Renault Back On The Alpine Trail

You've got to give Renault credit for the possession of some major corporate balls. The company could have chosen to introduce the Alpine A110-50 in the normal arena of an air-conditioned motor show hall, or even via a slow trundle around a test track. Instead it brought its super-stylish motorsport concept to the Monaco Grand Prix and,after the Friday F1 practice session, Renault boss Carlos Tavares blasted it around the unforgiving street circuit with an impressive degree of commitment considering the number of leses focused on him and waiting for something  to go expensively wrong. It didn't.

Renault needs some good news. The company's been having a tough time lately, with sales slumping across Europe and the UK model line-up having been slashed back to basics. And although the A110-50 concept is, officially, just a 50th birthday celebration of the A110 Berlinetta, it's also a broad hint that -once again-Renault is giving some serious consideration to resurrecting its famous sub-brand.

The Alpine is clearly related to another Renault one-off- the DeZir concept car that was shown at the 2010 Paris show, with the company's head of concept car design,Axel Breun, confirming that an Alpine version was always part of the plan.

But while the DeZir was a pure show concept, powered by a mid-mounted electric motor, the Alpine A110-50 is definitely a driver,being built on the same mid-engined platform as the mad Megane Trophy racer of a couple of years ago and sharing all of its major components.

That means a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 tucked under the rear cover (a Renault-Nissan unit closely related to the engine in the Nissan 350Z) and here tuned to deliver a claimed 394bhp (up from the racer's 355bhp). Drive is supplied to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox.

'We wanted to put the car in today's world- not create a piece of retro design,'says Axel Breun in an exlusive interview with evo.'I think the Alpine approach is one that's very up-to-date and modern now-it was always about making intelligent cars, lightweight cars that used the latest materials.'

Visually, the 110-50 is riffing on plenty of Alpine's design themes,complete with a taut, low stance,'Alpine Blue' paintwork and - a particularly nice touch - LED headlamps that give the characteristic yellow illumination of Alpine's classic rally cars: 'a technical but nostalgic interpretation,'as the company puts it. The tubular chassis of the Megane Trophy racer has been selectively reinforced,while the concept's roll-cage is lower as it has a shorter cabin.

Of course,Alpine's models were always rear-wheel drive and had their engines mounted behind the driver -something that Breun confirms is still regarded as being a vital part of the brand's DNA:'In terms of pure performance, today's Megane RS is very fast- you could say that you don't need a mid-engined car in terms of pure speed. But l think that in terms of driving sensation it's something very special,and the Megane Trophy chassis gave us the perfect opportunity to create a modern interpretation.

lt's been 17 years since the last Alpine-badged car was produced at Renault's Dieppe factory, and although the plant is still going strong as the base for the successful Renaultsport division, previous plans to resurrect the Alpine name have never come to fruition- although one Renault insider confirms 'there's almost always one on the go'. Will it be different this time?

Well, the A110-50 itself would from the basis for a racer like the Megane Trophy it's based on.'In terms of motorsport we are in Formula 1 and we have the World Series; we have a whole range of racing cars,' says Breun. 'Will this car be produced in small numbers? l don't know at this moment-personally l think it would be great to see.'

Any plans to launch Alpine road cars are considerably further off- although Renault is clearly giving some serious consideration to dusting off the famous brand. 'l definitely think that Alpine could be relevant in the modern world,'says Breun,'l don't believe that cars have  to have 500bhp. Very often when l read a test l can tell that the power is impressive but there's something to do with the weight. We have to think about that, and in the DNA of Alpine l think you see a solution.'

The Megane RS Goes Faster

It's difficult to fathom how Renault Sport can ever improve on the Megane RS 250 Cup but apparently they have , and TC Euro Cars couldn't wait to bring them soon enough.The new Megane RS 265 Cup replaces the 250bhp car with an upgraded engine output of, as expected,265bhp. It looks pretty much the same and similarly sports the same Cup package, but key differences include smoked headlights with improved LED cluster as well as refreshed wheel design.

Changes to the cabin meanwhile extend to small details that include a leather cover for the  bucket seat (that is quite prone to   wearing out from contact with driver entry/exit) while the finishing looks darker with black trimmings on the dashboard. This includes the central-located rev meter which is now in dark grey.

The important thing is of course its usable performance gains.TC Euro Cars was quick to bring the new Megane RS to Sepang and see whether it can set a faster time to the previous 2 minutes 43sec accomplished using the 250 Cup. With the same driver (Denis Lian) in control, the new car proved to be as good as claimed, improving it by two seconds - 2 min 41 sec, cementing its reputation as the fastest FWD car around.

