Caterham rebrands to spearhead its continued expansion plans.

Caterham today unveils its fresh new branding, designed to spearhead the Caterham Group’s continuing international expansion and diversification into new sectors.

The new corporate identity features a bold new selection of green tones and a coloured Union Flag emblem, all reflecting Caterham’s proud British heritage.

Since Malaysian entrepreneurs Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun purchased the Caterham brand in 2011, the original sportscar company has been joined in the Group by Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI), Caterham Composites, Caterham Bikes, Caterham Moto Racing Team, Caterham Challenge and the F1 and GP2 race teams.

The rebrand will be applied across all arms of the Group and has been designed to mirror the brand’s commitment to deliver ‘accessible fun’ across its whole spectrum of businesses.

Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Co-Chairman said: “The Caterham coloured Union Flag emblem is our celebration of Caterham’s British heritage. The Caterham brand has been in existence for over 40 years and, in simple terms, is a brand that puts smiles on people’s faces. It is a proud British brand, one that celebrates Britain’s engineering prowess and we, in turn, are proud to showcase our British heritage.

“This is an exciting time for Caterham across all our interests; our F1 team is embarking on its fifth season with everything in place to make serious progress this year. On the roads, Caterham Cars goes from strength to strength, winning universal praise for launching its fastest ever road car, the 620R and the same acclaim for our lowest-priced model, the 160. We also have our roadcar partnership with Renault, which started in F1, and that is now firmly into the development phase of our first product, which will be on the roads in early 2016.

“In late 2013, we launched Caterham’s first two-wheeled ventures, while CTI is involved in a number of fascinating projects. Many of these we cannot talk about for confidentiality reasons, but there is a team in Hingham, working very closely with Caterham Cars and Renault on our new road car, bringing their skill set to bear alongside a major international car manufacturer.

“Caterham Composites, our specialist composite design and manufacturing consultancy in Germany, is also working on a range of concepts, including a project with Airbus Group on new, lightweight aircraft seats. The benefits of that project are obvious, and they are a good example of how we are creating innovation and revenue across the Group.

“Overall, this is an incredibly exciting time to be part of Caterham in all its guises. I am very pleased to see that companies of the stature of GE, Airbus Group and Dell / Intel continue to share our vision and I am excited about seeing how much further we can grow in 2014. I firmly believe that we will look back on 2014 as the year the Caterham story really began.”

TMW - EUROPEAN SALES - Full brand sales in Europe for 2013

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2013 was a year of varying successes and failures, however overall 2013 was most probably the year that the Europe wide fall in sales finally flat-lined, there were some huge stories that hit the worldwide media over the last twelve months, namely the takeover of Chrysler by FIAT, VW's continued dominance in Europe, followed far far behind by the PSA group, who themselves are in continued talks about mergers, takeovers and financial dire straits.

But the main story, well on this blog, is the brilliant news that Jaguar Land Rover carry on where they left off 2012, and thats higher sales, better profits, more models, and more improvement in reliability. as well as the awards, that just flowed month after month to JLR, The stunning F-Type, new Sport and the big daddy, Range Rover, all said hello, and like a hound after a hare, the sales shot off, at a high rate of knots, the next few years will be a huge one for JLR, with massive investment, the new Engine plant at Wolverhampton UK, comes on stream this year, the new 3-Series competitor will emerge, as well as the new XF, and SUV.

The last year or two have been devoted to getting Range Rover right, this has been done, now it is the turn of Land Rover and Jaguar, with the Freelander name disappearing and being replaced with the Discovery moniker making Discovery a brand in its own right, but this is not all, a brand new plant in India, China, Mexico and Saudi Arabia are all with built, building or in the planning stages, JLR will become a huge company, one that the likes of BMW and Mercedes will do well to keep their eyes on.

SEAT and Skoda saved VAG by adding over 40,000 models to the 2012 sales, but VW, AUDI and Porsche all took hits keeping 13's sales below 12's, however the mighty VAG will not rest on its laurels, they did sell nearly three million cars in the EU last year, and nearly Ten Million worldwide, so a few thousand is really nothing, but I am sure that there will be meetings and conversations high up to fathom out the issues and processes put in place to ensure it does not happen this year.

