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Renault 17 resurrected as a one-off resto-modded electric coupe

Paris-based Renault isn't done rummaging through its past models. After reviving the 5, pledging to bring back the 4, and hinting at what a modern version of the first-generation Twingo could look like, it put a modern spin on an obscure coupe called 17 that it built until 1979. We say "obscure" because the 17 (shown at the end of our gallery) was hardly a success. Renault built merely 94,969 units between 1971 and 1979. For context, the 17 was twinned with the 15, which logged 209,887 sales during the same time period. Bringing the 17 to the United States didn't help the coupe's career; have you ever seen one? Odds are you haven't. Even in France, the 17 is relatively rare today. Back to the road: Renault enlisted designer Ora Ito to bring the 17 into the modern era. The angular silhouette remains but styling cues such as the four round headlights and the chrome bumpers are gone. Up front, the 21st-century 17 gets a redesigned grille, four rectangular headlights (yellow, to keep the style period-correct), and a deeper bumper. Out back, there's a light bar instead of two individual lights.  Renault started the project with a donor 17, it didn't build the concept from scratch, so the doors, the windows, and the seals are carried over. The body is over half a foot wider thanks in part to flared wheel arches, however, and we're told the wider track improves handling. In what can be considered a stunning display of historical amnesia, the modern 17 is powered by a 270-horsepower electric motor mounted over the rear axle to zap the back wheels into motion. While it's hard to argue against rear-wheel-drive, the original model was only offered with front-wheel-drive, which explains the long front overhang. Renault hasn't released performance specifications such as horsepower and driving range, but it notes that carbon fiber partially offsets the mass of the electric drivetrain. Weight checks in at roughly 3,100 pounds. Everything inside has been updated as well. There's a new version of the emblematic Petal seats for the front passengers, cloth upholstery inspired by current interior design trends, an instrument cluster made up of four screens, and a touchscreen-based infotainment system. Nothing suggests the modern-day 17 will see the light that awaits at the end of a production line. 

Renault to develop Twingos priced under 20,000 euros with Chinese partner

PARIS — Renault said it would link up with a Chinese engineering company to develop future Twingo cars priced below 20,000 euros ($21,676), as European automakers target smaller and cheaper electric vehicles to compete with Chinese peers. "Twingo's development is moving forward quickly, as we plan to make the development in two years," said a spokesperson for Renault's Ampere electric vehicles division. "The development of the car will be done with a Chinese engineering partner to improve our development lead time and costs. The project is conducted by Ampere. The styling and advanced engineering project are made in France, and production will be in Europe, as planned," added the spokesperson. Earlier this month, Renault and German peer Volkswagen ended talks to jointly develop an affordable electric version of the Twingo. Renault said its decision to choose a Chinese partner for that sub-20,000 euros version of its Twingo came independently of that earlier decision concerning Volkswagen. European automakers are aiming to produce smaller electric vehicles that sell below 20,000 euros ($21,572) to help them compete with Chinese brands like BYD.   Featured Gallery Renault Twingo EV concept Renault China

Nissan gets it on with the loud "Karaok-e" van concept

With a minivan, you can pack it with a half dozen friends to shuttle them to a big party. But that involves some boring time in traffic. With the Nissan Townstar Karaok-e you can skip that boring step because the van is the party. That’s the idea behind Nissan's modified Townstar Evalia is a one-off project recently shown in Europe. ItÂ’s an exercise that transforms the van into a mobile karaoke lounge. The bulk of the modifications are in the rear of the van. A 32-inch video monitor for graphics and lyrics is the centerpiece along with the exotic sound system. There are also fancy lights in the ceiling and the cabinetry, and they're synchronized the to the beat of the music. There's no mention in the press release if the van comes with a “donÂ’t dance while driving” warning. This all-electric seven-seat Townstar Evalia—which Nissan rather cosmically claims is intended to inspire “well-being and happiness”—further features a number of apps that allows passengers to show off their vocal chops, record their performances, and share them on social media platforms. The brand hasnÂ’t ignored the exterior, which features a juicy wrap enhanced by a couple of hashtags. The neon-like roof attachment would almost certainly have impressed Donna Summer. The Townstar Evalia in Europe shares close ties with the Renault Kangoo van. It comes in a long wheelbase configuration with options for five or seven seats and is available with either fully electric or gasoline powertrains. Nissan offers no hint that this particular Townstar variant might enter serious production, and we doubt that even a groundswell of interest from the public would get the company to start building them. But we bet there are limo services that might be interested, and certainly some upfitters that could put together something similar. Of course, that's as long as said customer has the will and the means.  

