Renault Showcases its Global Prowess at Auto Expo 2018

NEW DELHI:
Renault, the number One European automotive brand in India, showcased its global prowess led by TREZOR – an all-electric Grand Tourer concept car, at the Auto Expo 2018. TREZOR blends Renault’s warm, simple and sensual lines with the very latest innovations in interior experience, all-electric powertrain and autonomous driving.
TREZOR has been awarded as the ‘Most Beautiful Concept Car’ at several global platforms. TREZOR has been Renault’s showstopper at leading global auto shows and its presence at the Auto Expo 2018 underscores the importance of India in Renault’s global growth plans.
Fabrice Cambolive, Senior Vice President, Chairman, Africa-Middle- East-India (AMI) region, shared, “2017 was a record year for Groupe Renault with sales of nearly 3.8 million vehicles globally. Over the last 5 years, we have consistently increased our global sales volumes. There is an increasing contribution from markets outside Europe, which is testament that our global growth ambitions are taking shape.
India forms an important part of this growth strategy and we have invested heavily to ensure that we have a strong foundation in this challenging and dynamic market. We have successfully established the Renault brand in India in a short span of time. We will continue to work towards increasing our sales volume and market share here, aided by our strategy of range renewal and quick network expansion.”
Together with TREZOR, Renault demonstrated its expertise in the electric vehicle space with the showcase of ZOE e-Sport Concept. Renault India stands to gain significantly from the company’s progress in electric vehicles, as India is gradually moving towards adopting newer automotive technologies.
Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, “The transformation to electric cars is inevitable in India, which poses a great opportunity to the automotive industry. It is time for the government to put in place a clear policy, time-frame and the necessary infrastructure to enable automobile OEMs to be adequately prepared and take strategic long-term decisions. Renault is the EV leader in Europe, with comprehensive knowledge about advanced and affordable EV technology, which we can harness through our technology centre in India. We have already made our presence strong in the focal segments of
India’s automotive market and are future-ready to build our range, in keeping with evolving market needs and conditions.”
Another highlight at the Renault pavilion in Auto Expo 2018 is the design corner, which has 5 cars exemplifying Renault’s focus on design. These cars were the result of an innovative recruitment programme initiated in India.
Sharing details, Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Groupe Renault, said, “India is one of our biggest international markets. Since Renault is synonymous with design, we have opened two design centres in India. Early last year, we launched an exciting initiative – ‘Design Academy India’, basis which we selected four talented candidates from more than 400 online applications. We are very proud to be presenting their projects here today on our stand. You will see four 1:5 scale models and one full-scale model. And we are also very proud to announce that we have hired three of the four trainees at our design centre in India.”
Apart from TREZOR , ZOE e-Sport Concept and the design corner, the Renault pavilion at Auto Expo 2018 presented the Formula One racing car, R.S.17 and the complete India range led by the newly launched CAPTUR and KWID Super Hero Edition, together with DUSTER and LODGY.
The New KWID Super Hero Edition in association with Marvel’s Avengers is offered in two versions based on heroic and powerful characters belonging to the Marvel Avengers Series – Iron Man and Captain America. It is offered with the 1.0L SCe powertrain, in both manual and AMT options. Designed and developed by Renault’s design studios in Mumbai and Chennai, the KWID Super Hero Edition demonstrates Renault’s progressive design innovation while underscoring Renault’s commitment to the Indian market. The KWID Super Hero Edition once again proves the high degree to which the KWID can be customised.
Alongside the KWID Super Hero Edition, Renault CAPTUR will take centre-stage at the Renault pavilion, with its stunning expressive design which represents Renault’s new design DNA. Its expressive design is enhanced by more than 50 premium & class-leading features that come as equipment from the starting variant onwards, including, projector headlamps, C-shaped Sapphire
LED DRLs and an integrated audio system amongst others. This is accentuated by its Innovative Lighting Systems (ILS) and OneIntegration concept – Renault’s design approach that seamlessly connects car and driver through a plethora of innovations. Furthermore, Renault CAPTUR provides the best SUV ground clearance.
Renault has also taken Personalized Innovation to the next level with CAPTUR. On offer are 7 exclusive fashion-inspired dual tone and 5 exciting monotone body colour options complemented with an extensive personalized program. All of this will be innovatively showcased at Auto Expo 2018.
Speaking about CAPTUR, Sumit Sawhney, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, “Since the launch of Renault CAPTUR, we have received positive feedback from customers, appreciating the stunning expressive design, premium & class-leading features and the high levels of personalization that can be achieved with this car. We are still in the launch phase, having just introduced the petrol variant. CAPTUR reflects our commitment of bringing the best from the Renault world, to cater to the growing segments of the Indian automotive market.”
Over the last few years, Renault has focused on establishing a strong base in India. Together with a strong product offensive strategy led by KWID and the recently launched stylish SUV, CAPTUR, Renault has been continuously undertaking strategic measures across all key business dimensions, ranging from product, network expansion, pioneering customer oriented activities and several innovative marketing initiatives to ensure unmatched customer satisfaction.
At the Auto Expo 2018, Renault reinforced its long-term commitment to India, reiterating the important role that India plays in Groupe Renault’s international expansion plans.
RENAULT TREZOR: An all-electric grand tourer concept car TREZOR, a two-seater electric coupé, embodies the new design philosophy of Renault.
