Tag Archives: Renault

NEW CARS

Renault Electrifies the Iconic Trafic: Meet the New Trafic Van E-Tech Electric

Six months after unveiling its new generation of compact, all-electric light commercial vehicles in Birmingham, Renault has pulled the wraps off the first member of this bold new family: the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric. A familiar name, now reimagined for the EV era.

A Legacy Recharged

Since its debut in 1980, the Trafic has been a mainstay of the medium LCV segment, with over 2.5 million units built across three generations. Its reputation for reliability and practicality has made it a favorite for fleets and tradespeople alike. With the fourth generation, Renault has taken a radical step: the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric is not just an update—it’s a complete rethink.

Smart Dimensions for Urban Agility

Built on a new all-electric “skateboard” platform, the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric combines optimized load capacity with nimble urban handling. The van’s minimal front overhang and rear-mounted powertrain allow a turning circle of just 10.3 meters, comparable to a Renault Clio—perfect for city streets and tight loading bays.

The L1 variant offers 5.1 cubic meters of cargo space in a 4.87-meter footprint, while the longer L2 stretches to 5.27 meters with 5.8 cubic meters of storage. The overall height has been reduced to 1.90 meters, granting access to virtually all underground car parks. Large side and rear doors make Euro pallet loading effortless.

Futuristic Design Meets Practicality

Renault has given the Trafic a modern, high-tech makeover. The aerodynamic, one-box body is complemented by a signature light strip at the front, a visor-style windscreen, and a carefully sculpted black-and-body-colored aesthetic that exudes strength without bulk. Laser-patterned grained plastic highlights the van’s robust lower sections, while a dynamic beltline injects energy into the side panels, even when stationary. At the rear, sculpted 3D light signatures flank asymmetrical swing doors, a first for Renault’s LCVs.

Cabin Innovations

Inside, the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric embraces a “disruptive” approach. A tubular dashboard stretches across the cabin, housing a 10-inch digital cluster and a 12-inch central touchscreen angled toward the driver. Seats in Zeta blue-jean and grey fabric with contrast stitching, coupled with a multitude of clever storage solutions, make the cabin as functional as it is modern.

Generous compartments include cupholders, document holders, under-dashboard shelves, and door storage capable of holding everything from notebooks to bulky water bottles. Remarkably, visible cabin elements incorporate 50% plant-based fibers, underscoring Renault’s eco-conscious approach.

Two Battery Options, Fast Charging

Trafic Van E-Tech Electric offers flexibility for a variety of business needs. Urban drivers can opt for an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery with a range of nearly 350 km WLTP, while high-mileage users can choose an NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) battery capable of roughly 450 km. Both options support 800V fast charging, with a DC fast-charging point restoring 260 km of range in just 20 minutes.

The new electric motor, producing 150 kW and 345 Nm of torque, promises robust performance. Towing capacity is rated at 2 tonnes, with a payload of 1.25 tonnes. V2X functionality enables the van to power external tools (V2L) or even feed energy back into the grid (V2G), enhancing its utility for professional users.

Software Defined Vehicle and CAR OS

A standout feature is the Trafic’s SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) architecture. Centralized computing allows for cloud-based, over-the-air updates, transforming the van throughout its service life. The CAR OS system, built on Android Automotive OS, provides an intuitive interface with Google Assistant, Google Play apps, and an electric route planner tailored for commercial vehicles. Features like predictive maintenance, safety scoring, and driver identification QR codes demonstrate Renault’s commitment to fleet-friendly technology.

Safety and Connected Services

Safety remains a priority. The onboard Safety Coach monitors driving behavior in real time, providing a Safety Score and personalized tips. The My Renault app complements daily operation, managing charging, range, vehicle location, and maintenance scheduling. For specialized vehicles like ambulances or refrigerated vans, the new Convertor Companion app simplifies customization directly via the 12-inch touchscreen.

Built in France, Ready for Business

Production will take place at Renault’s Sandouville plant in France, alongside existing ICE Trafic models. Customers can select from a variety of configurations—including chassis cab, platform cab, and tipper—supported by Renault Pro+ bodybuilders.

With its combination of range, charging speed, tech-forward cabin, and fleet-oriented software, the Trafic Van E-Tech Electric represents a major leap forward for the iconic van. Renault isn’t just electrifying its medium LCV—it’s redefining it for the 21st century. Production is slated to begin in late 2026.

Source: Renault

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Renault Plots the Return of Petrol Power for Megane and Scenic

The internal combustion engine might not be done at Renault just yet. In a twist few saw coming, the French automaker is preparing a new multi-fuel platform that could revive petrol-powered versions of the Megane and Scenic—two nameplates recently reborn as pure EVs.

Renault boss Fabrice Cambolive confirmed the brand is readying a flexible architecture designed primarily for electric models but engineered from the start to also handle plug-in hybrid and range-extender systems. “It will be a dedicated EV platform,” Cambolive told reporters, “but if EV sales are not as rapid as expected, you can complete this EV pace with some extensions like a range-extender or plug-in hybrid—and that’s what we are working on.”

In plain English: Renault wants to keep its electric ambitions on track, but it’s hedging its bets.

A Platform for an Uncertain Future

The new underpinnings—due around 2030—will form the backbone of Renault’s next wave of C-segment cars. Four fresh models are planned under the company’s ‘Renaulution’ strategy, although not all will sit on this new architecture. According to Cambolive, the platform’s mission is clear: flexibility without compromise.

That flexibility will be crucial as Renault looks to “rule the C-segment” in Europe, says François Provost, the group’s CEO. While the current CMF-EV setup serves compact EVs like the Megane E-Tech well, larger models will benefit from the ability to accommodate multiple power sources.

