Renault Scenic E-Tech Reviews

But there are no travel documents for Australia yet. The local arm of the French brand has apparently made a New Year's resolution to focus on the current Megane range for 2012 and Renault Australia's Emily Ambrosy says the facelifted Megane is not likely to appear in Australia this year but wouldn't detail a 2013 timeframe. "We only introduced Megane hatch and RS250 into Australia at the end of 2010, for us it's still a relatively new vehicle to our line-up - because of that it is too early to confirm anything on timing, pricing, specification, or engines for our phase 2. We'll be focussing on our current product for 2012," she says. Renault head-office has introduced changes to the Megane range, the most comprehensive of which dwell beneath the bonnet. The French marque is introducing three new engines to the Megane on its home turf. The three new Energy engines have Stop and Start and brake energy recovery systems; the new Megane will bring with it the first direct-injection turbo petrol engine -  the Energy TCe 115 1.2-litre replaces the 1.6-litre 16V, producing  86kW and 190Nm of torque (up 4kW and 40Nm over the 1.6-litre engine), with fuel consumption down as much as 25 per cent to 5.3 litres/100km. Megane MY12 will get two diesel engines - the dCi 110 and 130. The diesel Energy dCi 110 1.5-litre engine is the top-selling powerplant according to Renault, with fuel use down by 12 per cent to 3.8l/100km, a 20Nm jump in torque to 260Nm, with around 82kW of power. The Energy dCi 130 1.6-litre diesel engine produces 79kW and 320Nm of torque, with a combined-cycle thirst of 4 litres/100km, a 20 per cent reduction. Small styling changes have been wrought on the front end, with the addition of  LED daytime running lights, a gloss-black bumper with chrome touches, as well as new-look wheel designs. The interior options have grown to include a two-tone leather/alcantara pack available in three variations, as well as a Bose version and GT models with LED lights, a sports steering wheel and red-stitched sports trim. Megane will be offered (at least in its home market for now) with the "Visio System" which uses a windscreen-mounted camera to control the use of high-beam (above 45km/h) when the level of lighting drops or when no cars are detected. The camera is also used by the lane departure warning system, which monitors the car's road position and indicator use and warns the driver if the systems decides the driver is drifting across lanes. Also on the features list for the new car is a hill-start assistance system, Bluetooth phone and audio link, USB input, satnav a rear camera, dual-zone climate control with an air quality sensor with automatic recirculation. The RS versions of the Megane also get an upgrade, with 11kW and 20Nm on offer when Sport mode is called up, as well as a revised soundtrack and interior trim improvements. The Renault Megane, manufactured in Palencia, Spain, is the brand's top-selling model in Australia as well as globally - sales exceed 235,000 units worldwide in 2011 and 730,000 units since its launch at the end of 2008. Megane MY12 will go on sale from March in Europe and then other markets - not including Australia - through the course of the year. Ms Ambrosy says the 2012 sales result of 3622 vehicles was the French brand's best Australian effort since 2002. "The brand was reintroduced it in 2001 and sold 1960, in 2002 they sold 4572, it tapered off after that - it's exciting for us as it shows the new direction and product, which is a very affordable proposition and great value," she says. The company has had an inconsistent history when it comes to quality and reliability but the new-generation product is aiming to change that. "We're showing people how reliable it is with the five-year warranty - we're happy with our warranty claims. Since the new Koleos was introduced in 2008, we've had a decrease of 57 per cent in warranty claims, it's a tremendous turnaround for the brand," she says. "We've just appointed a new LCV manager to drive that business, Renault LCVs are number one in Europe and has been for the last 12 years, they are great vans and we see huge potential in that area." The light-commercial side of the ledger also improved, with a 72 per cent increase to 615 light commercial vehicles sales increase with 615 Trafic vans, with more to come on that front from the new Renault Master this year. Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar was thrilled with the sales result. "This result is proof that our strategy of de-positioning our vehicles and providing greater value to our customers was the right approach for Renault Australia," he says.

