Renault to Resurrect Alpine Brand with a New Sports Car

Renault is planning to develop an all-new sports car, and one of the options examined by its management is looking to its past and, more specifically, a brand that has ceased to exist for close to two decades.

Speaking to journalists at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault product manager Beatrice Foucher said that the next-generation Megane and Laguna, due to be launched in 2013/14, will be based on a common C/D platform. And this platform will surely include a sports car.

“We need conventional cars as well as innovative cars”, Foucher told Autocar magazine. “It’s very early, but we will have at least one coupe in the line-up off the new platform.”

The new model will ditch the Laguna Coupe name, which has not been a success, and adopt a new one. Foucher revealed that work on the new platform begun last year and that RenaultSport is involved in its development from the beginning.

Her next revelation, however, was the most interesting: “We’re working on an Alpine. It’s a possibility and we’re looking at what an Alpine would be in a RenaultSport line-up.”

Alpine was founded in1955 by Jean Redele, who used a humble Renault 4CV to build small coupes with a glassfiber body and very stiff chassis. Its first model was the A106, a small coupe based on a 4CV. In the 1960s, Alpine started a closer cooperation with Renault taking part in motorsport events with considerable success.

Its greatest achievement was in the 1973, when an A110 driven by Jean-Claude and Michelle Petit won the Rally Monte Carlo, the first ever FIA World Rally Championship event. Alpine also won that year’s title beating rivals such as Porsche, Ford and Lancia.

Alpine continued through the 1980s following the same recipe of placing Renault powertrains in its own chassis and bodywork, but competition was getting stronger and its sales were dwindling. Production of the last Alpine, the A610, ceased at the end of 1994 and Renault, which owns the name, has let it lay dormant since.

Now it is about to make a comeback. Given its record of accomplishment and the RenaultSport division's experience in creating sport versions, expectations are quite high.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Renault Rolls Out Pure-Electric Frendzy Minivan Concept in Frankfurt

At the 64th International Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault lifted the veils off the fourth concept car to demonstrate the brand's new styling DNA, the Frendzy minivan that doubles as both a passenger car and a commercial van.>

It's dual role is evident from the vehicle's asymmetric body style. The driver's side represents the passenger perspective as it features center opening doors complete with side windows, while the passenger's side promotes the commercial aspect as there’s no glazing or center pillar, just a single conventional door and one sliding side door that incorporates a 37-inch widescreen display. The latter can be used to display messages or adverts.

"The concept of an asymmetric body design was the most logical way to express this vehicle’s two roles," says exterior designed Deyan Denkov.

"From the very start, I wanted to move away from the traditional format for commercial vehicles and, in doing so, show that this type of vehicle could also be more emotional, more dynamic and more attractive. I took inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including unconventionally shaped aircraft such as the Airbus Beluga and the Antonov 224," Denkov added.

Like Renault previous concept cars such as the DeZir, the Frendzy is a pure electric vehicle. Its powertrain is borrowed from the production Kangoo Van Z.E.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

IAA 2011: Renault Unleashes Facelifted Twingo Including the RS, Gordini and Maboussin Special

French carmaker Renault showed up in Frankfurt with its renewed Twingo series that received a midlife makeover for the new model year.

Aside from the standard model, Renault also premiered the Twingo RenaultSport (or RS for short) 133 in both regular and Gordini outfits as well as a new limited production version created and named after the Place Vendôme-based jeweler, Mauboussin.

All Twingo models receive a mild cosmetic refreshing inspired by the brand’s new design identity that was previewed on the recent concept cars, and which will become the visual signature of all Renault cars in the future.

The most noticeable changes are found up front with reshaped headlamps, a larger and more vertically positioned Renault logo that is now encompassed in a slim grille and a redesigned bumper that houses a pair of large round lights. At the back, the Twingo gains new split tail lamps.

In the cabin, the updates are limited to the new colors and materials.

The regular Twingo will be offered with the same powerplants as before and which include a 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol with 100hp.

The flagship Twingo RS 133 gains a newly designed bodykit and bespoke 16-inch alloy wheels, while customers can further personalize the car's looks with a design package that adds an F1-style splitter, door mirror housings and Renaultsport spoiler all finished in anthracite. Finally, Renault updated the interior of the RS 133 with new colors and materials.

Also making its world premiere in Frankfurt is a limited edition version called the Twingo Mauboussin. Developed in cooperation with Place Vendôme-based Parisian creative jeweler Mauboussin, the luxed-up Twingo special sports bespoke colors inside and out, along with higher-quality materials inside. The new Twingo Mauboussin is due to go on sale next spring in a limited number of units.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

2012 RENAULT TWINGO

2012 RENAULT TWINGO GORDINI

2012 RENAULT TWINGO RS 133

2012 RENAULT TWINGO MAUBOUSSIN

Read More