Renault group increases 46% in ten months to October.

Renault UK group car sales, including Renault and Dacia brands, for the 10-month period of January to October increased a record 46.1 per cent to 49,154 units, up from last year’s total of 33,640, according to SMMT figures released today. In the peak month of September and in October, the first peak period with the new Clio and all-new Captur crossover, retail car sales for the Renault brand increased by a record 32.1 per cent and a record 97.1 per cent for the group versus 2012; outpacing the retail car market growth of 14.9 per cent in the same period.  In these two months, with the launch of Captur, the Renault brand increased its volume in the growing B-segment by a record 76.0 per cent.

Total group sales for October year-to-date, including vans, were 59,058 units, surpassing the 2012 Renault full-year total registrations of 55,685 units. Commenting on the results, Ken Ramirez, Renault UK Managing Director, said, “The milestone signals a clear turning point for the Renault group in the UK market and demonstrates the increased value of the franchise. The launch of Dacia this year certainly contributes significantly to this growth along with a renewed range of Renault models that have re-energised the brand. We owe our impressive growth to customers, both loyal and new to our brands, who continue to recognise the quality, appeal and value of our products.”

GROUP HIGHLIGHTS

• Renault Group posts a car sales increase of 46.1 per cent for October year-to-date with a market share of 2.5 per cent compared to the same period last year (49,154 in volume compared to 1.9 per cent share and 33,640 units last year)
• Group car sales for the 10-month period have now exceeded the full year 2012 volume
• Retail car sales for the Renault Group for the same period jump a record 75.7 per cent to 3.4 per cent share (35,341 units compared to 2.3% share and 20,104 units last year)
• For the peak month of September and in October, retail car sales for the Group increased by 97.0 per cent compared to the same period last year (12,314 units compared to 6,248 units last year)

RENAULT HIGHLIGHTS

• Renault car sales for the first 10-month period reach 36,081 and a share of 1.8 per cent, an increase of 7.3% compared to the same period last year
• In the peak month of September and in October, retail car sales for the Renault brand increased by a record 32.1 per cent versus the same period last year
• In the same two months, with Clio, Captur and ZOE, Renault’s volume in the B segment increased by a record 76.0% against a segment increase of 7.7%
• Clio sales in the peak month of September and in October rank it in sixth place in the five-door retail B-segment
• Captur sales for the same peak month of September and in October put it in third place in the B-SUV segment, behind the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman.  It outsells Peugeot’s 2008 by more than two and a half times-to one. (3,085 sales compared to 1,225). 72.5 per cent of Captur sales are in the retail market

DACIA HIGHLIGHTS

• Dacia sales reach 13,073 to date from the brand’s launch in January this year
• The brand launched with Duster and Sandero initially, with Sandero Stepway arriving in May and Logan MCV in September.  It is the fastest growing brand to date this year.
• 96.8 per cent of Dacia sales are in the retail market where it has a share of 1.2 per cent year-to-date.  It is also the fastest growing retail brand this year
• Duster sales total 6,677 to date.  In the retail C-SUV segment, Duster is ranked in sixth position
• Sandero sales reach 4,507.  Sandero Stepway launched in May and has totalled 1,738 sales to date

Expanding sales and more profitable business channels are reinforcing the Group’s upward trend, with the icing on the cake being multiple award wins and media recognition for both brands. A selection of plaudits throughout the year have included:

• Record quadruple haul at Scottish Car of the Year Awards: Small Car (Clio), Crossover (Captur), Electric Car (ZOE) and Budget Car (Dacia Sandero)
• Dacia Duster: Caravan Club Awards 2014 ‘Special Award’ and Towcar of the Year’s ‘Best Budget 4x4’
• Twin What Car? Awards ‘Best Buy’ category wins for Mégane Renaultsport 265 Cup – ‘Best Hot Hatch over £22,000‘ and Dacia Sandero – ‘Best Supermini under £12,000’
• BusinessCar “Techies” - ZOE – ‘Green Category’ winner and Captur – ‘Best Crossover’ - in the Next Green Car Awards
• Renault also scored twice at 2013 Fleet World Honours: Best Small Car and Technology Award

Most recently, a record seven Group models featured in The Sunday Times driving supplement ‘Top 100 Cars’ (Captur wasn’t listed, most likely as there was no Crossover category). Among the editorial comments were highlights such as:

