Thursday 21 December 2023

Two Renault SUVs For Under R200k

Whether you are looking for a reliable and safe family car or simply something to take you off the beaten track without breaking the bank, SUVs are always a sensible choice.

With plenty of slick and sporty models on offer, choosing the right option for under R200 000 can be a daunting prospect. Below are two fantastic SUVs, that you can get with Renault vehicle finance, to drive off in today without stretching your budget.

Renault Duster 1.6 Dynamique

The Duster, which is based on the same platform as Renault’s dependable Logan sedan, treads more closely to the small SUV line than many others, especially when you consider that the 4×4 model is an especially capable off-roader.

The Duster is unapologetically chunky and utilitarian in its styling and has a boot that is of a practical proportion, thumbing its nose at others’ refined curves and creases.

Renault Captur 66kW Turbo Dynamique

The eccentric Renault Captur still makes the most of its stylish, Clio-based styling, coveted raised ride height, and relative value. It has demonstrated that it is a strong competitor in the enduringly well-liked light-crossover market.

Renault South Africa, however, is not resting on its laurels and is eager to build on the success of this significant model, so it used a minor refresh to introduce a compelling new entry-level variant. It is one designed to attract customers who might not have had the means to purchase this French offering.

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Shared from https://www.capetownetc.com/

Wednesday 29 November 2023

Renault Is Planning A Family Car Run On Electricity And Hydrogen

Renault is developing a family-sized passenger car that will run on electricity for short drives and hydrogen for longer trips as part of the company’s push into fuel-cell technology.


Dubbed Scenic Vision, the vehicle will have a carbon footprint that’s 75% lower than that of a conventional EV because it uses mostly recycled materials and a smaller battery, Renault said Thursday. The company plans to put the hybrid powertrain into vehicles from around 2030, a spokesperson said.

Chief Executive Officer Luca de Meo is rolling out more battery-powered models and aims to catch up with rivals in the popular sport utility vehicle segment. He has pledged a fresh lineup as part of a turnaround made more challenging by Renault’s costly pullout from Russia.

Still, the hydrogen push makes Renault an outlier among carmakers as the technology is still hampered by high costs and a lack of fueling infrastructure. Across all automakers, hydrogen-powered vehicles are forecast to account for just 0.1% of global production by 2029, according to research released Wednesday from climate think tank InfluenceMap.

Toyota Motor Corp. remains the biggest proponent of hydrogen, which only emits water vapor, though the world’s biggest carmaker has changed tack with plans to add battery-electric models to keep pace with the rest of the industry. BMW AG has said the technology could become an alternative for larger vehicles.

Renault said about 70% of the Scenic Vision’s materials will be recycled, including a floor made from old plastic pipes and milk containers and a fuel cell membrane using platinum from discarded catalytic converters. The car’s exterior design will mimic an all-electric model scheduled to hit the market in 2024. 

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Article shared from https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/

Monday 30 October 2023

Waze Integrated As A Built-In Car App For The First Time Thanks To Renault

Two new Renault cars will be the first to get a dedicated Waze app with real-time routing, navigation, and more.


Waze is launching a dedicated app on two new cars with Google built in. It’s the first time Waze has been available as a standalone app in cars, thanks to Google’s embedded Android Automotive OS. It means drivers can access Waze’s real-time routing, navigation, and more, without the need to connect a smartphone.

All of the usual Waze alerts, navigation, and routing options will be available on dedicated displays inside the new Renault Austral Hybrid and Renault Megane E-Tech electric vehicles in Europe.

Renault Johannesburg has covered this topic on its blog and is sure to share the latest developments for the SA market.

Two new Renault cars will get Waze built-in

Renault’s openR link multimedia system will now include the dedicated Waze app, and the system also integrates with Google services like Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play to allow you to select music or change temperature with your voice, plot routes, and even control your smart home devices from your car.

Renault is the first car manufacturer to offer Waze directly on a vehicle’s multimedia screen without the need for a smartphone, but it certainly won’t be the last. Polestar, General Motors, Chevrolet, and Volvo all offer similar Google integration thanks to Android Automotive OS, with Honda set to use the embedded Android system soon too.

“Having Waze’s real-time navigation, routing and alerts built into the display of Renault’s vehicles, makes for a simplified and seamless driving experience,” says Aron Di Castro, director of marketing and partnerships at Waze. “We’re looking forward to bringing this excellent driving experience to more users across the globe in 2023.”