... networked EV charging stations now installed in all our mainland capital cities. EV infrastructure provider ChargePoint has just completed two public charging outlets in Perth, adding to existing sites in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Townsville, the Sunshine Coast and Adelaide and bringing the total number of the company's charging outlets up to 50. The move precedes this year's (2012) local introduction of electric vehicles ranging from the Nissan Leaf and Renault Fluence ZE. CEO James Brown says it is a sign of things to come. "With major car manufacturers moving rapidly to bring EVs on line, the country needs state-of-the-art infrastructure to support them and we are providing that," he says. "It is anticipated that several thousand charging stations will be located throughout Australia over the next three years as electric vehicles gain market share". ChargePoint says operating the open access charging stations is straightforward and only requires use of a free network card, available from ChargePoint (either online from www.chargepoint.com.au or by phoning 1300 300 885).

Honda Civic and Renault Megane go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Renault Australia has had some success with its Koleos compact SUV particularly with incentive pricing and again when the cheaper front wheel drive model arrived. But in three years, it never really took off. That could change for the appealing Korean with French and Japanese antecedents following the arrival of a revised version complete with a cuter face, minor body tweaks and more features. It faces possibly the stiffest competition in a crowded compact SUV segment. But Renault Australia has puished the right buttons adding satellite navigation as standard to all models, and black leather upholstery with contrast stitching to the volume selling mid-specification Dynamique model. The top-of-the-range Privilege model comes with a panoramic glass roof and now adds bi-xenon headlamps with fixed cornering lights and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. There's a new signature colour, Cayenne Orange, available across the range, that makes Koleos stand out in any car park. Koleos Dynamique and Privilege models score the innovative child-minder mirror which allows the driver to easily view the rear seat occupants a particularly useful feature for parents of young children. The Koleos benefits from family-adventure friendly storage cubbies, flexible seating adjustment and load carrying solutions, a full armoury of passive and active safety systems and the seal of approval of a five star EuroNCAP crash-test rating. Renault has been able to bring this generously equipped vehicle here with a kick off drive-away price of $29,990 for the Expression 4x2 manual. The Koleos range offers a choice of engines lifted from Nissan's X-Trail: a 2.5-litre petro and a Renault designed 2.0-litre dCi turbo-diesel, four-cylinder. The diesel delivers better fuel economy and lower emissions than the outgoing model. The all wheel drive model boasts  real off-road ability and Renault says it's ideal for escaping from the urban jungle to the great outdoors thanks to its Nissan-derived all-wheel drive traction system (4x4 only). There are three generously equipped trim levels, Expression (petrol only, 4x2 only), Dynamique and the range-topping Privilege (petrol only, 4x4 only). Numerous options are available including parking sensors, hands-free entry and ignition, joystick-operated integrated satellite navigation, Hill Descent Control and Hill Start Assist. Koleos gets a factory-backed,  five year/ unlimited kilometre warranty and five year road side assistance.