The French brands fared little better, -8.4% for the PSA company and up 4.4% for Renault Group, however it was the Dacia brand that saved Renault, and a massive first year in the UK where it sold over 17,000 cars in its first year, not bad for an unknown brand, its seems that the UK customer did indeed do the maths (reference to the UK TV advertising "Dacia - You do the maths"), Peugeot and Citroen, for two old brands, with great products 2013 was a let down, but 2014 will be better, Peugeot will have the youngest range of products in its history, Citroen will continue with the DS brand and push it further into China, and with the 308 coming on stream worldwide, along with the 208 and 2008, this year will be a significant year for the French giants.

FIAT Group, well, where to start, what a rubbish year in Europe, every brand in their portfolio fell, even the great Ferrari didn't do exceptionally well in Europe, Alfa needs a Miracle, Lancia needs putting to sleep, FIAT needs billions of euros to turn it around, and Chrysler just has not succeeded in the EU, the real story with FIAT is the takeover of Chrylser and the continued slide of Alfa Romeo, it is surely going to take a vast amount of money and talent to get FIAT Group back on top.

Of the other US brands, both had minor falls, Ford dropped 3.2% and GM by 4.3% with Vauxhall saving GM further embarrassment, by increasing sales by over 11% in the UK, adding 20,000 extra sales, 2014 will be interesting to watch, to see if the announcement of Chevrolet pulling out of Europe will effect sales, I am sure that GM wont be advertising the fact, as any sales are worthwhile, even if they are pulling out.

The so called premium brands, BMW and Mercedes were complete opposites, with BMW+MINI dropping and Mercedes+SMART rising, of the remaining brands in Europe only Kia and Mazda managed to increase sales on the previous year, but with the majority of the drops only small numbers, just saying drop or rise is a little innocuous, overall the Europe market dropped by a rather insignificant 1.7%, but that 1.7% equates to about 200,000 sales, and that's not to be ignored.

2014 will be a year of change, more emphasis on China for a lot of brands will bolster sagging sales elsewhere, most companies have significant new car releases this year, so again sales figures will be buoyant, and with the increased sales, the fight for customers will start again, with various offers, finance packages and deals to tempt, even the most tight fisted buyer, these in turn will start the spiral that eventually ended up with the entire worldwide market crashing back in 2008, have any of the Motor Manufacturers taken note and will they act accordingly, don't be silly, it will just carry on as before, the belts will tighten, and gradually they will slip, and sometime in the future, we will all be back here doing the same thing.

In the mean time, enjoy the great new cars that are due this year, and take advantage of any and all offers that are around, and remember, at the end of the day, it is only a car, and not life and death, duh, what a lot of rubbish, we live for cars around here, and any new car is met with a smile and a great deal of interest, that's why we publish all we can. Enjoy them all and here is to the next 11 months of new releases, hopefully better sales and lots of interesting news and gossip from around the world.

Jon Mower

Renault Group increases 2013 sales with Dacia surging on its cheap and cheerful image.

Renault sold 3 percent more cars last year on surging demand for the automaker's no-frills Dacia brand.

Group 2013 deliveries rose to 2.63 million cars and light commercial vehicles from 2.55 million a year earlier, the company said today in a statement. Dacia sales soared 19 percent.

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is focusing on boosting deliveries in emerging economies and has predicted "tremendous growth" in the entry-level segment that is Dacia's focus. Markets outside Europe accounted for half of the company's 2013 sales.

Renault is building plants in expanding regions and developing more vehicles with Japanese alliance partner Nissan Motor Co. to reduce costs with common components.

"In 2014, in a more favorable market context, we are confirming our profitable growth strategy by continuing our recovery in Europe and increasing our international sales," Chief Performance Officer Jerome Stoll said in the statement.

Renault's entry-level vehicle sales accounted for 41 percent of group deliveries last year, up from 37 percent in 2012, said Francois Rouget, a company spokesman.

Industrywide European car registrations surged 13 percent in December, the biggest jump in almost four years, with the strongest growth at Renault, Ford Motor Co. and regional sales leader Volkswagen Group, the ACEA trade group said on Jan. 16. Even so, full-year deliveries in Europe declined a sixth consecutive year to a 19-year low.

Renault and larger French competitor PSA/Peugeot-Citroen were together among the top three car discounters in Germany throughout 2013, according to German industry publication Autohaus PulsSchlag.