Waze has been increasingly focused on in-car improvements in recent years, with deeper CarPlay integration, support for Apple Music, and even some nostalgic ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s vibes appearing earlier this year.

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Info sourced from https://www.theverge.com/

Saturday 30 September 2023

Understanding Your Renault Car Service Requirements

It is important to do your homework regarding the maintenance and repair centre you use for your Renault service - especially for people without in-depth knowledge of car repairs and services.


Put your Renault into good hands, and consult a highly skilled and qualified repair shop. 

Service Intervals
Oil change service every 15,000 km or yearly.

Air and fuel filter - every 30 000 km interval but can last up to 100 000 km in modern vehicles.

Cambelt
Most cambelts need to be changed at 90 000 km or after 6 years, but this can vary from every 60 000 km to 180 000 km. Cambelts age and can tear if not changed in time, which will cause major engine damage.

Spark Plugs
Every 30 000 km but can last up to 100 000 km for platinum or iridium spark plugs in modern vehicles.

Transmission Fluid
The change intervals vary from every 45,000 km to a "lifetime" fill. But even for vehicles with a lifetime fill the oil deteriorates and we recommend a change at around 200 000 km or 10 years.

Power steering Fluid
Most vehicles come with a lifetime fill of power steering fluid. 
It is recommended that you change the transmission fluid at 200 000 km or after 10 years.

Brake Fluid Flush
Every 2 years.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic (binds water) and deteriorates quite quickly, especially in coastal towns. 

Coolant Flush
Every 2 years.

High-quality coolants last longer and give better protection.
Ask your service centre about the recommended coolant for your vehicle.

Aircon Service
Every 3 years.
As the A/C loses a tiny amount of coolant over time, it loses performance. Oil in the coolant protects the moving parts of the A/C.

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Info sourced from https://www.autoworks.co.za/car-services/

Sunday 27 August 2023

The Renault Kangoo Is A Refined And Efficient Van

The third generation version of Renault's Kangoo van might just be the market's most complete compact LCV

This completely redesigned third-generation Renault Kangoo van aims to set fresh standards in compact van design - and in some ways it does. There are some genuinely clever features on offer here - though UK customers can't have all of them - mixed with more than a dash of Gallic flair.

'Renaulution'. What on earth does that mean? Apparently, it's got something to do with a programme of innovation that the French maker has in mind for its most practically-orientated models. Starting with this one, the all-new Renault Kangoo van. We haven't actually had a completely fresh generation of Kangoo models since 2007, so this one is a big deal. Full of all the most clever ideas that the Renault LCV design department's been working on over the last decade.

Sadly we won't get this range, but the improvement in the product is evident almost everywhere you look with this third-generation version. The competition though is tough, not least from this Renault's most recently redesigned rival, the fifth-generation Volkswagen Caddy. So, does 'Kangoo' mean 'can do'? Let's find out.

Driving Experience

There's a choice of three diesel engines - 55, 70 and 85 kW versions of Renault's usual 1.5-litre Blue dCi powerplant. And customers are also offered the company's 1.3-litre TCe petrol engine with either 74 or 97 kW. The standard transmission choice is a 6-speed manual gearbox, but selected variants also offer the option of a 7-speed dual-clutch auto.

Taking a lead from some rivals, the French maker is now offering the option of a permanent rearview camera where the rearview mirror would normally be. And this third-generation Kangoo also gets a decent dose of the camera-driven driving aids and camera safety equipment that its predecessor lacked - features like adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. There's also an all-electric version, the Kangoo E-TECH, which offers a 75kW electric motor and 44kWh battery with a range of 265 km

Design and Build

The Kangoo model line urgently needed a thorough visual redesign, which is what's been delivered here. In third-generation form, it certainly looks a lot more modern, with shorter bonnet and squarer lines. The large Renault badge on the nose (which conceals the charging socket on the E-TECH electric model) is flanked by headlamps incorporating the brand's signature C-shaped daytime running lights. And there are also smarter light clusters at the rear, where the left-hand door has been made wider to improve access in tight spaces.