But that was not the only car launched,as a matter of fact.The limited edition Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB7 was also unveiled,a bespoke produced car to commemorate the F1 team's success in the racing series. Renault, of course is have made its way to Malaysia and the plaque that comes with the car that designates the car's run is also autographed by triple F1 driver's champion Sebastien Vettel.

The limited edition car is mechanically based on the 265 Cup but only comes in Etoile Black body colour and the use of Renault's Sirius Yellow for the F1-inspired front blade, door mirror housing and diffuser.

Price for the Megane RS 265 Cup is RM240,888 (OTR with insurance) while the Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB7 is RM249,888.

On a side note, the event also marked the official launch of the Renault Sport Collectif, the official club for Renault Sport owners.Renault Sport owners are all enthusiasts at heart and truly passionate about their cars, and the RS Collectif provides an avenue for RS owners to channel their passion for the brand.

One of the many benefits of being part of the RS Collectif community is the opportunity to test their vehicles where it was designed to- the race track.As part of the Renault Sport Ownership Experience, 6 track days were organised last year exclusively for Renault Sport drivers at the Sepang International Circuit. Renault Sport Drives frequently use these track days to hone their track driving skills in preparation for other motorsports events such as Time to Attack and Megalaps.

For 2013,another six track days have been planned, with one already done and dusted in February.Other RS Collectif track days will be on March 30, April 27, June 8,October 19 and December 22.

Renault Koleos

Renault is only known for one model here and that is the Megane RS. Somehow the French brand has managed to switch its modus operandi here from selling delivery vans (the Kangoo) to pushing performance cars,and it is doing very well indeed.

So you're forgiven if you have forgetten about its SUV, the Koleos.It is a peculiar looking SUV,mid-sized and all, but actually quite a nice SUV to drive.

Earlier last year the Koleos received a much needed facelift. The redesigned headlights and front grille put it in sync not only with the other Renault models but also with the rest of the market.

In size, the Koleos is slightly shorter than the typical C-segment sedan, for example the Honda Civic, but sits taller and wider. That does fit its SUV image.

lts origins are interesting. Designed by Renault, the Koleos was then developed by Nissan using its X-Trail platform and powertrain. Later, the project was shipped to Busan so that Renault Samsung Motors could assemble it for global consumtion. You can say the Koleos is an international effort,and that is why it holds a special position in many markets.

This crossover focuses more on car-like road handling, hence its unique shape. The rear actually is its most interesting aspect. Half of the hatch opens up while the other half folds down. You can even sit on the bottom half, as long as your weight doesn't exceed 200kg.

Overall, the shape requires some getting used to. lt is not ugly, but it is not as snazzy as the Korean or American makes. The Koleos has a tallish roof and short wheelbase, and the swooping roof does not really make it look balanced. Still, there is a reason for that and once you get in, you will know why. The cabin has a high ceiling and although the front seats are positioned high, there is still headroom for tall drivers beneath the panoramic roof.

The dashboard layout is not as funky as the exterior might suggest. The switches and knobs do have that premium feel but they look and feel Japanese. The centre console is actually cluttered with buttons and it will take a new owner a while to get to know what's what.

The audio head unit and the satellite navigation share space on the display unit. The audio controller is not the easiest to understand but soon you will be able to change channels or tracks using the short stalk on the right hand side of the steering wheel.

The sat-nav can be controlled via the toggle on the console just behind the gear lever. There are buttons surrounding the toggle, ala BMW's i-Drive, but they are a bit more complicated. The audio quality is punchy and that is because Renault uses a Bose system here.

The ALL-Wheel-Drive system is similar to the Nissan X-Trail's, which means that in Auto mode torque can be distributed 50/50 to the front and rear wheels. You can also opt for 4WD Lock where  the torque will always be distributed evenly. If it is highway all the way, 2WD mode can make it a permanent front-wheel-drive.

The transmission system is a CVT unit. It runs quietly and has less of a rubberland effect compared with other similar systems.

More interesting features adorn the Koleos inside. ln true French fashion, there are foldable picnic tables behind each front seat, a plastic bin that you can remove from the centre console (it's either an ice bucket or a rubbish bin) and the armrests on the front doors can be actually flipped open to store five CDs.

Renault's claim that the Koleos is more like a car does hold water. Comfort level is in fact as good as that found in premium sedans. The steering feedback was not the best but it was better than most SUVs. lt allowed us to track quickly around sharp bends.

The offroad session was limited to some slightly muddy Felda trails and some rocky construction areas where the Koleos's AWD system kicked in quietly to provide enough grip. So easy was it that an inexperienced lady driver thought she was ready to tackle the next Camel Trophy Challenge, if they ever bring it back.

