result is not as complex as it may seem with two levels of trim and six variants.The entry-level 4x2 comes in Dynamique trim with 2.5-litre petrol and 6-speed manual at $29,990. You can add $3000 for the CVT.The 4WD version of the trim, also in petrol and coupled to the CVT, is $36,990. The twin diesels, essentially the same engine but in 127kW trim for the 6-speed manual or a detuned 110kW to stop the 6-speed automatic box overheating, are 4WD at $39,990.At the top of the tree is the petrol CVT in Privilege trim at $41,990.Standard fare is six airbags, stability control, electronic handbrake, 17-inch alloys, cruise control, a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and dual-zone airconditioning.The Privilege steps up with front and rear parking sensors, hands-free entry and engine start, seven-speaker Bose sound system, leather trim, heated front seats and easy-fold rear seats, 12V socket in the boot, removable centre bin and various storage options.Metallic paint is an $800 option, a panoramic glass sunroof is $1890 and bi-Xenon headlights (for Privilege only) are $1950.Based on the Nissan X-Trail platform, using the selectable Nissan 4WD system and a petrol engine from Nissan - the twin-tune diesel is from Renault's own stable - it is what Renault has done with the style and character of the Koleos that sets it apart.There is nothing boxy and off-road about the look of the Koleos. It retains a good degree of SUV - command seating and higher ride - but in a manner that won't draw snarls and glares around the school gate.“While the Koleos is capable of getting off-road, it is the urban jungle that it will occupy most,” Renault Australia marketing boss Christophe di-Perna says. “There is no reason why you should have to sacrifice comfort.”While the exterior differentiates from the X-Trail, it is on the inside and on the move that the gulf widens. There is little about the cabin that is truly quirky. Stylish is about as long a leash as the Renault fashionistas were allowed.The materials look and feel richer than the price suggests, particularly in the lighter trim. The instrument binnacle is well set out and easy to read and most controls are readily to hand.Space is good, although rear leg room is not for anyone planning a career in basketball. Headroom is generous throughout.There are no such caveats with cargo space. The 450 litres available behind the seats - 1380 with the rear seats folded - gains from easy access through the horizontally-split tailgate.On the go the Koleos is no sports car, though it doesn't claim to be. The suspension is compliant to the point of softness, yet on extremely broken suburban roads it behaves admirably. Pushed along on open sections there is significant body roll, but it is not an environment where many Koleos will spend significant time. Neither is it that disconcerting.Steering is vague but, with exceptions such as the Mazda CX-7, is the norm for the urban SUV.All three engines have their charm. The pick is the 127kW and 360Nm 2.0-litre diesel but that comes coupled only to the six-speed manual - a considerable deterrent to many.So if you are not towing - the manual is rated at two tonnes while the auto drops to just 1350kg - there is little given up by choosing the lesser automatic diesel.The 126kW 2.5-litre petrol, coupled to the CVT is likely to be the top seller, not only because it is the only combination availablein both 4x2 and 4xs4. It is a fine light-duty combination around town with good take-off and acceptable mid-range. If you take the Koleos away from made roads the 4x4 models won't disappoint - and why should they, using the same capable system used in the X-Trail.

Spain's Fernando Alonso snapped a year-long win drought to take the Singapore Grand Prix last night, winning a drama-filled first ever night race as a comical error cost Felipe Massa dearly.It was the Renault driver's first victory since the Italian Grand Prix last year and capped a remarkable weekend that saw him top two of the free practice sessions but start 15th on the grid after a mechanical problem in qualifying.He claimed his 20th career triumph by 2.95sec over Germany's Nico Rosberg in a Williams and Britain's world championship leader Lewis Hamilton in third. Toyota driver Timo Glock was fourth with Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel following up his win in Italy this month with fifth. BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld took sixth. Australia's Mark Webber retired on lap 32.The race was a new experience for every driver on a street circuit under powerful spotlights and it turned out to be one of the most exciting of the season.Despite dark clouds lurking, Singapore's notorious tropical downpours stayed away and the whole race was run in dry, but hot and humid conditions.Ferrari's Massa started from pole but a disastrous mistake cost him the race and valuable points in his push for the world title. His 13th place finish means he is now seven points behind Hamilton in the championship hunt with just three Grands Prix left at Japan, China and Brazil.The Brazilian was in the pits on lap 15 when he was given the green light and drove off with the fuel hose still attached to his car, leaving one of the pit crew floored and subsequently carted off in a neck brace. Massa ended up sitting in his Ferrari at the end of the pit lane as the crew ran after him and managed to pull the hose free, but it ruined his chances. He was given a drive-through penalty and rejoined in 18th place.It was a miserable night for Ferrari with defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen ramming his car into the barriers with just four laps to go, ending his race.The Massa drama occurred after the cars came in when Nelson Piquet careered into the wall on the exit from turn 17, bouncing into the barriers on the other side of the track, causing massive damage to his Renault. He climbed out unscathed but the safety car was deployed. 

