As it turns out, Renault had slightly different plans for the facelifted version of the European market Fluence sedan that will make its world premiere on November 2 at the 2012 Istanbul Motor Show in Turkey.
Whereas the Mexican market specification Fluence gained the same front end treatment as the car's Korean twin, the Samsung SM3, the European (though, it is likely to be sold in other regions as well) model has been graced with a face that features Renault's latest styling identity, as seen on the new Clio Mk4.
The Renault brand has lifted the covers off the facelifted version of the Fluence compact sedan in Mexico, a move that suggests the French carmaker may introduce the European model as early as this week's Paris Motor Show. Read more »
It's no secret that the European market Renault Fluence and the Asian market Samsung SM3 sedans are one and the same, which leads us to believe that the changes seen on the updated version of the Korean saloon will likely be applied to the French model. Read more »
Following an initial set of images of the 2013 model year Renault Fluence sedan nabbed by Carscoop reader Cristi H. from Romania last week, our spies spotted another prototype of the French model testing on European roads.
These fresh photos outline the changes on the facelifted model that gains a sharper-looking front end that adopts a similar grille design with a more prominently placed Renault logo to the new Clio Mk4 along with redesigned headlamps and bumper.
Quite a day for one of our readers from Romania, Cristi H., who spotted not one, not two but four prototype models traveling together on the highway.
As Cristi rightfully pointed out to us, two of the cars are the facelifted Renault Fluence sedan while the other two are the Dacia Sandero five-door hatchback and the Logan four-door sedan.
Toyota is participating in the Berlin Police force's efforts to go green by providing an initial batch of three Prius hybrids for its "Initiative 120" program that calls for the use of alternative fuel and low CO2 emission cars.
In the first phase of "Initiative 120", the Berlin police will use a total of eleven vehicles that also include two examples of each of these models: the Opel Ampera extended range EV, the Renault Fluence sedan Z.E and Kangoo Van Z.E., and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV hatchback.
The results are in for Euro NCAP’s fifth and last launch of 2011. A total of 14 cars were tested including two Chinese newcomers, the MG6 and the Geely Emgrand EC7, both of which achieved a four star rating, proving that at least some Chinese brands are starting to take safety seriously.
Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP Secretary General commented: "These results mark a milestone for the Chinese automotive industry. It is a clear sign that Chinese car makers are building on recent experiences and rapidly investing in better vehicle safety. Even with the upcoming increased demands, five stars are expected to be within reach soon."
Four more vehicles that are new were given a four-star rating, including the Fiat Panda, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jaguar XF and the EV Renault Fluence ZE.
Following the announcements on UK pricing for the Kangoo Van Z.E. and Twizy, Renault today confirmed prices for its third pure-electric model, the Fluence Z.E. ahead of its launch in the market in 2012.
The four-door, five seat Fluence Z.E. saloon will carry an on-the-road price of £22,850, which drops to £17,850 (US$28,500) after the £5,000 UK Plug-In Car Grant has been deducted.
Renault will add a new Twingo to its Z.E. range of electric vehicles in the second half of 2014, according to Jacques Bousquet, head of Renault Italy. The French automaker’s official said the Twingo Z.E. will be the company's fifth EV, after the Kangoo, Fluence, Twizy and Zoe.
The executive revealed that Renault’s alliance with Daimler AG helped speed up the development of the next-generation Twingo-based Z.E. model, as the Twingo's new platform will be shared with a future four-seat Smart car.
French carmaker Renault has suspended three senior managers on suspicion of industrial espionage linked to the firm's electric vehicle plans. A company spokeswoman confirmed on Tuesday that the three individuals were suspended over unspecified ethical issues.
“In late August 2010, an ethical alert was brought to the attention of the compliance committee," a Renault spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday. "The investigation that followed led to the suspension of three Renault executives”, the spokeswoman added without providing any more details.
Following the Fluence Z.E. all-electric sedan concept's unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and last December's presentation of the Kangoo Van Z.E. prototype at the COP 15 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Copenhagen, Renault today unveiled the finalized designs of both models.
