Giti Tire has won three Renault Group homologations. Its GitiSynergyE1, in size 185/65 R15 88H, will be fitted as original equipment on the Dacia Sandero, Logan and MCV which are available in every major market throughout Europe. The news follows Giti’s inaugural European placement with the Volkswagen Group.
Alcohol safety and training specialist AlcoDigital has agreed a contract with Renault Trucks to showcase and offer alcohol safety devices for their latest range of LCV Master business fleet vehicles, which will be displayed at the Freight in the City exhibition on 7th November 2017.
Groupe Renault has reportedly approved the supply of 50,000 tyres from Iranian tyre maker Yazd Rubber Industries Complex to its subsidiary Renault Algérie. IFP News writes that in addition to supplying Renault, Yazd is now also in negotiations with Volkswagen following the car maker’s entry into Iran.
Cataclean has become the main sponsor of Daniel Rowbottom’s DRM team in the 2017 Renault UK Clio Cup series. Cataclean’s corporate development director Graham Fraser explained: “The Clio Cup gets such fantastic exposure running alongside the British Touring Car Championship that it makes it a great opportunity for us to get in front of a new audience and promote our product. We’re looking forward to sharing the Clio Cup grid and supporting Daniel in his racing journey.”
Renault Trucks has introduced Urban Lab 2 – its distribution concept vehicle – at this year’s Pollutec at Lyon’s Eurexpo exhibition centre until December 2 2016. Developed with six partners under the collaborative Efficient Distribution Truck (EDIT) project, the vehicle combines innovative technology in aerodynamics, hybridisation of the engine, tyres and vehicle-infrastructure communication to achieve potential fuel savings of up to 13 per cent. Having partnered Renault on its Optifuel Lab 1 and 2 projects, Michelin is developing energy-saving tyres.
When not producing tyres, Continental is a major player in the automotive systems sector, and now its products are also providing cars with extra oomph and greater fuel efficiency. The company reports it is “electrifying” one diesel variant of both the new Renault Scénic and Grand Scénic models.
Renault, the French car maker, may stop offering diesel engines in most of its cars sold in Europe. The proposed move is a reaction to the cost of ensuring that diesel engines comply with tighter emissions regulations and the crackdown follows last year’s diesel emissions scandal involving German car maker Volkswagen.
At this year’s Geneva Motor Show, Renault lifted the wraps on the fourth generation of its Scénic multi-purpose vehicle. The new model is equipped across the range with 20-inch rims as standard, a bold choice for a mass market car yet a size exterior designer Jérémie Sommer pushed, claiming the larger diameter rims form a “fundamental part” of the Scénic’s “perfectly-balanced silhouette and pleasing proportions.” The tyre size of choice for the new Renault is 195/55 R20, and Goodyear will act as exclusive all-season tyre supplier. The tyre maker will also deliver summer tyres for certain models.
We’ve heard that European new car registrations went up by 9.3 per cent in 2015 and we’ve heard that the UK delivered record figures. But what has been less widely reported is the fact that the strong European increase has been driven by what analysts have called “an SUV boom”. A boom that the British market played a key part in.
For the first time in the history of European car sales, SUVs led the way, outselling the traditional subcompact and compact segments, posting an increase of 24 per cent at 3.2 million units. Their market share grew from 19.8 per cent in 2014 to 22.5 per cent in 2015, leaving the subcompacts in second position with 22 per cent share, and the compacts segment third with 20.6 per cent. These vehicles along with the mid-size saloons and sports cars were the only segments to gain market share in 2015.
The following board meetings at both Renault and Nissan on 10 and 11 December respectively, the two firms have issued the following statement via Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of the Renault-Nissan Alliance: “Today was an important day for the future of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. After months of discussions, I am happy to say that an agreement has been reached that builds on our heritage and strong foundations to achieve further sustainable growth and success of the two partners. While there were important short-term issues to address, it was imperative that all involved took a long view.”
Sailun Tyres has launched two new passenger car tyres developed particularly for the European market in an event held in the Brittany village of Lohéac, France. The tyres both appear in the company’s Atrezzo PCR line; the Atrezzo Elite asymmetrical high performance tread and the Atrezzo Eco, designed as a more eco-friendly alternative to sit below the Elite in terms of size profile. Compared to their predecessor, the 90-size SH-402, the tyres both have patterns in keeping with current market trends. During the presentation of the two new tyres, Sailun also gave details of its first all-season tyre, the Atrezo 4 Seasons, which has also been launched in five sizes. The event follows Sailun’s collaborative events in Lohéac and Val d’Isère with its French distributor DistriCash, though this time the manufacturer was “standing alone,” in the words of Sailun Jinyu (Europe) managing director Martin West, with guests attending from across Europe.
Renault’s 6×2 T-series Optifuel will roll off the production line on Michelin 315/70 R 22.5 X Line Energy tyres as standard, after intensive trials.
During three days of testing around a 143.6 mile test route, the low rolling resistance Michelin 315/70 X Line Energy tyres – designed to operate at a high average speed on long-distance trunking – showed a three per cent advantage in fuel efficiency over a set of competing premium-brand 295/80 R 22.5 ‘regional’ tread pattern tyres. The trials took in a combination of A-roads and motorways, and were conducted with the support of Michelin’s UK technical team.
The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons has been named an original equipment fitment for Renault’s new mid-size SUV. Those wishing to have their Kadjar roll on all-season rubber will receive the Goodyear tyre in 215/60R17 96H.
The outcome of the FIA Formula E Championship was decided at the final round in London. Sam Bird (Virgin) won the last ePrix of the season, whilst the all-electric series’ inaugural titles were won by Nelson Piquet (Nextev TCR) – Drivers’ championship – and e.dams-Renault – Constructors.
Trend Tracker, formed in 2003 to provide accurate and informed automotive industry research, calculates the retail service, maintenance and repair market’s worth has risen by almost £1 billion since the 2008 recession. This is inevitably resulting in greater interest in the segment, which is increasing the desire of vehicle manufacturers (VMs) to compete for this business. AMOnline has recently reported on the efforts of some car manufacturers to take a bigger slice of that market, giving a synopsis of what measures various VMs are taking.
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