With sales of SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) continuing to boom, the Renault Koleos and Skoda Octavia Scout 4X4 will both enter the fiercely contested SUV Compact segment.Sales in the segment have grown 2.9 per cent so far this year and 18.2 per cent over the last five years.The Koleos is Renault's first-ever purpose-designed SUV and has been developed in co-operation with alliance partner Nissan.The Czech-built Scout is derived from Skoda's Octavia wagon, but it adds protective body cladding, additional ride height and an all-wheel drive transmission system.Both SUVs are claimed to offer better-than-class-average off-road ability.Skoda says the Scout's flexibility is thanks to a second-generation Haldex clutch mechanism, which allows power to be transferred more quickly between the front and rear wheels when required to provide increased traction on loose surfaces.The Renault's drivetrain draws on Nissan's four-wheel drive expertise and includes all-terrain functions such as Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).Along with all-wheel drive, both Skoda and Renault offer advanced direct injection 2.0-litre diesel engines with their new models.The Koleos features several practical innovations including a split-opening, clamshell-type tailgate. Interior innovations include an air-chilled glovebox and folding tables mounted in the backs of the front seats.The Octavia Scout 4X4 boasts up to 1620 litres of load space with the rear seats folded, and two luggage nets for securing items while driving.Detailed specifications and pricing for both the Renault and Skoda SUVs are expected to be announced in time for the Motor Show.The Koleos and Scout will be amongst more than 30 new models unveiled when the Australian International Motor Show opens at Sydney's Darling Harbour on October 9.

The spanking Clio RenaultSport 182 left Australia in 2006, the victim of a plunging exchange rate. “This was not an entry-level car — it was a true performance hot hatch and with the dramatic fall in the exchange rate and the strengthening of the Euro we simply could not get it at a price that made any sense,” Renault Australia boss Rudi Koenig explained this week on the eve of the car's return.“We have been discussing ... arguing ... this new car with France for the past two years. We simply could not get it at a price that made sense in our market.”The end game from those discussions is the introduction of the high-end, small volume RenaultSport 197. Welcome back Sport. PRICINGAt $36,490 it is almost 10 per cent more than its predecessor but you can have any colour you like as long as it's red. Other colours are available but they are metallic and will cost you an extra $800. The paint is one of a small list of options which also include bi-Xenon headlights ($1750), sunroof ($1890) and upgraded sound system ($800).What comes standard is far more impressive — including the adrenalin rush.Renault has taken the opportunity to stretch its Sports garage a little further by also launching the Megane RenaultSport dCi 175 — a diesel sibling to the 2.0-litre Turbo 225. The Sport 175 is priced at $39,990 with metallic paint the only option.As with the best skunkwork cars, the 197 is not just a fancy version of a Clio running down the production line next to more mundane models. CHASSISThe cars come off the RenaultSport factory line in Dieppe, France, stretched, widened, lowered and tweaked by the same engineering crew that puts Renault's F1 cars on the grid.In the case of the 197 the donor Clio IIIplatform has been stretched with 10mm extra on the wheelbase, 48mm extra track width in the front and 50mm in the rearm, while the ride height has been dropped 15mm.Extensive use of aluminium in the innovative double axis strut front suspension gives a saving of 7.5kg over a comparative MacPherson system but, more importantly, it isolates the steering axis from the damping system, effectively eliminating torque steer.The Clio 197 shares its stiffend subframe with the Megane Sport 225 with the rear anti-roll bar 200 per cent larger at 30mm. DRIVETRAINSWork on the normally aspirated 16-valve 2.0-litre engine — the same basic unit from the previous 182 model — has been extensive, lifting peak power to 145kW (the 197hp for which the car is named) at an enthusiastic 7250rpm while torque peaks at 215Nm at 5550rpm.On raw figures the 197 is no firecracker witha 0-100km/h sprint of 6.9 seconds, yet it drives and excites above its numbers.Much of the work on the engine has centred around optimised intake and exhaust port flow and an increase in compression to 11.5:1, lifting performance and lowering emissions.Attention has been paid to the aural sensations in the 197. From a discreet but noticeable tone at lower speeds the exhaust rises with the revs to produce a signature bark at redline. APPEARANCEThe 197's aero kit is subtle but as high-tech as it comes. No huge spoilers for this little one — although one is available if you must for $429 — instead just F1 know-how. The key to the car's road-holding is a rear diffuser, something rarely seen on cars in this class, which is effective for negative lift of 40kg at track speeds of 120km/h and over without any other aerodynamic penalty.A set of side-mounted extractor vents carry heat away from the engine while a huge front spoiler air intake feeds cool air to the powerplant.The RenaultSport theme flows through the interior of the car with aluminium pedals, super-supportive and bolstered seats, easy-to-read white-on-black dash graphics and sport steering wheel with red-stitched centre-point which, disappointingly, is adjustable for rake only.The 197 has Renault's expected 5-star safety rating with eight airbags, active headrests, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution as well as a switchable electronic stability program tuned to allow a greater degree of sports application.Other standard equipment includes 17-inch sports alloys, a multi-function trip computer, cruise control, single CD AM/FM and split folding rear seats. DRIVINGOn the road the 197 behaves as you would expect from a highly-tuned athlete that has discarded comfort in favour of performance.The ride is harsh — but never unsettled — while the steering is well-connected and is weighted heavily enough to give no impression of nervousness. Power delivery is linear enough and you are going to get through the gears at a fair clip — aided in no small part by the aggressive ratio selection for the slick new six-speed shifter.So sports-oriented are the gears that when cruising along in the top there is an almost overwhelming need to check that there is not just one more cog available.All of that equates to a car that is every bit — if not a little more — as at home on the track.The smoother surface, more aggressive direction changes and dancing up and down through the gears gives the 197 its sense of being. It belongs to those happy to work for their fun.The diesel Sport is a slightly different animal. While power may be down a little for a sports model, at 127kW, the car's character is defined by 360Nm of urge on tap from just 2000rpm.Sitting on the same cup chassis as its petrol stablemate, with only the front dampers and springs recalibrated for the engine's extra weight, the 175 behaves with impressive enthusiasm.Handling is surprisingly nimble with none of the `lead tip' characteristics of some diesels.And it all comes with a combined consumption of just 6.3 litres per 100km. RENAULTSPORT CLIO 197Price: $36,490Engine: 2.0L/4cyl, 145kW/215NmTransmission: 6-speed manualEconomy: 8.4L/100km claimed RENAULTSPORT MEGANE cDi 175Price: $39,990Engine: 2L/4cyl turbo diesel, 127kW/360NmTransmission: 6-speed manualEconomy: 6.3L/100km claimed 

