Renault auto news

Followup: Renault confirms 400-HP Alpine concept debuting on Friday *UPDATE [w/video]

Renault has confirmed the unveiling of an Alpine concept at this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco, but as we get closer there are new details alongisde new questions. Just yesterday came the leaked image of a concept called the A110-50C, heavily based on the Renault DeZir concept, that could turn out to be the thing itself or pure Photoshop fancy. French press is reporting that Renault COO Carlos Tavares has confirmed that a 400-horsepower concept will appear that "could be homologated and on the road in the future," and it will take a lap of the Monaco course.

Another story in the French press has a picture of Sebastian Vettel sitting inside a vintage Alpine 110 racer - the car that all this hubbub is about, an example of which is pictured above. It was taken in mid-April for German GQ magazine at the Barcelona F1 circuit. Vettel and Tavares will supposedly be presenting the concept, but that report indicates the car is called the ZAR and suspects the first letter is for "zero emissions," the second for Alpine, the third perhaps for Renault. A report in CNET France also claims the ZAR appellation for the concept, allowing that the meaning of the acronym can only be supposition for now. True, the DeZir was an all-electric concept, so either the A110-50C/ZAR has 400 electric horsepower and there isn't any mid-mounted 3.5-liter Nissan V6, or Renault has found a way to break every single law of internal combustion... or we just don't know what's really in there.

We'll should know all come Friday at 1:00 PM local time.

* UPDATE: The leaked image (inset) is the real deal. Renault has released some teaser photos and a video, and the reveal will happen on French Yahoo! Autos on Friday at 1:01 p.m. Monaco time. Scroll down to watch the teaser vid.

Continue reading Renault confirms 400-HP Alpine concept debuting on Friday *UPDATE [w/video]

Followup: Renault confirms 400-HP Alpine concept debuting on Friday

Renault has confirmed the unveiling of an Alpine concept at this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco, but as we get closer there are new details alongisde new questions. Just yesterday came the leaked image of a concept called the A110-50C, heavily based on the Renault DeZir concept, that could turn out to be the thing itself or pure Photoshop fancy. French press is reporting that Renault COO Carlos Tavares has confirmed that a 400-horsepower concept will appear that "could be homologated and on the road in the future," and it will take a lap of the Monaco course.

Another story in the French press has a picture of Sebastian Vettel sitting inside a vintage Alpine 110 racer - the car that all this hubbub is about, an example of which is pictured above. It was taken in mid-April for German GQ magazine at the Barcelona F1 circuit. Vettel and Tavares will supposedly be presenting the concept, but that report indicates the car is called the ZAR and suspects the first letter is for "zero emissions," the second for Alpine, the third perhaps for Renault. A report in CNET France also claims the ZAR appellation for the concept, allowing that the meaning of the acronym can only be supposition for now. True, the DeZir was an all-electric concept, so either the A110-50C/ZAR has 400 electric horsepower and there isn't any mid-mounted 3.5-liter Nissan V6, or Renault has found a way to break every single law of internal combustion... or we just don't know what's really in there.

We'll should know all come Friday at 1:00 PM local time.

Report: Renault Alpine A110-50 concept leaked ahead of Monaco debut

If Jesus had treated Lazarus' resurrection like Renault has treated that of its Alpine brand, Lazarus would have politely requested, "Please, leave me alone." In 2008, the Alpine's return was rumored to come riding on the platform of the Nissan 370Z. In 2009 the revival was declared D.O.A along with the co-developed Nissan 200SX. In 2010 it was back on, the new Alpine to be based on the reputation-making Alpine A110 Berlinette. In January of this year there were still rumors but still no car, with scuttlebutt pegging a concept showing at this year's Paris Motor Show.

Finally, just this month the goat entrails predicted a showing of a new Alpine at the Monaco Grand Prix, which arrives in the principality this weekend. And the leaked rendering pictured above of the Renault A110-50 concept is the very Alpine purportedly to be revealed on Friday. Looking more inspired by the Renault DeZir concept (right) from two years ago, with some uneven assistance from Photoshop, all Renault needs to do is omit the two supplementary nostrils on the leading edge and tell us where to send a deposit. The built-up concept is loosely based on a Renault Megane with a tube-frame chassis, hiding a 400-horsepower V6 amidships.

Not that it will ever be made, but at least we have something to look at now and perhaps even to touch come this Friday. Or could it get made? One more false start we neglected to mention was just last year when Renault scrapped the Alpine brand again, opting to provide a new roadster for its Renaulsport brand. The car proposed for that endeavor: a production version of the DeZir. We hope to know more on Friday, so stay tuned.

Video: Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault

We don't need to tell you why rally racing - though awesome - is incredibly dangerous. As much as we love to watch turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Euro hatches being flung around on dirt, gravel, snow and tarmac, the fact that many of these races go through small towns and wooded trails leaves plenty of room for disaster.

Case in point: This Renault Clio racer went off course during the 2012 Mazowiecki Rally, leaving driver Patrick Osowiecki and navigator Maciej Wrona trapped upside-down in a lake. According to CarScoop, no race officials were near the scene of the accident, but some selfless spectators rushed in to attempt to free Osowiecki and Wrona from their racecar. Scroll down to watch the action unfold.

