About Renault

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MONDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2010

RENAULT KANGOO VAN MAXI AND TRAFIC PHASE III – EUROPE’S

BEST-SELLING VAN RANGE GETS EVEN BIGGER 

Following the recent launch of New Master, Renault is stepping up its product offensive with the introduction of two further new models: New Kangoo Van Maxi and Trafic Phase III.

The launch of New Kangoo Van Maxi sees Renault become the market's only manufacturer to cover the complete spectrum of business user needs by offering the same compact van in a choice of three different sizes. This new version is almost 40cm longer than Kangoo Van and boasts an additional cubic metre of load volume.

Improvements to Trafic Phase III make it more comfortable than ever together with reductions in CO2 and fuel consumption.

Renault has been the number-one brand in the European light commercial vehicle market for the last 12 years, with a market share of 14.8 per cent in 2009.

The Carminat TomTom® navigation system was first introduced on the Kangoo in January 2010. It is now being made available across the complete Renault light commercial vehicle range and will enable business users to optimise their route planning and thus cut their fuel bills.

NEW RENAULT KANGOO VAN MAXI:  THE RENAULT COMPACT VAN RANGE GETS BIGGER

From the moment it was launched, the second-generation Kangoo Van was a big hit. In 2009, New Kangoo Van came top of its segment in Europe with a 14.5 per cent share of the market.

Responding ever more closely to the requirements of business users, Renault is now launching Kangoo Van Maxi. Alongside Kangoo Van Compact and Kangoo Van, Kangoo Van Maxi completes the Renault compact van range – a range which features three different length options, unique on the European market.

Extended by 39cm, the new model is available as either a two-seater or a five-seater. It offers a useful load volume of up to 4.6m3 and a maximum load length at floor level of 2.9 metres. Kangoo Van Maxi features an even more modular interior, as well as a choice of fuel-efficient powertrains.

Bigger van, same high standard of roadholding

With an overall length of 4.60 metres, Kangoo Van Maxi is 384mm longer than Kangoo Van. All of this extra length is contained within the 3.1 metre wheelbase, giving Kangoo Van Maxi excellent road manners.

Maximum load length increases by the same 39cm, boosting it to 2.9 metres. Kangoo Van Maxi boasts the best interior loadspace measurements in the big volume compact van segment, yet at the same time offering the exterior size and easy manoeuvrability of an MPV. Kangoo Van Maxi does not have a raised roof, so its overall height is just 1.82 metres, making it compact enough to use city-centre car parks.

Boasting an extra cubic metre of load volume over and above that of Kangoo Van, the new model’s load capacity rises all the way to 4.6m3, for a payload of 800kg. In terms of towing capacity it can handle a braked trailer weight of 1.05 tonnes.

Part of the professional toolkit and even more flexible

Aimed principally at business users seeking maximum load volume and flexibility within a compact footprint, Kangoo Van Maxi is available with either two or five seats.

Each of these versions offers unprecedented flexibility to adapt to every type of need:

• The two-seater version offers a maximum load volume of 4.6m3 and a payload of 800kg. It can be equipped with a folding passenger seat, allowing the maximum load length at floor level to be extended from 2.1 metres to 2.9 metres (with seat in folded position). Compared with Kangoo Van, these are increases of almost 40cm and 1m3.

• The five-seater Kangoo Van Maxi Crew Van has a maximum load length at floor level of 1.33 metres (2.2 metres with the rear bench seat folded) and a payload of 740kg. It is highly flexible and can be configured in three different permutations thanks to its 60/40-split folding rear seat. This arrangement allows the load volume to be adjusted depending on the number of passengers on board. It is fitted with either a cargo securing net as standard with the option of a fixed wire mesh bulkhead.

All versions of Kangoo Van Maxi are fitted as standard with a twin sliding side doors to enable easy access to the load space.

A unique and economical range of compact vans

Kangoo Van Maxi is a business tool that majors on economy, with a range of low-consumption diesel engines boasting CO2 emissions among the lowest on the market. The 1.5 dCi 85 powerplant returns average combined cycle fuel consumption of 53.3mpg and 47.9mpg on the urban cycle. This engine is available for both the two- and five-seater versions and emits 140g of CO2 per kilometre.

The Kangoo Van Maxi + trim level is equipped with the Carminat TomTom® navigation system as standard allowing business itineraries to be optimised and unnecessary mileage to be avoided.

With the launch of this new addition to its light commercial vehicle family, Renault can now boast a comprehensive and well-structured range of compact vans available in three different lengths: Kangoo Van Compact, Kangoo Van and Kangoo Van Maxi.

New Kangoo Van Maxi is assembled at the MCA Maubeuge plant, in France, and will give Renault a highly competitive presence in the growing segment for big volume compact vans.

Kangoo Van Maxi goes on sale in the UK on 4 June.  Further details and pricing will be announced nearer this date.

TRAFIC PHASE III:

MORE COMFORT, GREATER ECONOMY

Trafic was the third-best selling vehicle in its segment in Europe in 2009, with a market share of 13.5 per cent. With the launch of Trafic Phase III, the line-up is now even better focused on the requirements of the target customers, tradesmen and traders. Comfort and user-friendly design are the watchwords for this new model: the dashboard has been redesigned to incorporate practical stowage spaces, while new equipment features normally associated with passenger cars make life at the wheel even more comfortable.

The new dashboard incorporates additional practical and user-friendly stowage spaces:

• An A4 document holder at the top of the centre console
• A storage slot above the glovebox (on versions without passenger airbag)
• New centrally-positioned stowage spaces

The instrument panel now incorporates a redesigned hood to improve the visibility and legibility of the information display. The warning lights have been repositioned, again to improve visibility.

High tech equipment for even greater comfort at the wheel

New equipment drawing on passenger-car technology ensures class-topping cab comfort in Trafic Phase III:

• Automatic climate control across the light commercial and passenger-carrying range
• Carminat TomTom® navigation incorporating IQ Routes™* technology, the best-value integrated navigation system on the market.
• A new range of audio systems with radio CD MP3 player with a more clearly visible remote display, USB connectivity and Bluetooth telephone connectivity with audio streaming.
• Cruise control and speed limiter with controls located on the steering wheel. The on-off button is conveniently located on the dashboard for easier activation.

* TomTom's IQ RoutesTM technology uses real-world traffic speed patterns to calculate the quickest possible route to your destination. By refreshing the TomTom® routings database with information derived from the actual journeys of millions of other road users, the IQ RoutesTM system can compute the optimum route for that particular day and time.

Trafic Phase III: improved economy

On commercial versions of Trafic Phase III the fuel consumption of the 2.0 dCi 115hp engine with manual gearbox is slashed by 4.2mpg and CO2 emissions drop by 19g/km to 195g/km.

More dynamic styling

A new design for the dashboard top and chromed instrument bezels on core model versions and upwards give Trafic Phase III a more sporting character, aided by the blue Elba upholstery. A new Gunmetal Grey exterior colour replaces the current Cherry Red.

Since the model's launch in 2001, Trafic has enjoyed more than 1.1 million sales worldwide, marketed and distributed by:

•           Renault and Renault Trucks

•           Nissan, as the Primastar

•           and Opel and Vauxhall, as the Vivaro

Trafic Phase III goes on sale on 4 June.  Pricing will be announced nearer this date.

 ENDS

Press enquiries: Contact Jeremy Townsend on 01923 697592 or Mike Gale on 01923 697653 at the Renault UK Press Office. E-mail is firstname.surname@renault.co.uk.