There's an even bigger step forward inside, where just about everything that matters has been carried over from the current Clio supermini - steering wheel, dashboard, climate controls and the prominent infotainment touchscreen that appears further up the range. The cabin's more spacious too - now wide enough for the inclusion of an optional double passenger seat. If you need to carry more than two passengers, then it's worth checking out the Maxi Crew Van variant.

Market and Model

The Renault Kangoo price is dependent on the model, but we can say that we would want to keep some budget aside for the useful folding seat arrangement which sees the passenger chair collapse and the mesh bulkhead hinge to one side to leave a completely flat floor that runs from the rear doors into the passenger foot well. Another nice optional touch is the 'Easy Inside Rack', an interior roof rack that can hold lengths of up to 2,500mm and folds down from the roof when it's needed. Safety provision includes up to six airbags and you can specify all kinds of camera safety stuff this time round, including Lane Assist, tiredness alert and automatic emergency braking. Choose the optional automatic gearbox and you can have adaptive cruise control too.

Practicalities

As for practicality, well it isn't quite as straightforward as simply choosing the right body size - select either the 3.3m3 standard Kangoo van or the 4.2m3 Kangoo van Maxi. That's because in each case, there's the option to specify a fold-forward front seat that can boost said figures by quite a lot; to 3.9m3 for the standard version and to as much as 4.9m3 for the Maxi variant. And payload? Well for the standard van, this is limited to around 600kgs, but an 'increased payload' option can boost this to around 800kgs, while the lengthier Maxi variant with this option fitted can take around a tonne.

As for running costs, well, Renault says it's worked hard in this area; expect around 65mpg on the combined cycle and about 110g/km of CO2 from the volume dCi 95 diesel variant, while the TCe 100 petrol version manages around 50mpg and about 120g/km. The service intervals across the range though, aren't especially long. You also get a 3-year paintwork guarantee and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.

Summary

There's so much about this third-generation Kangoo that represents a clear step forward. Efficiency, cabin design, styling, safety, connectivity. We think innovations like the new folding seat arrangement and the roof-mounted interior rack are brilliant. If you're shopping in this class, make no mistake, this Kangoo has to be high on your list of contenders to try if you're to make the right buying or leasing decision. It turns out that 'Renaulution' really does mean something after all.

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Article shared from https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/

Thursday 24 August 2023

Renault Captur Success Leads To New SUV That Promises Even More

Renault wants to attack, definitively, the SUV market. The brand led by Luca de Meo, once it has already consolidated its electric car plan that will have its maximum and long-awaited components in the new R5 and R4, is now focusing a large part of its development on the launch of new SUVs with great commercial aspirations.


If in recent weeks we have already seen the launch of the new and very complete Austral and Espace, Renault will soon put on the market the new Scénic (which has also mutated into an SUV), an Austral Coupé and another model that we will talk about today: a new Captur long or Grand Captur, call it what you want for now because there is no official confirmation at this time about its final name.

Taking advantage of the great success that has marked the Renault Captur 2023 among utility SUVs, where for years it has been competing head-to-head for the leadership of the category with the Peugeot 2008, although in the last year, the Seat Arona has managed to overtake the two French models, this new SUV that they report today in France will complement their range as an independent model that will reach the market in the summer of 2024 and could be officially presented a little earlier, the same spring of this next year.

The current Renault Captur will be renewed and have a new, more familiar body.

The new SUV will be located between the Captur and Austral

Located then in the Renault range between the next new Captur and the Austral, this next Renault Grand Captur will technically derive from the utility SUV itself, although it will bet on its own independent design that sets it apart. Already developed under the DJB internal code, it will thus take advantage of the latest evolution of the CMF-B platform to create an even more complete model.

With measurements that will thus be located between the 4.23 meters of the Captur and the 4.51 meters of the Austral (points at 4.35 and 4.40 m), this new SUV is announced in France as a future real alternative to the traditional Mégane, which will definitively leave production throughout the same year 2024. And also indirectly of the Arkana, another SUV that already announces its disappearance from the catalogue in Europe for the year 2025, probably.

Front of the Scenic and hybrid versions of the new SUV

From Renault, as announced today in France, it is already confirmed that this new Grand Captur, or Long Captur, will not be a simple extended version of the Captur with the same aesthetics. Gilles Vidal, Head of Design for the brand, has been working for months on a new specific silhouette with different lines and a front that will be more similar to the one already seen in the concept that advances the new Scénic. The rear, on the other hand, will be reconfigured to optimize the space and load capacity of the trunk.

