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Renault Twizy priced at $9,923* in UK, reservations begin

Filed under: Europe, Renault, UK, Specialty, Electric

2011 Renault Twizy – Click above for high-res image gallery

Renault announced at the Barcelona Motor Show that it’s now accepting online reservations for its pair of electric Twizy models. The Twizy 45 starts at the bargain-basement price of just €6,990 (that’s only $9,923 U.S. at today’s exchange rate). Of course, at that price, you still need to lease the battery, and Renault says that adds €45 ($64 U.S.) per month. The €6,990 price is only for the Twizy 45, which is powered by a five-horsepower electric motor and can be driven without a license in some countries.

The Renault Twizy (not to be confused with the Twizy 45) is equipped with a 17-hp motor and is available in two trims: Urban and Technic, which start at €7,690 ($10,884 U.S.) and €8,490 ($12,016 U.S.), respectively. Leasing the battery pack for these Twizy models will cost you €49 ($70 U.S.) a month.

The Renault Twizy models are due to go on sale at the end of 2011 in Europe. Reservations can be made by clicking here. Hat tip to Guillaume!

Renault Twizy priced at $9,923* in UK, reservations begin originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autocar puts the Renault Twizy through its paces

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Videos, Renault, Electric

2012 Renault Twizy

2012 Renault Twizy – Click above to view video at Autocar

Autocar got its hands on the 2012 Renault Twizy and took the opportunity to put the electric scooter-cum-city car through its paces. The two-seat runabout isn’t due until March, 2012, when it’ll hit the streets of Europe hoping to be the next big thing in the microcar segment.

While the diminutive Renault may look like a glorified golf cart, and manages a lowly 47-mph top speed, it picks up with gusto and handles well, thanks to its mass being concentrated close to the ground. As you may imagine for a car of its size, it zips around a tight cone course with no issues.

Couple the Twizy’s impressive dynamics with an 80-mile range, and you have a viable scooter alternative for those who just can’t stand the incessant buzzing of a 50cc engine. The chances of the Twizy ever arriving in the States is nil, thanks to its microscopic girth and limited range. Head to Autocar to see the review for yourself.

Autocar puts the Renault Twizy through its paces originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 May 2011 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Renault answers demand with Laguna Monaco GP edition

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Renault

Renault Laguna Coupe Monaco GP

Renault Laguna Coupe Monaco GP – Click above for image gallery

A few months back, Renault launched a special edition of its Laguna coupe called the Monaco GP edition. Only 400 examples were earmarked for production, available exclusively in the automaker’s domestic market. They proved an instant hit, selling out in short order. To satisfy customers’ demand for more, Renault has announced a second run of the cars.

The Laguna Monaco GP starts off as Black Edition coupe and upgrades from there. The Pearlescent White body is offset by the black roof and black Interlagos 18-inch alloys, while the high-contrast treatment is continued inside the cabin. As shown above, customers can also opt for black paint for a more sinister look.

French buyers can also choose between two diesels at 150 or 175 horsepower, with an options list ranging from four-wheel steering to a Bose sound system. It’s a sleek-looking coupe, particularly in this treatment, even if the powertrains don’t exactly live up to the Monaco GP racing designation. Follow the jump for more details and check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Renault Laguna Coupe Monaco GP

[Source: Renault]

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Renault answers demand with Laguna Monaco GP edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Renault admits wrongful termination in espionage case

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Renault

Paris prosecutor Jean Claude Marin charges Renault employee

Renault says it wrongfully fired three of its executives, Michael Balthazard, Bertrand Rochette and Matthieu Tenenbaum, on suspicion of industrial espionage. The admission comes after French authorities looked into the company’s dismissal of the men and determined that Renault’s accusations against them were baseless.

Now, Renault has the embarrassing task of meeting with the execs and figuring out a way to compensate them for the loss of their jobs and the scrutiny that comes with this kind of accusation. Renault originally claimed that the execs had satellite bank accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein where they hid funds for spying.

Renault says it’s now looking at another employee as a possible spying suspect. Renault is also imposing sanctions against those who were involved in the original terminations, including Dominique Gevrey, the head of security who led the original investigation. Gevrey has been charged by French authorities, led by Paris prosecutor Jean Claude Marin (above) with organized fraud for his hand in the firings. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

[Source: Financial Times via Business Week | Image: Christophe Ena/AP]

Report: Renault admits wrongful termination in espionage case originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pininfarina names Renault’s Fabio Filippini as design director

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Design/Style

Fabio Filippini

Independent design studios and coachbuilders – the famous Italian ones especially – are still facing tough times, with business waning and designers switching positions like a proverbial game of musical chairs. Pininfarina is among the most storied of them all, and has reportedly named a new design director to lead its activities.

According to reports, the latest man in the hot seat is Fabio Filippini. The Italian graduate of the Milan Politecnico comes to Pininfarina from Renault, where he has served as Vice President of Interior Design since 2008. Over the course of his tenure at the French automaker, Filippini oversaw the design of the latest Megane, was founding director of the satellite Renault Design Paris studio and has lived in France, Japan and Spain.

In his new capacity at Pininfarina, Filippini takes over from Lowie Vermeersch, who left the company late last year, and will report directly to Pininfarina’s CEO Silvio Pietro Angori.

[Source: Car Body Design]

Pininfarina names Renault’s Fabio Filippini as design director originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Renault EV espionage scandal may have been hoax

Filed under: Europe, Government/Legal, Renault, Electric

Renault It looks as if Renault and the French government may have been at the raw end of a hoax surrounding claims of corporate espionage. As you may recall, three of the automaker’s executives were recently escorted off of the company’s headquarters. While none of the individuals were charged with any crime, reports emerged that they were suspected of stealing secrets tied to the French car company’s electric vehicle program and selling them to parties overseas. Reports even pointed toward Chinese automakers as being the largest buyers of those corporate secrets.