2014 growth

Renault forecast today that industrywide demand in France and across Europe will increase 1 percent in 2014, with deliveries worldwide advancing 2 percent. VW, Peugeot and Renault, Europe's largest carmakers, are all seeking more customers in China, the world's biggest auto market, to make up for a lack of growth in their home region.

Renault signed a joint-venture agreement in December to build an SUV factory with Wuhan-based Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ghosn said at the time that Nissan, which already works with Dongfeng, will also cooperate in the project to reduce costs.

Demand in China contributed to a 4 percent gain in fourth-quarter global deliveries at PSA, though the company's full-year sales declined 5 percent to 2.82 million vehicles. VW Group delivered more than 9.7 million vehicles worldwide last year, including heavy trucks and buses. It outsold U.S. competitor General Motors Co. in China in 2013 for the first time in nine years.

Ghosn reorganized management last year following the departure of Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares, who is set to become PSA's CEO. The operating chief's position was abolished, with Thierry Bollore taking the newly created position of chief competitive officer and Stoll taking the performance post, also a new role at the company.

REPORT HERE

EURO NCAP releases 2013 best in class winners.

Each year, Euro NCAP identifies the models tested that have achieved the highest scores in their respective class. In 2013, a total of 33 cars were tested in 7 different categories. The top achievers gained the highest overall scores, calculated from the results achieved in adult, child, pedestrian protection and safety assist tests.

The 2013 best in class cars are:

• Renault ZOE - Supermini
• Qoros 3 Sedan - Small Family
• Lexus IS 300h - Large Family
• Kia Carens and Ford Tourneo Connect - Small MPV
• Jeep Cherokee - Small off-road 4X4
• Maserati Ghibli - Executive

The Qoros 3 Sedan becomes the best performer of any car subjected to Euro NCAP's crash tests in 2013 and is the first vehicle developed in China to achieve the highest five star rating under the overall rating scheme. The Supermini electric car Renault ZOE and the Large Family car Lexus IS 300h were the all round performers of the electric/hybrid cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2013. This year, the best in class honour in the Small MPV category is shared by the Kia Carens and Ford Tourneo Connect. Finally, the Jeep Cherokee and the Maserati Ghibli also receive the coveted designation from Euro NCAP in the Small Off-Road 4X4 and Executive categories respectively.

In 2013, Euro NCAP updated its assessment of child occupant protection, giving credit to manufacturers that allow for easy installation of most popular types of child seats and which comply with the most recent revised child safety standards. Furthermore, the organization has started to test voluntary-set intelligent speed assistant systems as part of the rating.

Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General, says: 'Euro NCAP is continuously evolving in response to industry innovation and consumer expectation. It is very positive that the number of 4 and 5 stars is still significant despite of the ever increasing requirements. In 2014, another big step forward is taken by adding crash avoidance systems such as Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist/Lane Departure Warning tests to the overall star rating.' Michiel van Ratingen to add: 'The decision to reward collision avoidance technologies on new cars will encourage more widespread fitment and further improve the safety of all road users in Europe. We hope that this, together with very high levels of occupant protection, will allow consumers to choose the very safest vehicles in 2014 and after.'

Vastly improved looks now make the Megane CC a Renault you WILL want to own.

Renault’s renewal of its range continues with the introduction of New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet. The latest version of the model features the brand’s new styling identity and Renault R-Link connected multimedia system as standard.

• New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet’s front end styling embodies Renault’s acclaimed new design philosophy
• Renault R-Link, the connected in-dash multimedia system, is now standard on all UK versions
• New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet will be unveiled in January 2014 at the Brussels Motor Show.  UK pricing and specification will be announced closer to sales commencing in March.

After Mégane Hatch, Mégane Coupé and Mégane Sport Tourer, it is now the turn of Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet to feature Renault’s new family traits. Its dynamic, elegant stance has been further enhanced by a new bumper which incorporates the new distinctive Renault diamond set to a gloss black background.

Meanwhile, the connected Renault R-Link multimedia system is now standard on the full UK line-up of Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet. This fully-connected system comes with a smart, chrome-trimmed seven-inch (18cm) display which functions in association with a centre console-mounted joystick. A line-up of connected applications, such as e-mail or weather forecasts, is also available through the R-Link store.