• Clio and Sandero in Top 10 Superminis -  “Choose the TCe and you’ll be reminded that Renault once made the best small cars in the world… it’s still the most fun standard French hatchback to go on sale for a decade or more.”
• ZOE in Top 10 Electric Cars & Hybrids - “…the car has much to recommend it.  It’s the cutest hatchback powered by electricity.” Twizy also made the cut in the same category.
• Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo EDC raced into Top 10 Hot Hatches & Coupes, with Grand Scénic earning a place in Top 10 MPVs.
• Duster – Top 10 4x4s - “Its greatest strength is that it shows up the many other soft-roaders for the over-priced, under-achievers that they are.”

Clio and Captur adds new Dual Clutch auto for improved driving dynamics.

• New 1.5 dCi 90 EDC automatic available for Renault Clio and Captur - impressive fuel economy and CO2emissions in both town and motorway use
• Other recent changes to the ranges include: debut of on-board telemetry and performance tracking system - Renaultsport Monitor 2.0 £295 and rear parking camera £350 (Clio)

Renault’s striking Clio and Captur line-ups have just welcomed the availability of the EDC (Efficient Dual Clutch) gearbox option with the fuel-sipping 1.5-litre dCi 90 engine, to give them even greater appeal.

The smooth six-speed transmission, offers both fully automatic and manual gear selection, while its CO2 emissions figure among the lowest for any automatic gearbox in either class – just 95g/km for French favourite Clio, which also boasts 76.0 mpg combined cycle fuel economy. The fresh-faced Renault best-seller, Clio, has already clocked-up more than 12,000 orders so far this year, and the latest engine looks set to boost sales further.

The new addition represents a genuine shift from traditional automatic gearboxes by offering the same sturdiness and running costs as a manual, but with the significant benefits of controlled fuel consumption and emissions, as well as improved performance.  It is the perfect choice for urban motorists, eliminating the need for frustrating repeat gear changes in stop-start traffic, as well as long motorway runs, as anyone who has sat gridlocked in summer holiday jams to the coast would no doubt testify.

Already a hit in the Mégane and Scénic ranges, it has just been made available for both the Dynamique MediaNav and Dynamique MediaNav S in Clio and Captur. Prices start from £16,595 in the former, and from £17,395 in the latter bold newcomer.

The French marque’s stylish new model boasts the expressive style and driving position of a SUV, is as practical as an MPV and has the handling and driving pleasure of a hatchback.

EDC TECHNOLOGY

The EDC system uses two clutches. One looks after the odd-number gears (1st, 3rd and 5th) and the second covers the even-number gears (2nd, 4th and 6th), as well as reverse.

The intelligent set-up instantaneously adapts to the driver's demands by selecting the gear, which delivers the right amount of power the instant it is required. It also benefits from an ‘up/down’ flick-shift mode which allows the driver to recover control of the gear changes on demand.

Additional features include an optimised “creep” function which provides better fluidity especially while sitting in traffic jams and during manoeuvres such as parking, and   reassuring assisted hill start support which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards.

Renaultsport Monitor 2.0 and rear parking camera

Other recent changes to the Clio range include the debut of the on-board telemetry and performance tracking system, Renaultsport Monitor 2.0, now available as an option on the GT Line TCe 120 as well as the Renaultsport 200 EDC Turbo and the appearance of a rear parking camera option on the standard Clio range.

The Renaultsport Monitor, still a ground-breaking feature in its class since it was introduced in the Renaultsport Clio 200, is a competition-style telemetry system that displays and logs essential performance parameters to help drivers record and hone their skills available as an option at £295.

Integrated with Renault’s MediaNav multimedia and navigation system, it collects data through a series of sensors and presents it in real time, using a customisable display of dials, histograms and graphics on the dashboard. Among the elements it keeps tabs on are engine speed, power and torque, intake air, EDC clutches and transmission oil temperatures, turbo and brake pressures, throttle valve aperture, wheel torque and steering wheel angle. It can also store performance data, including acceleration times and braking time from 60 mph to standstill, plus G-force diagrams, showing longitudinal and lateral acceleration. Screenshots can then be saved to a USB stick for sharing and further analysis.  The monitor also provides a stopwatch function that can be operated manually, or automatically using GPS.

