French carmaker Renault plans to extend the life of its fourth generation Espace MPV for at least a year or so with a minor update that brings its front-end styling in line with the rest of the brand while also improving the 7-seater model's environmental and fuel economy credentials. On the outside, the 2013 Espace adopts Renault’s new styling identity up front with a more prominent and upright logo set against a new broad black grille bar with chrome trim, and a newly styled bumper. The only other change on the exterior is the introduction of new alloy wheel designs.
Inside, the luxury Initiale Paris version has been updated with visible stitching for the dashboard and new leather and Alcantara upholstery for the rest of the cabin.
Renault says standard amenities across the range include a Carminat TomTom Live navigation system, a hands-free card and comprehensive connectivity (Bluetooth audio streaming, AUX and USB sockets), while on the options list buyers can find a DVD player complete with two seven-inch screens built into the back of the front head rests and a new reverse camera.
While the Espace will continue to be offered with the same engines, improvements to the diesel units as well as to the chassis and running gear of all models, including revised underbody parts, plus new low rolling resistance tires and an electro-hydraulic power steering, help reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption across the range.
According to Renault, average fuel consumption on the 130PS, 150PS and 175PS versions of the 2.0-liter dCi diesel engine has been reduced by 0.8lt/100km while CO2 emissions drop by 20g/km.
In the case of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, fuel consumption has fallen to 8.5 lt/100km (down 0.3 lt/100km) and CO2 emissions to 198g/km (a saving of 6g/km).
The 2013 model year Renault Espace goes on sale in mainland Europe this July.
PHOTO GALLERY
While the economic outlook for Europe may be grim, Renault is looking to expand its portfolio with the addition of the two upscale brands including the revival of the Alpine marque to produce sports cars and the creation of another label called Initial Paris to sell luxury models. Renault's Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares confirmed the news in a recent interview with Bloomberg adding that the French carmaker also needs to grow its reach in emerging countries to reduce its reliance on Europe's stagnant car market.
"You need to be competitive across the world," Tavares said. "That’s why we have been managing the change from a European-focused company toward a global carmaker."
Renault has been in a strategic alliance with Nissan since 1999 with the two companies joined together through a cross-shareholding agreement. The Franco-Japanese partnership currently controls six brands including Renault, Nissan, Infiniti, Renault Samsung Motors, Dacia and Lada.
The French brand believes a luxury marque could be central to its plans to expand outside Europe and particularly in important markets such as China.
"We may have one day a luxury brand," said Tavares. "That would help from a profitability standpoint because everybody’s always looking at VW and what Audi represents for the VW group."
Earlier this year, Tavares had revealed that Renault has begun work on an upscale car based on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform, as part of the strategic cooperation between the two groups.
Just last month, Renault also previewed a concept for a mid-engined sports coupe with the Alpine moniker named A110-50.
The final decision on the new strategy to add the two luxury brands to Renault's portfolio will be made this year, according to Tavares.
PHOTO GALLERY
Citroën is targeting the world's most populous automotive segment, the compact saloon market with some 20 million registrations in 2011 or close to a third of all worldwide passenger car sales, with not one but two new models, the C-Elysée and C4 L. As you may have already guessed by now, the C-Elysée is the Citroën flavored version of Peugeot's budget compact sedan, the newly announced 301, with the two cars sharing the same body but bespoke fasicas, wheels and tail lamps.
The French brand says the C-Elysée will be manufactured in Spain and will be sold in Turkey, Spain, Central Europe and Algeria before the end of 2012.
The sedan model rides on a 2.65m long wheelbase and has large boot capacity of 506 litres. Depending on the market, the C-Elysée will be available with the latest generation VTi 97bhp petrol engine.
Citroën's second compact sedan is the more upscale C4 L, which is based on the firm's C4 hatchback. Interestingly, the C4 L is the first production Citroën to de designed by the brand's Shanghai style center in China.
According to the French automaker, the C4 L will be produced in each of the zones where it will be sold, including Wuhan, China by the end of 2012, and Kaluga, Russia in the first half of 2013.
Citroën claims that the C4 L will offer a "lounge-like rear compartment" with "wraparound seats, backrests inclined to 29° and headrests designed for added comfort". Available features include hands-free access and start, touch-screen GPS, reversing camera, fully heated windscreen and air ionizer
Buyers will have a choice of three gasoline engines, the BMW Group and PSA co-developed THP 150 and 170, and the VTi 135, all of which can be linked to a new automatic or a sequential 6-speed transmission.
Thanks to Bruno for the tip!
CITROEN C-ELYSEE
Renault has never been the one to shy away from eccentric creations (remember the Avantime?) but the new Twizy certainly takes quirkiness one-step further as it looks like the odd pairing of a golf kart with a motorcycle offering seating for two in a tandem layout while riding on four wheels. Revealed as a concept for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault surprised us a year later with the presentation of the production model in Paris. Now, the Twizy is available in European showrooms including Britain where it went on sale today.
The 2.34 metres long by 1.24 metres wide two-seater model is available in three trim levels (Urban, Colour and Technic) and two power variants.
The lower powered Twizy 45 (5hp) with a top speed of 28mph (45km/h) was not originally planned for the UK market, however, the company said that due to recent confirmation that a new category of European licence for 16 year olds and over comes into effect in Britain from January 2013, it is now "studying its sales potential".
The regular Twizy is motivated by a 13kW (17hp) electric motor with a limited top speed of around 50 mph (80km/h). Its battery can be recharged using a standard three-pin plug in three and a half hours, which costs around £1 (depending on the energy supplier) and provides a driving range of around 60 miles (close to 100 kilometers).
Pricing for the 17hp Urban model starts at £6,690 (€8,100 or US$10,700), however, that does not including the battery which Renault leases for a monthly fee of £45 (€54 or US$72) including VAT for a 36 month/4,500 miles (7,240 kilometers) per year agreement.
PHOTO GALLERY
Print this page