New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet continues to be equipped with the coupé segment’s largest panoramic glass roof. With the top down, the vehicle ensures an inimitable open-air experience without the drawbacks. Its standard fixed glass wind deflector, which is unique in the segment, minimises turbulence to provide maximum comfort for four passengers when travelling at speeds of up to 55 mph. New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet can also be ordered with an optional removable mesh deflector screen that allows two occupants traveling alone to benefit from extra protection against buffeting at all speeds.

New Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet is made at Renault’s Douai plant in France, alongside Scénic, Grand Scénic and Scénic XMOD. UK pricing and specification will be announced shortly.

Happy 20th Birthday to the Renault Twingo fun city car.

The original Twingo – “The car that didn’t exist”* – is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. At the time of its launch, the model took the world by storm thanks to its bold design, innovative concept and playful demeanour, and ultimately racked up more than two million sales.

An ambitious project

In 1989, Renault asked project director Yves Dubreil to come up with a small car that was compact, practical, economical and comfortable – but not a direct rival to its big sister, Clio. Twingo’s conception was dictated by the ‘design to cost’ philosophy and the team’s mission was to propose a compact car, with pioneering, attractive styling at a reasonable price. To achieve that, the only solution was to take a completely different approach with the aim of making life easier... Strip out the superfluous and replace it with unique innovations such as the sliding rear seat.

A simple range

Unlike the diverse model ranges marketed many of its competitors, Twingo was unique inasmuch as it was available in a single version, with just one 1.2-litre, 55hp engine and one interior trim level which featured electric windows and apple green control stalks. Twingo was presented with four different body colour choices at its launch: Outremer Blue, Corail Red, Coriandre Green and Indien Yellow. Only two options could be specified: a folding canvas roof and climate control.

Small on the outside, spacious and versatile within

Twingo featured a monobox architecture which permitted a better distribution of space between the engine compartment and cabin. The wheels were pushed right out to the four corners of the vehicle and there was just one wheel size and a single engine. These attributes enabled the interior space to be optimised. At the time of its launch, Twingo topped its class in the small city car segment in terms of height, width and knee room – most notably thanks to its innovative sliding rear seat. All four seats could in fact be folded flat to create an impromptu double bed – a unique offering in its field that immediately underscored Twingo’s smart design and versatility.

“It'sup to you to invent a lifestyle that goes with Twingo!”

This advertising slogan accompanied the launch of Twingo, dubbed by some as the ‘Frog from Billancourt’. The moniker Twingo – a blend of ‘Twist’, ‘Swing’ and ‘Tango’ – was emblematic of the unusual, dynamic and aesthetically-pleasing design of this vehicle which exuded optimism and joie de vivre. Twingo saw Renault take a totally fresh stance on the automobile. The deliberate polar opposite of a status-enhancing vehicle, it inspired a new type of consumption: people bought a Twingo for themselves, not to impress others. People appropriated Twingo for their own desires and invented a lifestyle that went with it.

A unique, engaging personality

Twingo was not a downsized version of Renault Espace. It boasted its own distinct personality, with a curvy, rounded exterior design that expressed strength and beauty with an almost human face. The design of the dashboard guaranteed perfect visibility and married simplicity, functionality (with the centre console) and a touch of humour with its hazard warning lights switch shaped like a clown’s nose.

Landmark dates

March 1993: Commercial launch of Twingo, following a preview several months earlier at the Paris Motorshow.

1994: A Frenchman covered 240,000km in a Twingo across the harsh Australian outback, demonstrating the reliability of this car whose talents were not restricted merely to city motoring. At the end of the journey, the car was painted by an Aboriginal artist.

1994: Launch of Twingo Easy equipped with a manual gearbox but no clutch pedal.

1996: Launch of the limited-edition Twingo ‘Benetton’ and Twingo’Matic versions, fitted with an automatic three-speed gearbox. Moreover, the engine was boosted by 5hp to reach 60hp.

1998: First major restyling of Twingo with upgrades to the chassis, seats, dashboard, lights and front bumper. Introduction of the limited-edition ‘Elite’ version.

1999: Launch of the top-of-the-range ‘Initiale Paris’ version.

2000: Launch of the 16V, 75hp powerplant and Quickshift sequential gearbox.

2005: Appearance of the ‘Kiss Cool’ limited-edition.