That is the sad message from Renault Australia on the hottest hatch yet from the French maker, the R26.R. “All the cars are pre-sold. We won't even be able to get one to display at motor shows,” says Craig Smith of Renault Australia. Yet the Renaultsport R26.R is a serious happening for Renault, which has used the go-faster Meganes as a big showroom attraction. Two Renaultsport Meganes have been a limited-edition sellout in Australia and the company is just about to put a Renaultsport Clio into the local line-up. The R26.R is developed from the existing 230 F1 Team R26, named after the company's Formula One racer, and has a big track focus. The cabin has a full rollcage, racing seats and harnesses. There's more, from a carbon-fibre bonnet to polycarbonate windows to cut weight by 123kg for a significant performance boost using the regular R26 turbo motor. Side and curtain airbags, the sound system, airconditioning and heated rear window have been removed.  

Briton Lewis Hamilton opened up a clear lead in this year's Formula One drivers' world championship last night by winning a thrilling German Grand Prix for McLaren Mercedes-Benz.It was the 23-year-old Englishman's second win in succession — the first driver to do so this year — and his fourth this season and eighth of his career, a feat that hauled him clear of all rivals and gave McLaren its first win here in 10 years.Hamilton finished first after being forced to dominate the race and then, after two safety car interventions, regain the lead thanks to the cautious strategy of the McLaren team.He drove brilliantly, passing both Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari and then Massa's compatriot, Nelson Piquet of Renault, with bold moves in the final laps.Hamilton finished 5.5 seconds ahead of Piquet, who claimed the first podium of his career. Massa was third.Hamilton leads the standings by four points from Massa, whose Ferrari team-mate, defending champion Kimi Raikkonen, is seven points adrift after finishing a disappointing sixth.Hamilton had dominated the first half of the race after powering away from the ninth pole position of his career.The Geneva-based driver had built-up a lead of about 12 seconds by lap 36 when Timo Glock crashed out in his Toyota. Glock lost control of his car at the last corner when the right rear tyre suddenly deflated, sending him spearing into a wall.The German, 26, slid backwards down the home straight before his wrecked car finally came to a stop. Glock was clearly dazed after he got out of the car and was later taken to the medical centre.Hamilton was kept out on the track as all his main rivals made their final pit-stops under the safety car.He dropped to fifth when he was forced to make his final pit-stop, but soon passed team-mate Heikki Kovalainen for third spot.Hamilton then hunted down Massa, overtaking his rival on lap 57.Australian Mark Webber failed to finish after crashing out on the 41st lap.