Speaking about TREZOR, Laurens van den Acker – Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Groupe Renault, shared, “The Renault range has now been completely renewed and upgraded with a spectrum of complementary models, each one of which has its own assertive identity. With the TREZOR, we have pursued this renewal by introducing a new lifecycle sequence. This concept car is the fruit of a freedom of expression and prepares the way for the trends we are likely to see in our upcoming vehicles. These trends fall into two categories: French Design and Easy Life.”
TREZOR is perfectly in tune with the new design strategy unveiled in 2010 with the DeZir concept car. Its styling cues can now be seen across the entire model range, including Renault CAPTUR. TREZOR features the new Renault styling cues that are to be found across the contemporary range, namely warm, simple, sensual lines; a clearly defined family face and C-shaped lighting signature.
TREZOR stands at 4.7 metres long, 2.18 metres wide and 1.08 metres high, and these outstanding proportions contribute to the driving enjoyment. The TREZOR’s motor derives from the Renault e.dams, a two-time winner of the Formula E Teams’ world title.
Within the TREZOR, there is a strong focus on evolving interior design. The style is warm and sensual, with red as the predominant colour. The accent is on driving pleasure and extensive use is made of high-quality materials, including wood and leather. With its blend of craftsmanship, technology and a truly French touch, the cockpit offers a foretaste of the sleeker, increasingly refined interiors of future Renault models, complete with cutting-edge connectivity. TREZOR’s one-piece clamshell roof lifts much like the lid of a jewellery box to give access to the interior.
The TREZOR sees the brand explore a new approach to dashboard design with a unique L- shaped display that combines the dashboard controls and the multimedia system. This type of screen reinforces the interior’s cockpit feel while the satellite-navigation instructions continue to be visible on the upright part of the display.
Thanks to Renault’s Multi-Sense system, the TREZOR offers a choice of three driving modes: neutral, sport and autonomous. The TREZOR embodies Renault’s vision of how autonomous cars can make travelling safer and more enjoyable, while allowing motorists to optimise how they use their time. When the car is in autonomous mode, the exterior lighting signature changes and
extends to the lateral and rear logos, to indicate to other road users that driving has been delegated.
Formed by two leather-sheathed aluminium shafts, the steering wheel extends in width in autonomous mode. In the manner of a cinema screen, this movement symbolises a step into a whole new world of travelling.
ZOE E-SPORT CONCEPT: Renalt’s Exhilarating Electric Concept Car
The ZOE e-Sport Concept is a fully electric concept car that embodies Renault’s commitment to the idea that electric cars can be fun and fast. The sporting credentials of the ZOE e-Sport Concept extend beyond the car’s styling and the same striking blue livery as the Renault e.dams team’s front-running Formula E single-seaters. The bodywork of the ZOE e-Sport Concept is made entirely from lightweight carbon fibre, which helps to ensure outstanding acceleration from standstill to 100kph in just 3.2 seconds. The car tips the scales at a mere 1,400 kilograms, including 450 kilograms of batteries.
Renault was an early believer in zero emissions and electric vehicles with its first ZOE in 2012. Renault has successfully launched its second generation of electric cars: the new ZOE fitted with the Z.E.40 battery, which offers an extended autonomy of 400 km NEDC – up to 300 km in real life driving situations – with excitement, connected services and performance.
ZOE is the bestselling EV in Europe, and Renault has also launched its second-generation of EVs, with the new Kangoo Z.E., which is the highest-selling electric LCV in Europe.
R.S.17: First car put together from scratch by the Renault Sport Formula One Team Renault has a longstanding association with motorsport. For more than 115 years, motorsport has constituted an integral element of Renault’s DNA. In Formula One, Renault has started more than 600 races and clinched 11 Drivers’ titles, 12 Constructors’ crowns and more than 173 grand prix victories.
In 2016, spurred by its illustrious track record and eager to reaffirm its commitment to the sport, Renault launched an all-new entity encompassing all of the brand’s motorsport activities – Renault Sport Racing – and another to manage the development and sale of the Renault Sport Cars portfolio. The key objectives were to promote the company’s passion for motorsport to a wider audience while maximising the technological synergies between its racing & rally and its road-going sports models.
Renault Sport Racing controls and co-ordinates all of Renault’s motorsport activities, from Formula One and Formula E, to the Renault Sport Series. The season opens with R.S.17, displayed at the Auto Expo 2018, which is the first car put together from scratch by the Renault Sport Formula One Team. The new racer was designed and developed by teams at the Enstone site in the UK and the Viry Chatillon site in France.
‘Design Academy India’: A unique opportunity to nurture fresh talent With the objective to nurture fresh talent in car design, Renault announced its first-ever Renault Design Academy in Chennai in April 2017. A total of 400 entries were received from various parts of the world including India, Italy, USA, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Poland, France, Germany, UK, Iran, Korea, Japan and China.
Four candidates were shortlisted and they joined the Chennai design centre for a seven-month training programme. Local experts teamed up with designers and managers from Renault’s design centre in France who came frequently to train the candidates in every facet of car design, including physical and digital modelling. Over the seven months, they have developed a highly personal vehicle project, working in tandem with young designers who were part of the same training programme.
Renault Design has a long history of associations with Design Schools worldwide. It has been offering internships to talented students in its design studios globally – France, Korea, Romania, Brazil and India.