June 28, 2007:Production of the last Twingo 1 in Europe following some 2,075,300 sales over a career that lasted 14 years – an exceptional lifespan by car industry standards.

2012: Twingo continued to be manufactured in Colombia until 2012. Between 1995 and 2012, Twingo achieved tremendous success in the Colombian market, notching up sales in excess of 100,000. Twingo Tatoo was Twingo 1’s final limited-edition version.

* According to Christophe MIDLER, Research Director at CNRS – the French National Centre for Scientific Research– and author of ‘The car that didn’t exist’, published in 1994.

Sadly, the original Twingo never made its way officially to UK shores in right-hand-drive form, however, the second-generation did, arriving over here in September 2007. Today, following a relatively recent facelift to bring it in line with Renault’s new brand identity, it continues to be sold in Dynamique form, the pocket-rocket Renaultsport 133 having now ceased production in anticipation of the third-generation model.

Renault's ZOE presented with award at the Houses of Parliament.

Renault’s “brilliantly green” electric supermini ZOE proved she also has bite after being declared the new eco champion in awards presented at the Houses of Parliament today.

Naming ZOE the overall Green Apple Awards winner, in conjunction with The Green Organisation, which recognises and promotes environmental best practice around the globe, members of the Midland Group of Motoring Writers voted using the experience they have with vehicles and knowledge of the technology that lies behind them. The French brand’s star plug-in electric model also carried off the prize for small family cars.

One of the judges said multi-award winning ZOE "could be the car that makes people consider electric cars as a viable option” and that it’s “the most mainstream electric car yet”.

He added, "Quite apart from being brilliantly green, it could also be the car that starts making our city centres and shopping centre car parks zero emissions and environmentally friendly. Arguably, it is the most real-world option presented to buyers to make a decision on whether electric motoring is for them. For this, it’s doubly significant, and why it’s my overall winner.”

A fellow judge said, "ZOE is a wonderful mix of a smart looking small family car and the sort of technology that wins friends the first time it's driven. It made me smile and the overall running costs are likely to keep that grin on owners' faces for years."

Another added, "It's a simply brilliant new entrant in the search for zero emissions motoring and fully deserves to stand at the top of the podium at the Houses of Parliament."

Renault’s best-selling Z.E. model is rapidly becoming a darling of the auto industry awards circuit, having already picked up several trophies only five months since it hit UK showrooms. The electric supermini was crowned top electric car at the Scottish Car of the Year awards last month, named the most environmentally friendly fleet car at the well-established BusinessCar ‘Techies’, and drove away with the technology award at the Fleet World Honours.

Ian Donaldson, Midland Group chairman, said: "We did not ask members simply to list the most fuel efficient cars as measured by the official statistics demanded by law, and easily accessed by anyone looking to buy a new car.

"We all know from experience that these figures can be misleading, sometimes to an enormous degree. We wanted our nominations to reflect the real world that hard-pressed motorists must live in, far away from the theoretical figures of the rolling road laboratory."

The flagship vehicle of the French brand’s four-strong 100 per cent electric vehicle range is stylish, affordable and practical – perfect for commuting, supermarket and school runs, and for households who simply want to downsize their carbon footprint, as well as their running costs.

With an official NEDC range of 130 miles, the longest of any mass-market EV, and with a real-world range on a full charge of around 92 miles in temperate conditions or 64 in cold weather, ZOE is the first affordable car for everyday use to have been designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. Well-equipped in every trim level, plus a free domestic 32 amp (7kW) ZE ready Single Wall-box, it’s priced deliberately to lure buyers out of conventionally-engined superminis, with an on-the-road price tag comparable to many diesel superminis. Prices start from £13,995 (after the UK Plug-In Car Grant), with battery hire from £70 per month.

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.

TMW - Its that time of the Month - September UK sales.