VW and Renault end talks to develop affordable EV, sources say

PARIS/BERLIN – Volkswagen has walked away from talks with Renault to jointly develop an affordable electric version of the Twingo subcompact car, three sources familiar with the situation said, in a setback for the EU carmakers' efforts to fend off Chinese rivals. The collapse of negotiations could mean the German carmaker may have to go it alone in developing its own affordable EV. Renault will continue designing its electric Twingo, scheduled to hit the market in 2026. Both had hoped that sharing the work would cut costs that represent a key hurdle for European carmakers in the face of cheaper cars from China. Volkswagen broke off discussions mainly because Renault had wanted to build the car in one of its plants at a time when VW is seeking to fully utilize its European production network, one of the sources said. Ampere, Renault's EV operation overseeing the Twingo program, declined to comment. A spokesperson for Volkswagen also declined to comment on the talks between the companies but said that the German carmaker was still studying its options on cheap EVs. The companies "did not succeed in finding an agreement" after several months of negotiations, one of the sources said. Another source said that an agreement had been very close, but that VW walked away from the talks and has decided to develop its own car. The sources declined to be named because the talks are confidential. VW sources said a decision on the EV plan is expected within weeks. Thomas Schaefer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, has said he wants to launch a lower-priced EV by 2027. The second source said Renault would continue work on the Twingo without VW, but also remained open to other partners, for instance from the alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi. It is also a blow for Renault CEO Luca de Meo's hopes for greater cooperation between European carmakers against their Chinese competitors, akin to Airbus which has stakeholders and operations across European countries. The VW-Renault tie-up for the Twingo could have formed the "basis" of an Airbus for autos, the second source said. China's automakers, the world's top EV producers, are making fast inroads in the European market, pressuring incumbents like Renault and VW to cut costs and speed up the time it takes to bring a new model to market. European automakers are aiming to produce smaller EVs that sell below 20,000 euros ($21,686) to help them compete with Chinese brands like BYD.

Scrapyard Gem: 2007 Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet

During the first decade of our current century, plenty of European car shoppers fell hard for hardtop convertibles based on cheap compact cars. That means that those cars are now easy to find in the scrapyards of the United Kingdom, so I headed over to northern England to document some of them. We've taken a look at a 2006 Peugeot 307 CC and a 2005 Vauxhall Tigra TwinTop from that trip, and now it's the turn of the open-air Renault Megane . The Megane first hit showrooms as a 1996 model, with the first generation based on the platform of the Renault 19. For the second-generation Megane II, which debuted as a 2003 model, the same Renault-Nissan platform that underpinned the Sentra and Rogue was used. The Coupe Cabriolet version of the Megane II shared just a few of its front body components with its hatchback sibling. The rear half looked so good that BYD copied it for its S8 convertible, which got a snout lifted from the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class for good measure. Power for the 2007 Megane came from a wide variety of straight-four engines driving the front wheels. There were petrol engines ranging from 1.4 liters to 2.0 liters of displacement and diesels of 1.5 through 2.0 liters. This car has the 1.6-liter petrol engine, rated at 116 horsepower. The transmission is a five-speed manual. Six-speed manuals and four-speed automatics were available as well. When Copart (owner of the U-Pull-It yard in York) tried to sell this car at auction, it had 84,989 miles on the odometer and a bit of not-so-severe rear body damage. The interior looked nice at that time. The front body components were in great shape, so scrapyard shoppers bought many of them. You'll find one in every car, even in England. The Car-Freshner tree-shaped air freshener line is a bit different on the other side of the Atlantic; English-speaking regions mostly get Little Trees, areas with Latin-derived languages usually get Arbres Magiques and residents of areas that use Germanic and Scandinavian tongues (besides English) plus Slavic and Baltic languages tend to have access to Wunder-Baums. Even with the top up, there's still a big moonroof.

