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Renault is going against all the rules with its Fluence sedan, launched in Europe in 2010 and in South Africa this week. So, what’s the brand doing that’s different...?
Well, for a start, Renault SA’s boss Xavier Gobille told me he wants “to open a new battlefield in the way cars are marketed in South Africa, one that doesn’t focus on features and speed and performance but rather on service plans, warranties and what the BUYER wants rather than what the automaker wants to sell”.
Now there’s a brave Frenchman...
For once, somebody actually standing up and saying 0-100km/h is not that important (what’s it going to do for you in the morning crush hour?), somebody not concerned that his car can’t do a potentially lethal 200km/h (do not pass GO!, go directly to jail) but does have six crash bags and doesn’t use a lot of fuel.
He was also up-front about Renault SA’s past and widely publicised deficiencies in customer service and parts supply and was emphatic that the mistakes of the past are not the mistakes of today; he also concedes that the negative perception of Renault still exists and that a lot of hard work will have to be done to erase that perception from the public mind.
Gobille was speaking at this week’s SA launch in Gauteng of the first three examples of the Renault Fluence, a C-segment, five-seater sedan that – given its high level of no-cost “extras” – is plainly and boldly aiming to take business away from the larger and much more expensive D segment with its large cabin and, biggest-in-class boot and high level of “extras” that come at no extra cost.
DISTINCTIVE DERRIERE: Well, it is French (though built in Korea). The new Renault Fluence comes with big alloy rims and low-profile tyres feature on all three introductory models.
Three models to start with, then... a 1.6-litre Expression entry unit at R199 900, a 1.6-litre Dynamic with higher spec and leather upholstery for R224 900 and a two-litre Privilege (a new brand name for Renault) at R244 900. I first drove the Expression and found its 81kW engine deficient in outright power but perfectly capable of, as they say, ”staying with the traffic”.
The two-litre has much better performance (more than adequate, but hardly sporty), which brings us back to Gobille’s upside-down marketing plan. As he explains it, Renault surveys have assessed what potential customers want and it isn’t rip-snorting, tyre-shredding power or a cornucopia of fancy accessories.
Nope, it’s value, value, value, along with a long guarantee and a long service plan – desires met in each instance by “five years or 150 000km”.
“I think of this car,” Gobille says, “in terms of value for money, satnav...” He stops speaking, executes a perfect Gallic shrug to cover what is left unsaid... “If you don’t see it, it’s your problem...”.
“We want people to see Renault as ‘peace of mind’.”And that, he adds, includes parts supply; if a current Renault is off the road because a needed part cannot be found, then a loaner will be supplied – no argument.
“The main change is that cars are visually dressed to attract customers. Renault is aiming to satisfy buyers’ real needs. And if competing hard in the price of parts for cars launched in the past three years begins to cost us money, then so be it.
“2010 was a positive year with 10 models launched, the new Trafic, Kangoo and Sandero are coming soon and there will be more launches in 2012 – all of which will give us greater market share through a larger footprint – it will grow to 60%.”
For now, however, the Fluence armoury contains only the three models, the replacements for the Megane sedan, and assembled, as the Megane was, in Ulsan, Korea. Their engines and gearboxes come from Nissan (the two-litre is the same as that in the Nissan Qashqai and Koleos).
The Megane hatch will continue to be produced.
An auto gearbox – a double-clutch unit – will appear in 2012 Fluences to replace the constant velocity transmission currently used in Europe; diesel is not high-priority (“maybe by the end of the year”) and the electric Fluence is on the back burner while Nissan’s battery equivalent, the Leaf, makes the running for the Renault/Nissan alliance.
Renault SA’s Fluence specialist Danielle Melville explained at the launch that the car’s main rivals were GM’s Cruze, Toyota’s Corolla, Ford’s Focus, the Mazda3, the Megane and the upcoming Jetta 6.
“We’re a fresh sedan alternative in a conservative C-segment market that is going to grow in coming years,” she added. “The Fluence is a product in its own right, with its own name – essentially a D-segment sedan without the price but with unique features as well as handling and dynamism.”
I’d question those last few words, but certainly the Fluence is comfortable, quiet and, if Renault’s fuel consumption claims are accurate, best-in-class. The suspension has drawn on the brand’s sports-car heritage
Melville says the cars’ dimension are greater than its competition; its fuel tank, at 60 litres, is larger than them all except for the Cruze, and she describes is less-than-scintillating performance as “holding the middle ground”.
If you live in a city, need a car for the daily commute and the school shuffle, and have at least a couple of children then take a serious look at the Fluence... here’s what’s on offer.
The Fluence 1.6 16v Expression, Renault says, “is the high-value contender” with a bunch of “features” but the accent is on that favourite word of car purveyors: affordability. It means zip in the real world (affordable to whom?) but as the entry model, its credentials are pretty good.