JAGUAR

AUGUST 2012 2962 sales - AUGUST 2013 3183 sales +7.46%
YTD 2012 11139 sales - YTD 2013 13256 sales +19.01%

LAND ROVER

AUGUST 2012 8745 sales - AUGUST 2013 9531 sales +8.99%
YTD 2012 38847 sales - YTD 2013 43916 sales +13.05%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

AUGUST 2012 22427 sales - AUGUST 2013 27308 sales +21.76%
YTD 2012 97692 sales - YTD 2013 105313 sales +7.80%

MERCEDES

AUGUST 2012 16618 sales - AUGUST 2013 21256 sales +27.91%
YTD 2012 73401 sales - YTD 2013 86624 sales +18.01%

LEXUS

AUGUST 2012 1541 sales - AUGUST 2013 2013 sales +30.63%
YTD 2012 7050 sales - YTD 2013 7067 sales -0.24%

AUDI

AUGUST 2012 22283 sales - AUGUST 2013 25289 sales +15.91%
YTD 2012 101390 sales - YTD 2013 114261 sales +12.69%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +18.64%

CITROEN +9.20%

DACIA +100.00%

FIAT +19.63%

FORD +10.99%

HONDA +3.06%
HYUNDAI +9.07%
KIA +10.22%

LOTUS +17.50%
MAZDA +14.59%

MINI +5.58% 

MITSUBISHI +49.61%

NISSAN +11.86%

PEUGEOT +6.01%

PORSCHE +1.06%
RENAULT +6.42%

SEAT +16.51%
SKODA +19.40% 

SMART +6.86% 
SUBARU +0.69%
SUZUKI +29.68%
TOYOTA +5.72%
VAUXHALL +11.50%

VOLKSWAGEN +5.33%

VOLVO +2.48%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -26.48%

ASTON MARTIN -1.76%

BENTLEY -3.68%

CHEVROLET -14.63%

CHRYSLER -23.70%

INFINITI -18.45%

JEEP -12.80%

MASERATI -0.42%

MG -56.74%

PERODUA -43.73%

PROTON -90.86%

SAAB -98.60%

SSANGYONG -26.60%

September has shown that the UK is ignoring the financial woes that are effecting many other countries around the world, with a 12% increase in sales over last year and near 11% for the year, and increasingly more manufacturers are showing positive yearly results, there are are only 13 companies showing decreases on 2012, of which 3 no longer sell cars, they are clearing out old stocks.

MG continues to struggle, yes they have 104 registrations for September, but those figures are very misleading, as 50 MG6 Magnette's were pre registered at the beginning of the month and sold to Motorpoint at a massive discount, that leaves 54, with 47 dealers currently names on MG's website, each will have one new MG3, that leaves 7, and the demos used for testing via MG, would take up 3-4, so when you break down the sales figures, they are really very poor.

Mitsubishi and Suzuki are both having a great time in the UK and both have new cars coming on stream to carry the sales momentum forward, Chevy is a weird one, they have some great cars, especially the Cruze, but some of the smaller ones like the Spark are truly dreadful, and recent reports on the Spark have shown how bad it is, PAG continue its dominance, with VW, SEAT, Skoda and AUDI all out performing last years figures.

The Corsa, Focus and Fiesta lead both the monthly sales chart as well as the yearly one, BMW are creeping on with the 1-Series and 3-Series edging higher on the chart, The  Golf, Astra, Polo, Qashqai and Peugeots 208 round out the yearly top ten, out of the 1.8 million cars this year sold, over half a million is taken by the top ten, as per usual Ford and Vauxhall continue to dominate as they have for decades, but their lead is slowly but surely being eaten away, and it wont be long before either the Golf or BMW 1 or 3-Series takes the top spot, and when that happens it will be a very sad day for the UK motor industry.

Lastly, jaguar and Land Rover, how great it is to see this once lame duck (under Ford ownership) flourishing and showing the world that the UK can design and build stunning cars, both in looks and performance, and it is not just in the UK, US sales (elsewhere on the blog) have again shown an upward sales swing, the new Range Rover,RR Sport and F-Type are all performing extremely well, and with new models in the pipeline, the new Discovery 5/Freelander 3, XF, XT, and C-X17 SUV the sales flight will continue for some years to come.