Renault, established in 1898, has always been as French as crepes suzettes, pommes frites and the guillotine. But its latest model, the Latitude, has a Nissan engine  and it's built in Korea by Samsung. That said, the luxury sedan, Renault's biggest yet in Australia, is quite a car.With a longitude of just on 4.9m, about the same as a Commodore or a BMW 5 Series, it has the panache to steal sales from any rivals in the $35,000 to $45,000 bracket. The elegant car comes in 2.5litre V6 petrol and 2.0litre turbo-diesel form and in standard and Luxe (say it 'looxe') trim.Prices are from $36,990, for the standard model and $42,490 for the Luxe version, in either petrol or diesel. It's considerably less than the Laguna, which is being phased out.A big attraction is a new five-year, unlimited distance warranty plus five years of 24/7 roadside assistance, which applies not only to the Latitude, but also most of the new Renault passenger range. Also new is the brand's own financial services arm.The Latitude is different in that it does not have the customary Renault quirky styling. It has conventional good looks and is very well-equipped.Standard high-end fare includes integrated SatNav, an Arkamys 3D sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, smart card key, power adjustable and heated driver's seat, rake and reach adjustable steering wheel and dual climate control.The car rides on 17-inch alloys, has an automatic parking brake, rear window sunblinds, tinted windows, leather trim and a 60/40 splitfold back seat. The Luxe has a Bose audio system, three-zone climate control, an air ioniser, power driver's seat with massage function, 18-inch alloys and a vast panoramic electric glass sunroof. There's also a reversing camera and an electrochromatic mirror.Owners don't really need to open the bonnet. All the info on essentials, like oil and coolant levels and even the tyre pressures, are available on the neat and conventional dashboard.That's all tres bien, but what about the ride?It's another plus.Sprung on MacPherson struts with a multi-link system in the tail, the spacious sedan was a pleasure on the fast sweeping roads and undulations of the terrain north-west of Byron Bay.Comfort levels are high, there's ample space for five and the boot, which holds a full-sized spare, is long and wide, with 477litres of cargo accommodation. More a comfy tourer than a sporty model, the Latitude has fine steering and handling qualities and we felt fresh as a young grenouille after a day's driving.The V6 produces 133kW and 235Nm and average fuel economy is 9.7litres/100km. The diesel whacks out 127kW and a mighty 380Nm, which handled the steep inclines with Gallic disdain and claims to deliver 6.5l/100km. We recorded 7.7litres/100km on our quicker than average run. Both engines drive the front wheels via a smooth six-speed automatic with manual sequential override.Safety gear includes six airbags, ABS, ESP, speed limiter, cruise control, parking radar and auto-on lights and wipers.As le package complete, the Latitude is a good proposition, especially for people who like a bit of individuality. It's a well-finished product of the combined expertise of Renault Samsung Motors and the latest Renault-Nissan Alliance  and it comes with the best warranty of any Euromobile.For our money, the pick would be the Luxe diesel, but Renault expects a 60/40 split in favour of the petrol version. Either way, it's a handsome smoothie that the makers see as an alternative to the ubiquitous machines cluttering up the landscape. Bon chance. 

Two of Italy’s top adventure athletes - Marco Ponteri, 38, and Telemaco Murgia, 37 - will contest the gruelling five-day event in Tasmania wilderness. The Team Pirelli pair are both champion mountain bike, trail running and kayaking athletes, but will be up against stiff competition from around the world. Created by the Formula One driver in 2003, the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge raises funds for the Mark Webber Foundation which has donated than $1 million for charities such as the ‘Leukemia Foundation’ and ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil’ Appeal. During the event from December 7-11, teams will compete in stages of climbs and abseiling at Freycinet Peninsula, paddling along the coastal cliffs and hidden bays of the Tasman Peninsula, running and mountain biking across the forests of Bruny Island and Alpine terrain, plus a spectacular ropes course, a whitewater paddling leg and one of the longest stretches of downhill bike riding in the island state. Mark Webber says he welcomes the news that Pirelli had secured two of Italy’s best adventure athletes to compete in the Challenge. “The calibre of both Marco Ponteri and Telemaco Murgia as Team Pirelli raises the bar for all involved in the event,” Webber says. “It will be quite a sight to see them demonstrate their extraordinary skills and we are thrilled to have them on board.” Ponteri, who regularly competes in adventure events across the world, says he is eager to push himself to the limit in the Challenge. “It is an exciting opportunity to take part in such a unique competition in what must be one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the world,” Ponteri says. “I am very proud to be representing Pirelli and Italy in such a wonderful event, which not only will test the strength and endurance of the athletes but ultimately deliver some good outcomes to a diverse range of charities.” Pirelli Tyres Australia managing director Alessandro Marchi says the event is a great fit for the Italian brand. “Our further engagement in this exciting adventure race and the causes it supports, through the Mark Webber Foundation, is part of a long Pirelli tradition of taking part in community projects and activities all over the world that contribute to education, health and research,” he says. “We look forward to welcoming ‘Team Pirelli’ to Tasmania and cheering them on as they test their skills and strength in some of the most pristine wilderness in the world.”