Safety, first (remember what M. Gobille has espoused?). So, anti-lock brakes, emergency braking pressure reserve and front/rear pressure balancing. Front, side and curtain crash bags, auto central locking, child-seat anchors and an anti-theft alarm are also in the package.
A “hands-free” car allows entry and will lock the car as the driver walks away with card in pocket. A hijacker will come to an embarrassing halt.
Additional features include aircon, one-touch front power windows, 60/40 split folding rear seat and – a nice no-extra cost cherry, this one - a Carminat TomTom integrated satnav system (it also features on the other two models). The screen doubles up as a display for the car’s RadioSat Classic audio system, which includes fingertip remote controls, an MP3-compatible CD receiver and an RCA connection for personal music devices.
All Fluence models have alloy rims (16” with 205/60 tyres on the Expression) and a full-size spare and fog lights.
The 1.6 quad-valve Dynamique shares its engine and all of the above with the Expression but takes on extra stuff, including leather upholstery and auto headlights and wipers. Its aircon is auto controlled and dual-zone and has an extra set of vents to the rear seats.
The sound system is higher-grade (4x35W, MP3-compatible CD receiver with Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls and audio streaming from compatible media players and the wheels are bigger: 17” alloys with also with 205/60-profile tyres.
The two-litre, quad-valve Fluence Privilége moves into premium territory – the real threat to D-segment products – with four one-touch power windows, power/heatable/folding external mirrors, leather on the steering wheel, reverse-parking radar, stability control and a ‘3D Sound by Arkamys’ audio system.
AND UNDER THE BONNET...
That means 140W, eight speakers and digital sound processing. Renault says it provides three-dimensional “surround sound” with precise sound reproduction.
Now, for those of you who really want to know what goes on under the bonnet, here are the engine specs...
The 1.6 displaces 1598cc and produces 81kW/156Nm at 6000 and 4400rpm respectively, promises 11.7sec to 100km/h from its five-speed manual box and has a top speed of 185km/h. The 2.0 is listed as 105kW/195Nm at 6000 and 3750rpm, hits 100 in 10.4sec and tops out at 195km/h. It has a six-speed manual gearbox.
They promise 6.5 and 7.8 litres/100km respective on the combined fuel-consumption cycle and maximum load volume is 1024 litres – if you’re shy about announcing performance, be sure to brag about your boot space, how much you aim to save at the fuel pumps and that you won’t have to pay for routine services (except for wear-and-tear parts) for five years.
Can you afford one? Find out with our WesBank car finance calculator.
Well, for a start, Renault SA’s boss Xavier Gobille told me he wants “to open a new battlefield in the way cars are marketed in South Africa, one that doesn’t focus on features and speed and performance but rather on service plans, warranties and what the BUYER wants rather than what the automaker wants to sell”.
Now there’s a brave Frenchman...
For once, somebody actually standing up and saying 0-100km/h is not that important (what’s it going to do for you in the morning crush hour?), somebody not concerned that his car can’t do a potentially lethal 200km/h (do not pass GO!, go directly to jail) but does have six crash bags and doesn’t use a lot of fuel.
He was also up-front about Renault SA’s past and widely publicised deficiencies in customer service and parts supply and was emphatic that the mistakes of the past are not the mistakes of today; he also concedes that the negative perception of Renault still exists and that a lot of hard work will have to be done to erase that perception from the public mind.
Gobille was speaking at this week’s SA launch in Gauteng of the first three examples of the Renault Fluence, a C-segment, five-seater sedan that – given its high level of no-cost “extras” – is plainly and boldly aiming to take business away from the larger and much more expensive D segment with its large cabin and, biggest-in-class boot and high level of “extras” that come at no extra cost.
DISTINCTIVE DERRIERE: Well, it is French (though built in Korea). The new Renault Fluence comes with big alloy rims and low-profile tyres feature on all three introductory models.
Three models to start with, then... a 1.6-litre Expression entry unit at R199 900, a 1.6-litre Dynamic with higher spec and leather upholstery for R224 900 and a two-litre Privilege (a new brand name for Renault) at R244 900. I first drove the Expression and found its 81kW engine deficient in outright power but perfectly capable of, as they say, ”staying with the traffic”.
The two-litre has much better performance (more than adequate, but hardly sporty), which brings us back to Gobille’s upside-down marketing plan. As he explains it, Renault surveys have assessed what potential customers want and it isn’t rip-snorting, tyre-shredding power or a cornucopia of fancy accessories.
Nope, it’s value, value, value, along with a long guarantee and a long service plan – desires met in each instance by “five years or 150 000km”.
“I think of this car,” Gobille says, “in terms of value for money, satnav...” He stops speaking, executes a perfect Gallic shrug to cover what is left unsaid... “If you don’t see it, it’s your problem...”.