The Renaultsport Monitor 2.0 has an advanced data logging function which can record all the information gathered during a circuit session and match it to corresponding GPS coordinates, so they can be viewed on a computer. The car’s position can be displayed on a satellite-view map, along with a dynamic display of all the associated driving parameters. All data can be recorded – an hour’s driving can be stored in a single 3MB file.

Rounding off the changes is the wider availability of a rear parking camera. Formerly only available as an option on the range-topping 200 Turbo EDC Renaultsport Lux, it can now be specified on all MediaNav-equipped Clios for £350.

Scottish COTY - Renault take hat-trick of awards

Renault drove off with a record hat-trick of trophies at the Scottish Car of the Year awards in Glasgow last night.

Clio triumphed as best small car, Captur was named top crossover and ZOE completed a high voltage evening for the French marque after being crowned electric car of the year. Combined with sister brand, Dacia, according to the judges, it’s the first time a manufacturer has taken so many accolades in the 15-year history of SCOTY.

Collecting the awards at the glittering ceremony held at the Thistle Hotel, Mark Potter, Director, Northern Region, Renault UK, said: “To win three trophies is fantastic recognition for Renault north of the Border. We’ve had a great start to the year, especially with the arrival of our latest three superminis and the refreshed Scénic range. The greater shift towards economical, efficient cars is where our cars are really shining, and I’m delighted to accept these awards which prove that we’re really hitting the mark."

The Scottish Car of the Year Awards is run and judged by the 15 full members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers. Its president, Alisdair Suttie, said Renault is enjoying a “new-found confidence on the back of some impressive new releases” at the event, which also featured the iconic Clio – the company’s best-selling model, which continues to show-off its Va Va Voom.

He added: “Clio proves small really can be beautiful, with high fashion combined with low running costs. It also offers plenty of equipment and space mixed with real driving appeal.

“Renault Captur’s desirable good design mixes with space for the family plus some of the most efficient engines in the segment. These qualities ensured victory against a broad mix of models , some two-wheel-drive, some four and some offering the choice of either.”

Spiralling fuel costs and concerns about climate change have seen plug-in electric cars gaining an increasingly stronger presence in recent times, and once again the judges picked Renault’s flagship electric model, ZOE, as best of the bunch.

Alisdair said: “Cost has always been a problem with electric vehicles, but an innovative battery lease solution makes this year's winner a genuine alternative to a conventionally powered supermini.”

Earlier this year, Clio and ZOE picked up trophies for best small car and technology at the Fleet World Honours. Electric supermini ZOE was also named the most environmentally-friendly fleet car at the well-established BusinessCar ‘Techies’, while chic and cheerful newcomer Captur landed Renault a hat-trick of Next Green Car Awards.

Renault group celebrate becoming the best carbon friendly manufacturer in the first half of 2013

Renault Group has become the European leader in terms of low CO₂ emissions based upon its sales of passenger cars over the first half of 2013. This ranking is the fruit of the rejuvenation of its range, the success of its Energy range of engines and the growth of its electric vehicle sales.  

Renault Group has moved into pole position in Europe in terms of low CO₂ emissions, with an average of 115.9g of CO₂/km* per vehicle (source: AAA-DATA**) based on its passenger car sales over the first half of 2013.

Renault Group owes this performance to the recent rejuvenation of its ranges, notably including five models that return less than 100g of CO₂/km (Twingo, New Clio, Captur, Mégane and Dacia Sandero). Indeed, in the small five-seater diesel car sector, New Clio Energy dCi 90 eco² is the class leader with 83g/km. Overall, the New Renault Clio range emits 18.5g of CO₂/km less than the model’s previous generation.

Meanwhile, Renault is Europe’s number one brand for electric mobility, and its electric vehicle sales have also contributed significantly to the Group’s low average CO₂ emissions.

Taken as a whole, the average level of CO₂ emissions per kilometre across Renault Group’s entire range has improved by nearly 10g in the first half of 2013 over 2012, falling from 125.5g/km to 115.9g/km.

“This position of market leader is proof that the combination of our powertrain strategy – with our range of Energy engines – and our electric vehicle strategy is bearing fruit. Thanks to these innovations, Renault Group is achieving tangible results and maintaining its objective to significantly reduce the long-term environmental footprint of its activities. At the same time, these improvements are beneficial for both the planet and our customers.”

(Jean-Philippe HERMINE, Director, Renault Group, Environmental Plan)