A mildly restyled Nissan Micra, it is scheduled for release in January 2012. Given Renault Australia's expansion plans, it may be under consideration for local consumption. The third of five vehicles to be launched in India in just over a year, Pulse is designed to appeal to the broadest customer segment. It follows on Fluence and Koleos launched earlier this year. This rapid rollout highlights Renault's commitment to the Indian market. Pulse comes equipped with the 1.5 dCi engine that ranks best-in-class in terms of fuel consumption and performance. Both car and engines are built in Chennai in the first dedicated Renault-Nissan vehicle manufacturing plant, inaugurated in 2010 to support the Alliance's ambitions on the Indian market.

While the focus until now has been cutting the harmful engine emissions of cars, commercial vehicles should not be overlooked. Utes and vans and the like make up about 20 per cent of the vehicles sold in Australia and most of them probably clock up more kilometres each year than the average family car.With this in mind it's comforting to learn French car maker Renault has produced an electric version of its small delivery van the Kangoo - as well as the electric Fluence sedan. We drove both vehicles on a recent visit to Portugal but to be frank it was the Kangoo ZE that was more impressive.The Kangoo is targeted at business customers looking for an economical solution but one that is more "respectful" of the environment.Maybe it was the fact that we had lower expectations of the van, but we reckon it was the better drive. To put this in perspective we drove the 1.5-litre diesel version of the Kangoo not too long ago.While its a tough little competitor, the electric version could easily replace it and save operators of small fleets money into the bargain. Imagine a dozen of these things with a range of 170km which that take less than $100 a month to charge? It'd be perfect for a city-based delivery service like a courier or florist for instance.In Europe the battery is leased through the Better Place company which charges the equivalent of $95 a month which includes the power. Over there 70 per cent of delivery vans travel less than 100km a day.Renault has not confirmed whether it is bringing the Kangoo ZE to Australia, but given its strong desire to have us drive the vehicle it's a fair bet.The Kangoo ZE comes in two sizes, short and long wheelbase as well as a five-seat passenger version  - all with a 650kg carrying capacity. With a 22kWh battery that weighs about 260kg the ZE it has a range of about 150km from a single charge. The electric motor produces 44kW of power and 226Nm of torque. More importantly maximum torque (the important half of the equation) is available from zero revs. The battery does not intrude in anyway into the cargo area of the van which has the same capacity as the diesel.Unlike the Fluence however the battery cannot be swapped for a fully charged one. It must be plugged into a charge point to be recharged which takes six to eight hours or less with a commercial grade charger. The battery is mounted horizontally beneath the floor.The smaller lighter van is surprisingly nippy to drive and the pick of the bunch. The larger versions feel considerably heavier but the extra weight has little impact on power consumption. The harder you drive the van less range it has, but an eco button limits the speed of the van and can boost range by up to 10 per cent.With less moving parts Renault estimates maintenance costs are 20 per cent less than a petrol or diesel powered vehicle. That will also appeal to savvy fleet operators. With electricity something like 10 cents a kilowatt hour, it's a powerful argument.

The electric-only Renault Kangoo ZE compact van is being hailed as an eco friendly model that will match the running costs of existing combustion-engined version. Renault Australia says the business case to bring the electric Kangoo is ‘well advanced’ although it is still waiting for the final green light. That means it is not clear when the vehicle might be available locally, but Working Wheels understands it could happen within the next two to three years. One of the vehicle’s advantages is the reduced maintenance cost, with estimated savings of 20 per cent. The savings would come from not having to worry about oil changes, timing belts, air filters or fuel filters. Running costs are also cut by a dramatic reduction in fuel bills, with the actual cost per km dependent on electricity prices in various areas. There is no way to tell how much the electric Kangoo would cost by the time it came to Australia, but the European model will cost the equivalent of $26,700. However, there will also be a $100 per month battery lease. Currently, there are no considerable incentives for eco-friendly vehicles in Australia, but many European governments offer financial assistance for electric vehicle purchases. For example, in France, the Kangoo would attract a $5000 subsidy. The Kangoo ZE features an electric motor (44kW and 226Nm) in the engine bay, which is fed by a 22kWh (kiloWatt hour) lithium ion battery that sits behind the front seats and below the load floor. Renault says the vehicle has a range of 170km, when driven according to the same test that determines the fuel consumption ratings for internal combustion-engined vehicles, although this is dependent on the way the vehicle is driven. The payload is 650kg, while the load volume ranges from 3m3 to 3.5m3. Renault says the recharging time, using a wall-mounted Renault charger, is between six and eight hours. It will be possible to top up at public charging centres (which are way more prominent in Europe than Australia), but it will take an hour to gain an extra 20km of range.