“We want people to see Renault as ‘peace of mind’.”And that, he adds, includes parts supply; if a current Renault is off the road because a needed part cannot be found, then a loaner will be supplied – no argument.
EVERYTHING STANDARD: Even the entry-level Renault Fluence comes with a large-screen satnav system with its own remote control (that's it next to the handbrake lever).
“The main change is that cars are visually dressed to attract customers. Renault is aiming to satisfy buyers’ real needs. And if competing hard in the price of parts for cars launched in the past three years begins to cost us money, then so be it.
“2010 was a positive year with 10 models launched, the new Trafic, Kangoo and Sandero are coming soon and there will be more launches in 2012 – all of which will give us greater market share through a larger footprint – it will grow to 60%.”
For now, however, the Fluence armoury contains only the three models, the replacements for the Megane sedan, and assembled, as the Megane was, in Ulsan, Korea. Their engines and gearboxes come from Nissan (the two-litre is the same as that in the Nissan Qashqai and Koleos).
The Megane hatch will continue to be produced.
An auto gearbox – a double-clutch unit – will appear in 2012 Fluences to replace the constant velocity transmission currently used in Europe; diesel is not high-priority (“maybe by the end of the year”) and the electric Fluence is on the back burner while Nissan’s battery equivalent, the Leaf, makes the running for the Renault/Nissan alliance.
Renault SA’s Fluence specialist Danielle Melville explained at the launch that the car’s main rivals were GM’s Cruze, Toyota’s Corolla, Ford’s Focus, the Mazda3, the Megane and the upcoming Jetta 6.
AUTO AIR: Aircon is standard on the Fluence though only the two-litre model can be set to automatic.
“We’re a fresh sedan alternative in a conservative C-segment market that is going to grow in coming years,” she added. “The Fluence is a product in its own right, with its own name – essentially a D-segment sedan without the price but with unique features as well as handling and dynamism.”
I’d question those last few words, but certainly the Fluence is comfortable, quiet and, if Renault’s fuel consumption claims are accurate, best-in-class. The suspension has drawn on the brand’s sports-car heritage
Melville says the cars’ dimension are greater than its competition; its fuel tank, at 60 litres, is larger than them all except for the Cruze, and she describes is less-than-scintillating performance as “holding the middle ground”.
If you live in a city, need a car for the daily commute and the school shuffle, and have at least a couple of children then take a serious look at the Fluence... here’s what’s on offer.
The Fluence 1.6 16v Expression, Renault says, “is the high-value contender” with a bunch of “features” but the accent is on that favourite word of car purveyors: affordability. It means zip in the real world (affordable to whom?) but as the entry model, its credentials are pretty good.
Safety, first (remember what M. Gobille has espoused?). So, anti-lock brakes, emergency braking pressure reserve and front/rear pressure balancing. Front, side and curtain crash bags, auto central locking, child-seat anchors and an anti-theft alarm are also in the package.
A “hands-free” car allows entry and will lock the car as the driver walks away with card in pocket. A hijacker will come to an embarrassing halt.
INFO THAT COUNTS: Buyers of the new Renault Fluence will be more interested in the small dial on the right than the rev-counter and speedo.
All Fluence models have alloy rims (16” with 205/60 tyres on the Expression) and a full-size spare and fog lights.
The 1.6 quad-valve Dynamique shares its engine and all of the above with the Expression but takes on extra stuff, including leather upholstery and auto headlights and wipers. Its aircon is auto controlled and dual-zone and has an extra set of vents to the rear seats.
The sound system is higher-grade (4x35W, MP3-compatible CD receiver with Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls and audio streaming from compatible media players and the wheels are bigger: 17” alloys with also with 205/60-profile tyres.
The two-litre, quad-valve Fluence Privilége moves into premium territory – the real threat to D-segment products – with four one-touch power windows, power/heatable/folding external mirrors, leather on the steering wheel, reverse-parking radar, stability control and a ‘3D Sound by Arkamys’ audio system.
AND UNDER THE BONNET...
That means 140W, eight speakers and digital sound processing. Renault says it provides three-dimensional “surround sound” with precise sound reproduction.
Now, for those of you who really want to know what goes on under the bonnet, here are the engine specs...
The 1.6 displaces 1598cc and produces 81kW/156Nm at 6000 and 4400rpm respectively, promises 11.7sec to 100km/h from its five-speed manual box and has a top speed of 185km/h. The 2.0 is listed as 105kW/195Nm at 6000 and 3750rpm, hits 100 in 10.4sec and tops out at 195km/h. It has a six-speed manual gearbox.
They promise 6.5 and 7.8 litres/100km respective on the combined fuel-consumption cycle and maximum load volume is 1024 litres – if you’re shy about announcing performance, be sure to brag about your boot space, how much you aim to save at the fuel pumps and that you won’t have to pay for routine services (except for wear-and-tear parts) for five years.
Can you afford one? Find out with our WesBank car finance calculator.
