These are Renault’s Geneva innovations: companion, flagship and family electric car

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Renovation continues! Three years ago, Renault’s then new CEO Luca de Meo (56) announced a completely new strategy for the large French company. It was desperately needed at the time: Renault was losing billions of dollars, was in a fight with its alliance partner Nissan, and was suffering from low sales figures.

De Meo has turned things around: Renault is now returning to its roots and reorienting its model range towards higher-volume segments with the electric car and hybrid range. The new subsidiary Ampere, where development of electric motors, batteries and software will be concentrated, will set the pace for electrification. As a mobility subsidiary, Mobilize aims to provide services related to charging and being on the move. Small sports car subsidiary Alpine will occupy the luxury segment in the future with seven new electric cars by 2030.

Electric and compact

At the Geneva International Motor Show GIMS (27 February – 3 March, see box), the most important new model to the Renault range in recent years will be introduced: the long-awaited, all-electric R5. It was already shown as a concept car in 2021; now the production version is being released and it reportedly differs from the study only in details.

What this means: The small electric car comes in the style of its ancestor, the first R5 produced from 1972 to 1996. Nickname in commercials: little friend. Basic shape, vertical taillights, angled front end; The new one looks exactly like this. This year should start with us; However, prices have not been determined yet.

In stark contrast to the two Swiss premieres: the SUV Coupé Rafale was introduced last year as the new brand flagship and will be launched here in the spring. First up is a 200 hp (147 kW) hybrid drive version; A plug-in hybrid with all-wheel drive and up to 300 hp (220 kW) will arrive later. It starts from 44,300 francs.

The group is back on track

The new generation of Scenic will also be launched in the spring; it is now fully electric, has 218 hp (160 kW) and is front-wheel drive. The family’s electric car will travel 620 kilometers with a net 87 kilowatt-hour battery charge. A clever detail is the panoramic roof, which becomes opaque at the press of a button thanks to polymer liquid crystals. Prices for the new Scenic start from 40,000 francs.

However, we still have to wait for the new version of R4. It comes with the R5’s technology, but as an SUV. It probably won’t happen until the Paris Motor Show in the fall. Recently presented 2023 business figures show that Renault is heading in the right direction with the de Meos Renaulution: in 2020 Renault lost on every car sold; In 2023, the margin was 7.9 percent. Renault made a profit of 3 billion euros in 2023 instead of 4.8 billion euros of debt in 2020.

Source: Blick