By 2020 it's predicted that 1 in 10 cars will be electric vehicles. At the moment there's only a smattering of electric vehicles or EVs as they are called in Australia and not all of them are for sale to the public yet.There's the tiny Mitsubishi i-MIEV, the Lotus-based Tesla sports car and Nissan's hatchback LEAF, 16 of which are being trialled by the Victorian Government.Joining them soon will be the Renault Fluence ZE, an electric, zero emissions version of the French car maker's mid-sized sedan. The big difference between Fluence and other EVs is that it's entire battery can be swapped for a fully charged one greatly extending its range.Range or more specifically lack of it is one of the major drawbacks of EVs that can normally travel only 100km or so before they need to be recharged.Also, being new technology, until now EVs have been prohibitively expensive. Due to to arrive in showrooms towards the end of next year, we travelled to Portugal this week where we were able to drive the Renault Fluence ZE.VALUERenault has not set a price yet but has indicated it will be under $40,000 and that it will be generously equipped. To that figure, however, must be added the cost of the battery which will be supplied separately under a lease arrangement by Better Place based in Melbourne.With branches in the Israel, Denmark and the United States, the company has been formed to provide the necessary infrastructure that will make electric vehicles possible.It's not talking prices either, but overseas customers are paying $110 a month which includes the power itself but there could be an additional charge for the home charging station. The power by the way is all `green' power.TECHNOLOGYAt 4.75m the ZE is 180kg heavier and 13cm longer than the standard model. The extra length accommodates the battery which sits vertically behind the rear seat. The electric motor generates 70kW of power and 226Nm of torque.There's no gears or gearbox as such, just forward and reverse and it has a top speed of 135km/h. Full torque is available from zero revs and it can accelerate to 100km/h in 13.0 seconds (petrol model does it in 10.1).With a capacity of 22kW/h the car has a range of 185km on a single charge, but this varies a lot depending on conditions and the way you drive. Apart from a smallish boot, it's in all other respects just a normal car.DRIVINGNot bad. It's certainly no golf buggy. It feels and performs like a real car, not some pretend one and could easily replace that gas guzzler in the driveway. It's much quieter of course and throttle response was slow at times but generally okay, providing you're not expecting a V8. It can even be punted hard through corners without coming unstuck.We particularly like the braking effect provided by the engine going downhill. But we suspect the hard, low roll resistance Goodyears could be harsh on our roads. A sophisticated GPS-based management system keeps track of power usage and let's you know when and where to find a charge or battery swap station if needed.RECHARGINGRenault and Better Place believe 90 per cent of customers will charge the car when they get home at night. This takes from 6 and 8 hours but for longer journeys the idea is to call into one of the Quick Drop stations that will be established where a depleted battery can be replaced with a fully charged one, a process which takes about five minutes.Both the power supplied this way and at home is provided free as part of the lease deal. If you spend $80 or more a week on petrol Better Place claims it will save you money.VERDICTYou better get used to the idea. It's the way of the future and as the technology gets better so will the cars (and their range). The price of oil is only going to go up, not to mention the environmental consequences of continuing to pump CO2 into the atmosphere.The very fact we've been driving this car suggests the change is closer than you think. It's simply a matter of making the decision to switch.