That news prompted the French government to look into the Chinese connection, which raised more than a few eyebrows in the People’s Republic.

The whole conspiracy hinged on the existence of clandestine bank accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein which the corporate thieves could have used to stash their ill-gotten wealth. According to The Guardian, those accounts don’t exist.

The accused executives have since set about suing Renault for the accusations, and with no hard evidence to support the claims, it looks as if someone simply pulled an elaborate hoax on the company. At this point, it’s unclear who orchestrated the stunt or the motive behind it. Thanks for the tip, Aron!

[Source: The Guardian]

Report: Renault EV espionage scandal may have been hoax originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Renault R-Space is near-term look at the future of MPVs

Filed under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Renault

renault r-space

Renault R-Space concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Renault wants to design vehicles that fit into various cycles of its consumers’ lives, and to that end, the R-Space concept is the vehicle that you will need once you start a family.

The Cash Cab-like interior is designed to make transporting children an easy task. In what is perhaps its most interesting and showcar-like features, no fewer than 27 small motors control height-adjustable hexahedron-shaped platforms in the rear of the R-Space. Those motors can be can be modulated to produce a flat space, booster seat, table or a freestyle area for children to sit and play. From our vantage point, the rear area looks like a bar graph come to life (check our galleries below to see what we mean).

When the rear area is transformed back into a section for seating, the R-Space can get underway. Power is provided by a tiny 900-cubic centimeter three-cylinder engine (that’s .9 liters), which makes use of direct-injection and a turbocharger. The unit is good for 110-horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, with that power being funneled to the wheels via a dual-clutch gearbox. The handsome MPV is also green – it also produces just 95 g/km of CO2 while achieving 64 miles per gallon.

Gallery: Renault R-Space concept: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Renault R-Space Concept

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Renault R-Space is near-term look at the future of MPVs

Geneva 2011: Renault R-Space is near-term look at the future of MPVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Renault to produce Captur concept as a Clio crossover?

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Renault, Rumormill

Renault Captur Concept

2011 Renault Captur concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

It typically takes months, if not years after a concept car debuts before an automaker confirms whether it will or will not go into production. But in the case of the Renault Captur, it hasn’t even been publicly unveiled yet and reports are already surfacing about its production car future.

According to foreign reports, Renault will build the dynamic crossover as part of the next generation of Clio hatchbacks due next year. Of course, certain elements will be lost in translation from show stand to showroom, but we hope the nifty turn signals integrated into the bodywork make the transition. Those wheels are pretty sweet, too.

We’ll get our first glimpse at the Captur concept at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

Gallery: 2011 Renault Captur concept

[Source: Paultan.org]

Rumormill: Renault to produce Captur concept as a Clio crossover? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Renault R-Space concept spotted looking sideways

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Renault

Renault R-Space Concept

Renault R-Space Concept – Click above to watch video after the jump

Thanks to some, um, crafty camera work we’ve got our first glimpse at the Renault R-Space Concept set to debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Renault has been suspiciously quiet about what we can expect from the model once the sheets get yanked back, but according to CarAdvice, the concept rides on the same platform as the Megane. That may mean the French automaker has plans to turn out a production version of its Switzerland-bound concept, and if true, buyers may find the hatchback’s 1.6-liter turbo-diesel under the hood churning out around 161 horsepower.

Judging from the quick clip, it looks like the concept will wear some fittingly outrageous design cues, including a windshield that works its way through to the vehicle’s roof and a few LED highlights nestled down low in the front fascia. Those wild rocker panels help give the R-Space Concept the appearance of a much taller ride height, and the kinked hip-line lends a hint of crossover to the whole shebang. Hit the jump to check out the clip for yourself.

[Source: CarAdvice]

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Video: Renault R-Space concept spotted looking sideways originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Heidfeld to fill Kubica’s seat at Lotus Renault GP

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Lotus, Renault

Nick Heidfeld

Filling the proverbial shoes of Robert Kubica is no easy task. The grand prix winner – one of only 102 in history – is the first Polish driver to make it in Formula One, and he is rated as one of the best in the business. Fill his space, though, is exactly what Renault has had to do after Kubica’s unfortunate crash in an Italian rally left him severely – if not critically – injured. But if anyone’s up to the task, it’s Nick Heidfeld.

The two were former teammates for several years at Sauber, and for his part, Heidfeld has finished more races than any other driver on or off the grid. He’s also become the de facto go-to guy for outfits who need an experienced driver to step in post-haste, having been selected by Pirelli to test their new F1 tires and then brought back to Sauber when Pedro de la Rosa wasn’t working out last season.

Having tested Heidfeld at its recent Jerez session, the Lotus Renault GP team has announced that they’ve selected the German driver to take Kubica’s place until he’s able to return to racing. Heidfeld’s selection wins out over Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean, both of which also have race experience (albeit considerably less) and are contracted members of the team’s test-driver roster.

After stints at Prost, Sauber, Jordan and Williams – to say nothing of McLaren and Mercedes GP where he’s served as a test driver – Renault will make the fifth team for which Heidfeld will now have driven over the course of the eleven consecutive years he’s now been on the grid since his debut at the 2000 Australian Grand Prix. His best result to date was the fifth place finish he scored at Sauber in the 2007 Championship and his eight second-place grand prix finishes. Follow the jump for the official announcement.

[Source: Renault]

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Officially Official: Heidfeld to fill Kubica’s seat at Lotus Renault GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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