The new SUV will take the front already seen in the latest concept that anticipates the launch of the Renault Scénic.



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Article reshared from https://nationworldnews.com/


Friday 28 July 2023

Reviewed: Renault Triber AMT

An in-depth test drive review of the Renault Triber AMT

The addition of an AMT lends more convenience and also makes the Renault Triber an even better package

The Renault Triber has the advantage of being one of the most affordable 7-seaters in the Indian market today. When we drove this car last, we did come out impressed with the packaging that is offered for the price. The lack of an automatic was a negative point, but recently Renault launched the Triber AMT, and we’re driving it to find out whether it has any aces up its sleeve or not!

Exterior

No cosmetic changes have been made to the Renault Triber AMT, and it looks similar to the manual variant. Of course, there’s an Easy-R badge at the rear, but that’s about it. The Triber is a compact 7-seater and measures under 4 metres in length, and yet it manages to look very proportionate. The styling is pleasant to look at, and the design has an “offend-none” feel. Renault also offers some nice colour options with the Triber. The vehicle gets 15-inch steel rims, which have been styled to look like alloys.

Interior

The interior of the AMT variant is again similar to the manual variant, with the only change being the new gear lever and the absence of a clutch. The instrument cluster has a gear position indicator, and it beeps a warning when you shift from N to D or R without pressing the brake pedal. Renault has very smartly packaged the cabin of this 7-seater, and it has decent space in all three rows. The Triber is also decently feature-loaded, and it gets 4 airbags, ABS, touch screen infotainment system, manual AC, power windows, projector headlamps, push-button start, 4 speakers + 2 tweeters, reverse camera, 12V charging socket in the third row, etc. in the top variant which is indeed impressive. The seats are also quite comfortable and at par with other cars in this price range. Renault has also given a lot of importance to storage spaces, which are plenty in the cabin.

Performance

The Renault Triber AMT gets a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, petrol engine from the Energy series. It is offered on the Kwid, but it gets Dual VVT on the Triber. This engine is tuned to deliver 53 kW at 6250 RPM and 96 Nm at 3500 RPM, which is the same output as the manual variant. The engine is quiet at low revs but gets vocal after you cross 2500 RPM. It’s a small unit but pulls the car decently. The Triber now gets a 5-speed AMT which feels smoother than the one on Kwid, but yes while up shifting you do feel the head-toss movement that is generally felt in AMTs. When you’re driving fast, gear shifts can feel slow, but when you’re easy on the throttle, it feels smoother and manageable. Downshifts are a bit slow so quick overtakes on the highway need to be planned, otherwise a slow-down shift in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre can get on your nerves.

The AMT offers decently quick and smooth shifts when you’re easy on the throttle and also gets a manual mode The AMT offers decently quick and smooth shifts when you’re easy on the throttle and also gets a manual mode

There is a manual mode too, and it makes sense to use it on inclines or sometimes to get better control of the gears while overtaking. The engine offers decent driveability in the city, but the power delivery isn’t very punchy, in fact, power is delivered in a flat manner. The Triber won’t disappoint in day-to-day runs, but you might have to take control of the gears sometimes. Renault is also working on a 1.0 turbo petrol engine, and that one should really spice things up. 

The engine offers decent driveability in the city, but the power delivery isn’t very punchy, in fact, power is delivered in a flat manner. The Triber won’t disappoint in day-to-day runs, but you might have to take control of the gears sometimes. Renault is also working on a 1.0 turbo petrol engine, and that one should really spice things up.

Driving Dynamics

Just like other Renault cars, the Triber also comes with a very sorted suspension setup. The ride quality is really impressive, and travelling on bad roads doesn’t really unsettle the car or offer a tiring experience to the passengers. The 182 mm ground clearance comes in to be really handy. The steering isn’t as felt as some other Renault cars, and it is quite vague, but it feels very light while driving in the city. The brakes offer good bite and the brake pedal has good progression.

Verdict

The price of the Renault Triber AMT is totally worth it if you are someone who wants convenience and if you are going to drive the car in traffic regularly. This vehicle has always come across as a VFM offering. The Triber doesn’t have any 7-seater rival in this price bracket apart from the Datsun GO+ which is quite smaller in comparison and no longer available as a new vehicle.



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Original article from: https://www.motorbeam.com/