Scrapyard Gem: 2010 Renault Modus Dynamique

YORK, England — Car shoppers in the United States haven't been able to buy new French cars since the final Renault/Eagle Medallions were sold in 1989, which means I had to go across the Atlantic to find junkyards scrapyards (as they call them here) with plenty of Citroens, Renaults and Peugeots in stock (though I do find the occasional Mexican-market French machine in the car graveyards of Colorado). From the same U-Pull-It in York, England, that brought us the Peugeot 307 CC awhile back, here's a tiny-yet-spacious tall hatchback that was forcibly retired at age 14. The Modus was built for the 2005 through 2012 model years, and it was at heart a taller version of the same-generation Renault Clio. It lived on the same Renault-Nissan platform as the Cube and Juke, which also makes it a cousin to the Leaf.  This one has the 1.6-liter petrol engine, rated at 111 horsepower.  It appears that the four-speed automatic transmission was mandatory with U.K.-market 2010 Moduses equipped with the 1.6 engine; a five-speed manual was standard equipment in cars with the 1.1-liter petrol-burner or the 1.5-liter diesel. The petrol/automatic combination is a rare one for European-market economy cars of this era. If you wanted a Modus with the eCO2 label, you couldn't get the 1.6 engine. The 2010 Modus for Great Britain came in two trim levels: Expression and Dynamique. This one is the latter type, which came with 16" alloy wheels, cruise control, "Luxe Carbon" upholstery and a better audio system. Despite scaling in at under 2,400 pounds, this car has an impressive amount of interior space. You can open the entire hatch or just the small access panel above the bumper. Why is it here? U-Pull-It says it came to them with front end damage and 90,027 miles on the odometer. Because used-car shoppers across the Channel don't want right-hand-drive cars, running British-market French economy cars sell for cheap. U-Pull-It had this runner parked outside with a GBP695 price tag and a not-too-scary MOT history, and I suspect they'd take less. The mini-MPV with the clever little boot-chute. The action never stops in the Modus-equipped workplace. Featured Gallery Junked 2010 Renault Modus Dynamique View 22 Photos Renault Automotive History Minivan/Van Economy Cars France french Junkyard Gems Junkyard Renault 2010s

Renault Scenic EV takes first place as (European) Car of the Year

The automobile awards season may not be over, but two of the more prestigious annual races came closer to a climax this week. One might need a scorecard to keep track. We’re focused here on two events: the World Car of 2024, now reduced to three finalists in six categories. Then thereÂ’s the Car of the Year, known in some quarters as the European Car of the Year. Except that the car doesnÂ’t have to be European to win, only sold there. Got that? Winners out of the way first: At the Geneva Motor Show on Monday, the Renault Scenic E-Tech all-electric has been voted Car of the Year 2024. The Scenic is a fairly compact, somewhat stylish SUV for Europe only, and is the seventh vehicle from the French brand to win the award. It sells in the United Kingdom for about $47,500. The other six finalists that had made the first cut of voting in November were the BMW 5 Series, BYD Seal, Kia EV9, Peugeot E-3008/3008, Toyota C-HR, and Volvo EX30. The trophy winner was chosen by a jury of 59 motoring journalists from 22 countries. Scenic came in first place with 329 points. The Seal was the first Chinese-made car to make this awardÂ’s shortlist; it finished sixth out of seven, just up from the Toyota. One judge explained his decision to grant the Seal zero votes. Writing in Top Gear, Paul Horrell wrote this entertaining critique: “It looks good and is well specified, so makes a strong market entry. The advanced electric system and cobalt-free battery are commendable too, and it's enjoyable enough to drive quickly. That's undermined by an agitated ride over bumps, and the logic of screens and switches is pretty eccentric.” Recapping the World Car of the Year 2024 update, the sponsors shared the stage at Geneva on Monday with the Europeans as well, although they revealed only the top three finalists in six categories. For the ultimate prize, they are the Kia EV9, the Volvo EX30 and the BYD Seal. The winners will be announced March 27 at the New York International Auto Show. Here's more on the World Car finalists. By the Numbers Geneva Motor Show New York Auto Show BMW Kia Toyota Volvo Peugeot Renault Green Automakers Best Cars

The Renault 5 E-Tech is a retro-electric hatchback with funky style and a nice price

The Renault 5 was a funky hatchback that sold for more than two decades, spawning several variants, including the iconic Renault 5 Turbo. Though it hasn’t been around for quite a while, itÂ’s getting a futuristic glow-up, returning as an electric hatchback with retro-inspired design elements. The automaker plans to put the new car on sale soon with a super-reasonable ˆ25,000 price ($27,134 at todayÂ’s exchange rate). The Renault 5 E-Tech spent just three years in development, compared to the typical four-year cycle. ItÂ’s also strikingly similar to the concept car, which rarely happens in the auto industry, though Renault is well-known for some of the most exciting designs ever to hit the streets. The unique exterior design is meant to evoke memories of the original Renault 5 while modernizing the look for a younger, modern audience. It welcomes the driver with an animated light sequence, and the “pupil” LED headlights appear to be winking. The automaker said it shaped the car for maximum aerodynamic efficiency, including special glass panels to help air flow more smoothly over the taillights. Inside, the car offers a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and the visual and sound experiences were developed with the Ircam Institute of MusicÂ’s Jean-Michel Jarre. He created the carÂ’s interior sounds, including chimes and warnings, and developed the exterior sounds that play at low speeds. The Renault 5 E-Tech is the first vehicle to ride on the new AmpR Small platform, which brings a long wheelbase and weight reduction features. It also enables AC bidirectional charging with vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-grid functionalities. Renault said it envisions the car playing a role in the overall power grid, returning electricity when needed. It claims a range of 400km, or around 249 miles, and the automaker will offer three output levels: 110 kW (148 hp), 90 kW (121 hp), and 70 kW (94 hp).     Featured Gallery Renault 5 E-Turbo Design/Style Green Renault Hatchback Electric