The French automaker said that customers in Europe and in a few more select countries including Singapore, South Africa and Russia, who are interested in the two models can pre-reserve their vehicle at "www.renault-ze.com" with first deliveries expected in the first half of 2011.
The Fluence Z.E. will be built at the OYAK-Renault factory in Bursa, Turkey, on the same production line as the internal combustion engine-powered versions of Fluence.
Having already confirmed the production versions of the Twizy and Zoe Z.E. electric concept cars, Renault today announced that the third member of its new family of EVs, the all-electric Fluence sedan, which was also presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show this past September, will be manufactured at the OYAK-Renault Bursa plant in Turkey. The French automaker said that it plans to launch the Fluence EV first in Israel and Denmark, followed by other countries, from the first half of 2011.
Evidently, the electric saloon will be based on the recently launched Fluence sedan, but it is unclear if Renault will spice up the looks of the car in the same way it did with the Frankfurt Show concept model.
Renault said that owners of the electric Fluence will have three battery charge options: standard charge, rapid charge and a 'QuickDrop' battery exchange that allows that removal and replacement of the batteries in a mere three minutes.
We don't have any details on the vehicle's specs yet, but it is safe to assume that the production model will be powered by the same 95HP electric motor found in the concept car.
Renault revealed a total of four electric vehicle concept cars in Frankfurt including the two-seater Twizy Z.E. mini, the Zoe Z.E. small coupe, the Kangoo Z.E. and the Fluence Z.E. ompact sedan. All of the prototype models use similar technology to the Nissan Leaf EV that was uncovered this past summer. According to Renault, all four cars preview the firm's electric vehicle range which will be released from 2011. One of the first models to be launched into the market will be the electric version of the recently revealed Fluence sedan.
However, unlike its production sibling with the same designation, the Fluence Z.E. concept actually looks pretty good - yes, far too good to make it into production looking like this...
The concept model is equipped with a 70kW or 95HP electric motor that is powered by a set of lithium-ion batteries that give the saloon 100 miles / 160 kilometers driving range.
Renault says that the battery can be charged using three different methods: a standard charge that takes between four and eight hours, a quick charge which is done in only 20 minutes or alternitavely, through the automated 'Quickdrop' system that removes and replaces the batteries in just three minutes.
French carmaker Renault decided to tease all four electric concept cars that it will be displaying at its Frankfurt show stand by releasing a rather unusual 'bird's eye view' photo of the EVs. Starting from the left, there's a small, futuristic-looking one-seater 'pod' while the car on its right looks like a Twingo or a Twingo-sized proposal. The third concept appears to be a small coupe-like model while the larger four-door sedan model on the right bears a passing resemblance to the newly introduced Fluence.
According to Renault, the four-electric concept cars preview the firm's upcoming Zero Emission product range more details of which will be released at the Frankfurt show.
Remember Renault's 2004 Fluence concept car that inspired the styling of the Laguna Coupe? Well, the only common denominator between the sexy prototype (see pics below) and this compact-sized sedan is their name... Virtually a rebadged version of the Korean market Samsung SM3 that was revealed earlier this year, the Fluence is the sedan variant of the Megane and it will be initially sold only in Russia, Romania and Turkey.
There's also a chance that we may see Renault's VW Jetta-sized sedan heading towards the States as a Saturn if the American brand's new owner, Penske Automotive Group, closes a proposed deal with the French automaker.
Depending on the market, buyers will have a choice of two gasoline engines, a 110HP 1.6-liter unit linked to either a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission and a 140HP 2.0-liter matted to a CVT, plus a 1.5-lited dCi diesel with outputs of 85HP, 90HP (DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter), 105HP and 110HP (DPF). All diesel engines are coupled to a manual gearbox, with the most powerful version also offered with Renault's new dual-clutch transmission.
In 2011, Renault will also introduce an electric version of the Fluence with more details expected to be released closer to the launch date.
The 4,62 metres long four-door saloon that boasts a luggage capacity of 530 liters will be built at Renault's plant in Bursa, Turkey, on the same assembly line that manufactured the outgoing Megane II sedan.
