New Renault Latitude Sedan Takes Flagship Spot in Range

Renault has lifted the covers off a new flagship sedan named Latitude that will in effect replace the discontinued (and rather controversial) Vel Satis.

Described by the French carmaker as "its latest international status-enhancing family saloon" [sic..], the Latitude will get its first public outing at the Moscow Motor Show at the end of August, while Europeans will get their first view of the car at this Fall's 2010 Paris Motor Show.

For those of you that keep a close eye on global automotive news, the new Latitude won't come as a surprise as it's based on the Renault Group's 2010 Samsung SM5 sedan that recently went on sale in South Korea. And by "based", we mean re-badged and VW- re-grilled... [see pictures of the SM5 below]

Built on a modified version of the Laguna's platform, Renault's new flagship model features a conventional four-door sedan body instead of a five-door fastback form like it's 25, Safrane (not the Samsung-based Safrane) and Vel-Satis predecessors

The Latitude measures 4.890mm in length, 1.830mm in width and 1.490mm in height, meaning it's 195mm longer, 19mm wider and 45mm taller than the Laguna hatch.

Renault has not yet released details on the engine range, but motorists should expect the usual mix of petrol and diesel engines.

The French automaker said that the Latitude will be offered with a variety of features that place the emphasis "on innovation and travelling comfort", including a dual-mode air ionizer with double fragrance diffuser, triple-zone climate control, a massaging driver's seat, Bose Premium audio, the Renault hands-free card and more.

According to the company, the Latitude is due to go on sale this autumn in Asia, Africa, Russia, Turkey, Gulf, Australia and Mexico, with Europe to follow shortly after.

New Renault Latitude

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New Samsung SM5 Sedan

Design Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Front Side View

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Sport Car

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Interior

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Picture

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Taillights

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Seats

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Rear View

2011 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet Car Door

New Renault Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet to Hit UK Showrooms in July

Renault has confirmed UK pricing and specification for the all-new Megane Coupé-Cabriolet, which completes the French automaker's C-segment range. The new the hardtop convertible models comes in a choice of two trim levels, Dynamique TomTom and GT, priced from £21,595.

Buyers of the four-seater drop-top model have a choice of six engine and transmission combinations. The range includes a 1.4-liter turbo petrol with 130HP, a 2.0-liter petrol with 140HP that's hooked up to a CVT, a 1.5-liter diesel with 110HP that's linked to a dual clutch transmission and a 1.9-liter diesel with 130HP.

The lineup tops out with two GT versions, one powered by a 2.0-liter turbo petrol with 180HP and the other by a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 160HP.

All Megane CC models come equipped with comes with a an electric panoramic folding glass roof, 17-inch alloys, 4x15W radio CD with Bluetooth and AUX input, air conditioning, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, fixed glass wind deflector, hands free keycard, speed limiter and fully integrated Carminat TomTom satellite navigation as standard.

The GT variants benefit from numerous upgrades including 18-inch alloys, bespoke sport front and rear bumpers, dark chrome surround for the windscreen frame and waistline, with matching door mirrors, door handles and front fog lights, as well as sport seats, aluminium-faced pedals, an analogue rev-counter and polished carbon interior trim.

Version	Engine	CO2 g/km	Combined MPG	Price OTR
Dynamique TomTom	1.4 TCe 130	169	38.7	£21,595
	2.0 CVT 140	184	35.3	£22,595
	1.5 dCi 110 EDC Auto FAP	130	56.5	£23,595
	1.9 dCi 130	149	48.7	£23,095
GT	2.0 TCe 180	188	34.9	£24,880
	2.0 dCi 160	175	42.2	£25,830

Brazilian Design Student Creates Renault Hybrid Supercar Concept

Don't you just love the wild imagination of young design students especially when they don't have to deal with the necessary but nonetheless, boring practicalities of real life vehicles? Such is the case with this scaled prototype for a Renault Hybrid Supercar that comes to us from André Luiz, a young design student at FAAP in Sao Pao, Brazil. André told Carscoop that this project won him second place in the Latin American design contest, "My First Renault". The concept behind the design was to create a three-seater supercar that would be used by Renault for demonstration purposes.

According to André, the hybrid can accommodate a professional pilot up front and two 'joy-ride' passengers behind him. As for the mechanics, it was designed to be equipped with a mid-mounted combustion engine and two electric motors in the front wheels. You can read more details about André's project below.

Carscoop thanks André Luiz for the photos

Andre Luiz: Project "First Experience"

The project's idea is to innovate the way how velocity is brought to the user, like the Renault Spider and F1 Space concepts. It would be used by Renault in circuit shows or in the streets, and give to the public a single sensation of riding in a competition car. I took as inspiration: Lemans vehicle, the F1 R26 and, as I told before, the last decade Renault's concepts.

It's driven by a professional pilot who is placed in the front cockpit, while the 2 passengers are placed in the back cockpit, enjoying all the tactile, auditive and visual sensations that only a professional pilot had experienced before.

The car has 2 propulsion systems: in the center it has a combustion engine and it's complemented by 2 electrics engines placed in the front wheels. The batteries are placed between the pilot and the front wheels.

This Project was made for "My first Renault" contest. The participants had the follow up of the company's designers. The 1:5 scale model was developed by me and it was shown at the Renault stand during the Auto Show of São Paulo with the others finalists. This Project was the Second place.

About me:

• Finalist of the Quatro Rodas magazine design contest in 2007.
  
• Graduated in Product Design at UEMG ( University of Minas Gerais ) in 2008.
  
• Worked at Underground do Brasil in 2008.
  
• Finalist of the Salão de Acessórios in 2008.
  
• Currently I study Mobility Design at FAAP (São Paulo-Brazil).