Could the Megane and Scenic Get Their Pistons Back?

If the timeline lines up, the next-generation Megane and Scenic—both of which currently ride on electric platforms—are prime candidates to debut this multi-energy chassis. The move would mark a symbolic return for the combustion engine to two of Renault’s most storied models, albeit in a supporting role.

Cambolive hinted that future hybrid variants might adopt a serial-hybrid layout, where the petrol engine serves purely as a generator for the battery rather than driving the wheels directly. “The logic is serial drive, which means electric traction,” he said—suggesting something akin to Nissan’s e-Power system. That setup could ease EV range anxiety while maintaining the smooth, torque-rich feel of an electric drivetrain.

Powertrain details remain under wraps, but the petrol unit could come from Horse, the powertrain joint venture between Renault and Geely. Given the shared technology pool, Renault has no shortage of compact, efficient three- and four-cylinder options that could fit the bill.

Speed, Savings, and Scalability

Beyond flexibility, Renault’s new platform aims to cut costs and development time—a lesson learned from the recently revealed Twingo project, which was completed in just 21 months and at 25% lower production cost than comparable models.

If Renault can repeat that feat with its upcoming C-segment lineup, it could find itself in an enviable position: offering buyers the freedom to choose between full EV, plug-in hybrid, or range-extender versions of its core models, all built off the same scalable foundation.

The Big Picture

Renault isn’t walking away from electrification—it’s simply acknowledging reality. Europe’s EV transition has been slower and bumpier than policymakers expected, and not every market is ready to abandon petrol just yet. By preparing a multi-energy strategy, Renault is ensuring its future lineup stays relevant—no matter how the market swings.

The message is clear: the road to zero emissions may be long, but Renault plans to stay in the fast lane—even if it needs a little petrol to get there.

Source: Renault

News

Renault’s Big Little Revolution: Europe’s New E-Car Era Could Start at 15% Off

Europe’s next automotive revolution might not roar into life — it could hum quietly out of a French factory, wearing a diamond badge and a lower price tag.

Renault, the company that’s spent over a century proving that “sensible” and “stylish” don’t have to be enemies, says it’s ready to slash the prices of its smallest EVs — the 4, 5, and upcoming Twingo — by up to 15%. Not with wild new models or gimmicky concepts, but with something far rarer in the modern car world: common sense.

And it all hinges on a bold new idea from Brussels — the European Union’s proposed E-Car category. Think of it as Europe’s answer to Japan’s kei cars: small, affordable electric vehicles built in Europe, for Europe. The aim? To boost EV sales, protect jobs, and fend off the relentless advance of Chinese-built bargain EVs currently flooding the market.

But where others see regulatory complexity, Renault sees opportunity.

Provost’s Pause: A Plea for Breathing Room

Renault Group’s chief strategist, François Provost, has a simple request for Europe’s lawmakers: give engineers a break.

“I don’t ask to remove regulation,” he says, leaning into the mic with the calm intensity of a man who’s read one too many EU documents. “No, I just ask to have ten or fifteen years without new regulation.”

The reason? By 2030, Europe plans to roll out a staggering 107 new automotive regulations — most of them safety or ADAS-related. That’s everything from lane-keeping systems to driver monitoring cameras. The cost of compliance, Provost says, isn’t just measured in euros, but in time, engineering hours, and ultimately, customer price tags.

“Every year,” he explains, “my engineers must redo the job they did last year, just to stay compliant.”

In other words: too many cooks, too many rules, not enough affordable cars.

Europe’s New Small Car Code

If the EU’s E-Car framework lands as expected next month, it’ll set strict parameters:

  • Length under 4.1 metres
  • Lifetime CO₂ output below 15 tonnes
  • Locally built — batteries and all

Sounds tailor-made for Renault’s current A- and B-segment electric cars. So rather than designing a new model, Provost says the brand’s mission is to make the existing ones cheaper.

How? By trimming production costs through Ampere, Renault’s EV efficiency arm. The new Twingo has already achieved a 25% cost reduction, and the company’s target is 40%. That last 10–15%, says Provost, will go straight to the customer.

That could make the next-gen Twingo or Renault 5 one of the most attainable electric cars in Europe — and possibly the first EVs to feel like proper spiritual successors to the people’s cars of old.

Meanwhile at Dacia…

Of course, Renault’s scrappy sibling Dacia has its own tricks. The brand’s Hipster city car concept — a tongue-in-cheek name for what might be the most democratic EV yet — points toward a potential sub-£15,000 electric model.

Provost plays coy on whether it’ll ever reach production, but it’s not hard to imagine Dacia turning that idea into something real if the new rules make it viable. After all, this is the company that built an empire on no-nonsense affordability.

The Bigger Picture: Saving Europe’s Soul

Provost’s final argument hits home like a punchy editorial from this very magazine. Europe, he says, is in danger of pricing itself out of mobility.

Car prices rise. Regulations multiply. People stop buying. The average car on Europe’s roads now clocks in at 12.5 years old, and that means no progress — not in emissions, not in safety, not in jobs.

“So you change your playbook,” he says. “Start from what price do people need to pay to buy cars again?”

It’s a surprisingly revolutionary idea — that saving Europe’s car industry might start not with another €100,000 luxury EV, but with an honest, compact Renault that ordinary people can afford.

Renault isn’t trying to outsmart Tesla or out-flash the Chinese EV upstarts. It’s trying to remind Europe what a small car can be — and why we fell in love with them in the first place.

If the EU gets this right, the next automotive renaissance won’t come from Silicon Valley or Shanghai. It’ll come from a quiet hum down a French back road, under the glow of a Twingo’s LED smile.

Source: Autocar