Jon Mower

TMW - Its that time of the month - August UK sales figures

JAGUAR

AUGUST 2012 178 sales - AUGUST 2013 260 sales +46.07%
YTD 2012 8177 sales - YTD 2013 10073 sales +23.19%

LAND ROVER

AUGUST 2012 591 sales - AUGUST 2013 806 sales +36.38%
YTD 2012 30102 sales - YTD 2013 34385 sales +14.23%

JAGUAR LAND ROVERS COMPETITORS

BMW

AUGUST 2012 3449 sales - AUGUST 2013 4401 sales +27.60%
YTD 2012 75265 sales - YTD 2013 78005 sales +3.64%

MERCEDES

AUGUST 2012 2378 sales - AUGUST 2013 3058 sales +28.60%
YTD 2012 56783 sales - YTD 2013 65386 sales +15.12%

LEXUS

AUGUST 2012 197 sales - AUGUST 2013 231 sales +17.26%
YTD 2012 5526 sales - YTD 2013 5037 sales -8.85%

AUDI

AUGUST 2012 4008 sales - AUGUST 2013 3904 sales -2.59%
YTD 2012 79107 sales - YTD 2013 88432 sales +11.79%

RISERS ON PREVIOUS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ABARTH +21.27%

ASTON MARTIN +5.39%

CITROEN +12.17%
DACIA +100.00%

FIAT +16.81%

FORD +11.83%

HONDA +7.71%
HYUNDAI +9.60%
KIA +10.38%

LOTUS +27.18%
MASERATI +6.03%
MAZDA +6.06%

MINI +4.06% 

MITSUBISHI +40.57%

NISSAN +14.28%

PEUGEOT +6.05%

RENAULT +0.29%

SEAT +18.79%
SKODA +15.14% 

SMART +7.89% 
SUZUKI +33.32%
TOYOTA +5.46%
VAUXHALL +12.95%

VOLKSWAGEN +5.32%

LOSERS THIS YEAR (YOY CUMULATIVE)

ALFA ROMEO -32.41%

BENTLEY -1.85%

CHEVROLET -21.09%

CHRYSLER -24.80%

INFINITI -18.13%

JEEP -16.70%

MG -69.77%

PERODUA -36.40%

PORSCHE -1.28%

PROTON -91.89%

SAAB -98.55%

SSANGYONG -34.35%

SUBARU -11.53%

VOLVO -1.67%

Yet another great month in the UK for sales, with another a near 11% increase on the month and 10% on the year, the car manufacturers are having a good time, and this will continue with many new models coming on stream over the next three months from the MG3 to Seat's Leon ST, Skoda's new Yeti, Superb face lift and Octavia VRs, to New Insignia, Nissan Note, 308 and Kia Soul to name but a tiny amount.

Dacia is the new darling of the UK sales with nearly 9,000 already sold and that's with four model lineup, whereas on the other hand MG continue to be embarrassed by it tiny sales, 13 again, and I suspect that some if not all of those were pre-registered MG3 models ready to be used for press reviews, I will be reviewing the MG3 in the next week, after the MG6, Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5, so keep an eye out for these.

The usual suspects are in the top ten sales charts, Fiesta, Focus, Astra, Corsa, Golf, Polo, Qashqai, 1 and 3 series and surprisingly the Vauxhall Insignia, surprising because it is currently on run out ready for the next gen version, so maybe either a lot of pre-reg or some very cheap deals, those are readily available, again i will be doing a report on these in the next month or two.

The UK has seen an unprecedented 18 month of continuous rise in sales, during which the world has seen continued difficulties in labour, financial and personal circumstances, can the UK carry on with these rises, or will there be another collapse like the collapse that occurred in both June 2009 and December 2011, will there be anymore corporate collapses like MG-Rover and SAAB, as pricing gets more competitive, and margins get slimmer, can the smaller brands compete in an ever more difficult market.

Renault gives Megane the family look and makes it more appealing.

The new-look Mégane family are revealed shortly before the model’s official presentation at the International Frankfurt Motor Show.

As Renault continues to deploy its new design identity across its model range, it is the Mégane line-up’s turn to incorporate the brand’s latest front-end styling.

The change ensures greater unity between the front ends of Mégane Hatchback, Sport Tourer and Coupé which feature the same bumper and bonnet, although each version maintains its own distinctive identity. They are also equipped with new elliptical headlights.

The new styling identity has been carried over to the line-up’s sporting models, too. Mégane Renaultsport and GT Line both boast an even more dynamic stance and a new front-end design, as well as new headlights with gloss black backgrounds.

The new range is due to go on sale in the UK in the first quarter of next year.

More important details about the Renault Mégane will be revealed on the Renault stand at the 2013 International Frankfurt Motor Show on 10th September.

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)