Continue reading Watch spectators rush to save lives of rally drivers trapped in capsized Renault

Official: Renault updates aging Espace in attempt to keep it fresh

The current Renault Espace has been on the market since 2003. Next year that will make it ten years old, which is a long life cycle for any vehicle. But it'll still be a few years until its replacement is ready. So following the facelift it performed on the Euro-market minivan in 2003, Renault is releasing another update.

Refreshed to fall more closely in line with Renault's current styling direction (the company has changed aesthetic strategies a few times since the introduction of the fourth-generation model), the new Espace has a fresh grille that better incorporates a larger emblem than the model it replaces, and it's flanked by new headlights and a new bumper fascia below.

Further details on what else Renault has tweaked will be released in July when it hits showrooms overseas.

Continue reading Renault updates aging Espace in attempt to keep it fresh

Rumormill: Renault to unveil new Alpine concept at Monaco Grand Prix?

Typically when an automaker wants to roll out a new car, it does so at one of a dozen or so major auto shows held throughout the calendar and around the world. But with the bulk of the show season on break for the summer, rumor has it that Renault is planning a more glamorous location to unveil its latest.

Speculation has been mounting for years that Renault was preparing to revive the Alpine nameplate with a new sports car sometime soon. And with the 50th anniversary of the legendary A110 (pictured above in the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally) coming up, the latest suggests that is exactly what the French automaker has in store for the Monaco Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in short order on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Just what the new Renault Alpine will amount to, if anything, remains to be seen, however. Some forecast that it could be based on the same platform as the GT-R from allied automaker Nissan, while others anticipate an electric sports car of some sort.

One way or another, it won't be the only Renault present for the most iconic of grands prix: eight out of the 24 F1 cars on the grid this year are powered by the same Renault RS27 engine that powered Sebastian Vettel to the last two world championships.

Report: Renault-Nissan moves to take control of Russia's largest automaker

Renault-Nissan aims to increase its stake in Avtovaz, giving the alliance majority control over Russia's largest automaker. The deal will likely see Renault and Nissan vehicles manufactured beside Lada models in the near future. Avtovaz recently finished a new production facility in Togliatti where the three brands plan to produce up to 1.6 million units per year. That move would make the Togliatti plant one of the largest automotive manufacturing facilities in the world. The companies expect the agreement to become final by 2014.

Technically, the deal is structured under a joint venture between Renault-Nissan and Russian Technologies, a state-owned corporation. Under a recently-signed memorandum of understanding, Renault-Nissan will own 67.13 percent of the venture, which will own 74.5 percent of Avtovaz. The alliance already holds a 25 percent stake in Avtovaz.

Under the MOU, Renault will invest around $300 million in the joint venture, while Nissan will put in $450 million.

Teased: Renault to unveil new Clio at Paris show in September

The supermini market is a vital one for European automakers, and though its current Clio remains a popular choice, Renault is not about to rest on its proverbial laurels as its most popular model gets older and less relevant. So with that in mind, the French carmaker is apparently preparing to unveil an all-new Clio hatchback at the next major auto salon.

That show won't be taking place until September when Renault's home-market Paris Auto Salon opens its doors at the Port de Versailles, but a pair of teaser shots have already surfaced giving us a tiny glimpse at what to expect. The images - reportedly leaked from internal documents - show the grille and a sliver of the rear 3/4. The front looks to take cues from the smaller Twingo, while the rear betrays an upward kink in the shoulder, more aggressive taillights and an altogether more sculpted shape.

Styling penned by Laurens van der Acker is expected overall to take its lead from the DeZir Concept. We'll have to wait until after the summer to see it in full, though.

Beijing: Renault says very little about its new Talisman sedan

The breadth and scope of the Chinese car market has ballooned to such an extent that it makes sense for many foreign automakers to design cars specifically for China. Case in point: the new Renault Talisman.

Instead of building the Talisman in China through a joint venture, manufacturing is handled in nearby Korea by Renault Samsung Motors - the same division that has already brought Renault eight awards and sales increasing fourfold since 2009 due to the success of the Koleos crossover.

As for the Talisman itself, Renault has releases suspiciously little information, and even less photos. It's billed as a "casual luxury" sedan, whatever that means, but more than that we couldn't tell you. Which is just fine, because unless you live in China, you'll probably never see one. Feel free to peruse the press release below.

Continue reading Renault says very little about its new Talisman sedan

Video: Renault Twingo R.S. makes a lousy bowling ball

Renault Sport invited its fans to suggest challenges for the Twingo R.S. to overcome, and one of the chosen feats was for it to play the ball in a game of ten-pin. After some establishing shots and burnouts, the 133-horsepower hot hatch gets going down the lane.

To make sure it doesn't disappoint, a stern gang of mute, pouty models looks on because, well, you can't have car-bowling without that, now can you?

Continue reading Renault Twingo R.S. makes a lousy bowling ball