| CLIO
Clio II - keep on driving, Nicole (Jun 98) - Brian Byrne
|
Major upgrade to Clio II (May 01)
A major restyling of the Renault Clio II has involved a change in 50% of its structural and bodywork components, writes Trish Whelan. In addition, a new interior improves quality considerably from the current versions. Full Story.
|
|
Renault's Clio is significantly revised (Aug 01)
Mid-life updates often involve slight suspension rejigs, the merest of nose tweaks and a quick change of upholstery, writes John Reilly. Launched here at the beginning of July, Renault’s bubbly Clio is significantly revised with a dramatic front-end reshape, a tastefully overhauled cabin, serious alterations to 50% of its bodywork and undercarriage components, a bank of new engines, new wheels, tons of extra kit, and a notable upshift in quality. Full Story.
|
Clio Sport 172 is most powerful hot hatch (May 01)
Take one 3-door Renault Clio, add some discreet styling kit, tweak about with the underpinnings, add some aluminium to the cabin and for the final piece of the jigsaw drop a 2.0 litre 16v engine into the engine bay - and hey presto! One Renault Clio Sport 172, writes Rob King. Full Story.
|
|
KANGOO
|
Kangoo Kar Kan Do (Jan 01)
The new Renault Kangoo Kar should perhaps be also known as the 'Kan Do Kar’ because of its enormous versalitity, writes Trish Whelan. Renault say there is simply no car like it. full story
|
|
MEGANE II
 |
The Silence of the Meganes (Dec 02)
There aren’t many in its class that travel Irish roads without mussing up a quiet programme on Lyric FM, writes Brian Byrne. Without being very audible about the potholes from Kerry to Kildare.
|
New Megane is something special (Jan 03)
Every once in a while something really special comes along that sets new standards in its class, writes Trish Whelan. Something like the new Renault Mégane small family car which, as well as its futuristic styling, brings 21st century technology to the mass market.
SCENIC
Scenic RX4 is another nice little earner (Nov 00) - John Reilly
Scenic is the original of the species (Oct 99) - Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan
|
RX4 is a hit for the right lifestyle (Sep 01)
I had to work out a couple of scenarios before I could put the Renault RX4 Scenic in its place, writes Brian Byrne. After all, it comes into a pricey area of the market in this guise. So why would one want to pay the same for a compact MPV as for a full-size one in another marque? Full Story.
|
|
 |
Scenic II to build on success (Jul03)
Even on run out in the last year, the Renault Scenic held a dominant position, writes Brian Byrne. Now we have Scenic II, where the original of the species is bent on setting a new benchmark in the compact MPV area. Even the successful competition must be getting a little uneasy.
|
 |
Scenic is still a front-runner (Jan 03)
Scenic II is a visual paradox, writes Brian Byrne. It looks smaller than the predecessor version, but put them side by side and you see that the opposite is true. And in the Scenic II execution of the current Megane styling theme, perhaps it is the best of the range.
|
LAGUNA
LAGUNA II
Laguna II launched on the Web (Sep 00) - John Reilly
French lessons from Laguna (Dec 00)
Radical new looks, sharp dynamics, high levels of safety, innovations galore and a range of equipment unprecedented in this car sector are the main weapons Renault will use to carve up a major share of the all-important D segment when its new model Laguna goes on sale here on 9th February next, write Tony Conlon and John Reilly. full story
|
Laguna II relationship worth working on (July 01)
The Renault Laguna II was not a car I was immediately comfortable in, writes Brian Byrne. But maybe many things in life are better that way, because it gives time to learn nice things gradually. With the new Laguna, it wasn’t too long an ‘eventually’ before I was completely won over. Full Story.
|
|
|
|
Laguna 'fastback' is a very accomplished load-carrier (Sep 01)
The word ‘estate’ is deemed passé by many carmakers, so we have ‘tourer’ and ‘avant’ and ‘sportwagon’ to upgrade the perception, writes Trish Whelan. Renault have called their Laguna II Prestige a ‘fastback’. Full Story.
|
VEL SATIS
|
|
Vel Satis might prevent cars from becoming 'white goods'
Renault’s Vel Satis luxury car will be aiming at people who ‘want to make a statement’ when it comes on the Irish market in April, writes Brian Byrne. And the Irish distributors expect enough buyers who want to be different are out there to make its presence on their price lists worth while. Full Story.
|
|
|
Vel Satis will change the Renault image
You’ll see it here from mid-April, writes Brian Byrne. You won’t see too many of it. And you’ll have seen nothing like it on Ireland’s roads. Ever. With a name like Vel Satis, which actually doesn’t mean anything, it has to be different. Full Story.
|
 |
VelSatis a luxury jewel in Renault crown (Aug 02)
Renault aren’t expecting to make a major dent in numbers terms in the luxury car area with their new VelSatis, but they certainly will make a serious visual impact, writes Trish Whelan. They expect to move around 200 units this year, rising to 300 for 2003.
|
ESPACE
 |
New Espace aims to consolidate position
Launched in 1984 and with over 870,000 vehicles produced to date, the first three generations of Renault’s Espace were the European leaders in the MPV segment, writes Remi Blondet. The latest version is intended to maintain the car’s position, but at an even higher level of sales.
|
GENERAL
 |
Renault continues safety innovations (Jun 02)
In a continuation of the safety research emphasis that gave the company the first ever 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash testing programme, for 2002 and 2003 Renault is actively pursuing other innovations in the domain of passive safety, writes Raymond Bernard.
|
|
|