Production Renault 4 EV caught testing in the snow

Renault is leaning hard into its historical catalog for its EV lineup. It already showed the concept for the 5, which looks as cubic as the old economy car of the same name (known as the LeCar in America), and prototypes look just like the show car. The same seems to be happening with the upcoming Renault 4. Its concept was shown a little more than a year ago in Paris, and these spy photos show that it's mostly sticking to the look. We say mostly, as there is one big change. The concept that previewed the 4 was called the 4EVER Trophy, and it has huge and wide fenders, plus was decked out with a roof rack and full size spare. It definitely seemed to lean into the 4's history of having competed in the Paris-Dakar Rally, where it actually took second (1979) and then third place (1980) in its class. This production-style prototype obviously ditches all of that. It looks much more narrow and road-oriented. But beyond that, the retro lines still shine through, particularly the distinctive greenhouse with the arched section incorporating the doors, and the rear quarter windows that angle down and forward. It has the same blunt, flat nose and horizontal hood as the concept and the original, and it looks like the LED interpretation of the round headlights sticks around, surrounded by the wide black panel to hark back to the original car's grille. The wheels are substantially toned down from the cyberpunk-style ones of the concept, but the split four-spoke layout still emphasizes the boxy nature of the car. The Renault 4 will be based on the CMF-BEV platform, also used by the Renault 5. While the production model will clearly be more modest than the concept, we could see Renault positioning the 4 as a more rugged alternative to the 5, possibly offering a trim with a bit more ground clearance, cladding and fender flares to appeal to the crossover crowd. Having a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version would seem reasonable, too. But Renault has been tight-lipped about specifications for any of these retro EVs so far, so this is all speculation. What's not speculation, is the fact that this won't be coming to America. But the CMF-BEV platform will be shared with Renault's corporate partners Nissan and Mitsubishi, so we could see those brands debut vehicles here with the same basic mechanicals someday. Related video: Featured Gallery Renault 4 EV spy shots View 12 Photos Green Renault Crossover Hatchback Electric

Stellantis not looking for further mergers, including with Renault

MILAN — Stellantis Chairman John Elkann on Monday denied the carmaker was hatching merger plans, responding to press speculation about a possible French-led tie-up with rival Renault. Elkann said that the Peugeot owner, the world's third largest carmaker by sales, was focused on the execution of its long-term business plan. "There is no plan under consideration regarding merger operations with other manufacturers," said Elkann, who also heads Exor, the Agnelli family holding company that is the largest single shareholder in Stellantis. After abandoning the Russian market, at the time its second largest after France, and reducing the scope of its global cooperation with Nissan, Renault has been seen as a potential M&A target. Speculation intensified after an electric vehicle market slowdown forced it last week to cancel IPO plans for its EV and software unit Ampere. Its market cap remains stubbornly low at little over 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) despite a financial recovery over the past few years. Stellantis, the product of a 2021 merger between France's PSA and Fiat Chrysler and one of the most profitable groups in the industry, has a market cap of more than 85 billion euros when unlisted shares are factored in. It has a 14 brand portfolio also including Citroen, Jeep, Opel and Alfa Romeo. NEWSPAPER REPORT Italian daily Il Messaggero had said on Sunday that the French government, which is Renault's largest shareholder and also has a stake in Stellantis, was studying plans for a merger between the two groups. A spokeswoman for Renault said on Monday the group did not comment on rumors. France's Finance Ministry had declined to comment on Sunday. Stellantis has crossed swords with the Italian government, which has accused it of acting against the national interest on occasions. Industry Minister Adolfo Urso last week raised the prospect of the Italian government taking a stake in Stellantis to help to balance the French influence. Renault shares pared gains after Elkann's comments to stand 1.2% higher by 1220 GMT, having initially risen more than 4%. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, a Portuguese-national, last week said in an interview with Bloomberg that the group was "ready for any kind of consolidation" and that its job was to make sure that it would be "one of the winners". Analysts, however, question the rationale of a Stellantis-Renault merger, which would also expand the group's excess capacity in Europe.