Yes, RM198,000 is not cheap but the Koleos provides almost everything you need in an urban soft-roader. It is also a rarity on the road and this will lend you some air of exclusivity, something not many SUV's in this price range can do..

Renault Captur ( Let me try too hard to entertain you)

WERE THIS CAR to metamorphose into a dinner guest, you might well think twice about sitting next to it.There's only so much of the chucklesome, balloon-animal-tying-whilst-yodelling-Captain-Pigeon behaviour inevitably attendant to the wearing of a deafening waistcoat and a revolving bow tie a man can take before reaching for the service revolver.

Clearly, the good burghers at Renault have taken a long, lingering (if somewhat late) look at the sales figures Citroen has extracted from its DS3 merely by dint of painting the roof a different colour, and decided to cop a copycat feel of the B-SUV market.

So Renault's Captur 'Ta-Daaah's to centre stage as Timmy Mallett made metal; a machine trying so hard to entertain that it's something of a surprise to discover that the horn does not replicate an Unterseeboot 'dive' klaxon, the engine does not backfire with the passing of each telegraph pole and the bloody doors do not, in fact, ceremoninously blow off to mark the start of every journey...

And that's a perfectly good idea. Because- whilst Radio 2 keeps us company in the wait for the Ford EcoSport, Pegeout 2008 and (ulp) Fiat 500X - crossovers such as Dr Frankenstein's first punt at a bulldog, the Nissan Juke, and the John Goodman of the Mini range (without the charm), the Countryman, currently dominate the segment. So, undeniably extrovert in isolation albeit, in this company the Captur merely adds another dollop of Marmite to the mix.

At 100mm taller and some 100kg heavier than the Clio on which it is based, the front-wheel-driver-only Captur is all about personalisation. A range of largely mouth-or, depending on your perspective, eye-watering colour schemes incorporate that all-important alternative paint-pot roof, funk to funky graphics including the biological first,'insect spine', and a heavy-handedness with chrome.

On board, credit must be given for the lively exterior colour-match detailing, and zip-off seat covers which, presumably, must all go in the washing machine together to avoid uneven fade rates. A resounding raspberry, however, targets the shiny plastic on the lower half of the helm, which makes it uncomfortable to hold, marring an otherwise fine driving position some 10cm higher than the Clio's.

Beneath this melded chintz of concept car and occasional clunk lies a remarkably spacious proposition with occasional practicality issues. The rear bench seat slides to offer either ample legroom or additional loadspace; the latter position, unfortunately, realising a hungry gap between the seat backs and a double-sided false floor boasting carpet or rubber finish and decent additional storage below.

A range of plastic divots and undersized cupholders behind the gear lever smacks of alterthought, and the wide-spaced Art Deco sunburst of elastic straps on the front seatbacks will restrain little save a rampant clematis. The vast,11-litre glovebox which slides open like a filing cabinet draw is, however, excellent...and not fitted to right-hand-drive cars.

Three engines, all turbocharged, are available; a 0.9-litre, three-cylinder, 89bhp and 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, 118bhp petrol units and a 1.5-litre, 89bhp turbodiesel. With the UK sales-monstering three-pot unavailable, l sampled both four-cylinder engines.

Renault's torquey,stalwart,1.5-litre turbodiesel needs no introduction. Mated to a five -spped manual it does exactly what it has always said on the tin, equating to 62mph in 12.6 seconds, just1 106mph flat-out, a claimed 76.4mpg and 96g/km of CO2.

Thus armed, the Captur makes for a largely pleasant drive hallmarked by both a surprising reluctance to understeer and a starting reluctance to settle. The stiff springing required to elicit a cornering alacrity almost unseemly in a small SUV has been wedded to damping that lacks sophistication.

The upshot is inconsistency, both in body control and ride quality, with a deal of Grade A crashing about accompanying poor road surfaces. Most families would surely sacrifice a chunk of that cornering prowess for a touch more waft in the cruise.

Unfathomably, given a minimal, 10kg weight difference, the new 1.2-litre turbo unit mated to a six-speed, twin-clutch, automatic gearbox proves an altogether more soothing proposition, almost as if the undercarriage ups its game, settling down a tad more in response to the oleaginous nature of the drivetrain. Further adjudication on crappy English roads is essential, but as things stand it is, inexplicably, the better drive...

Undoubtedly up there with the anchovy in the taste-polarising stakes, the Captur is as in your face as a drunk on a rush-hour tube train.It's also gently personable, admirably spacious and adequately practical. It demands attention not only for the high-class-escort-agency levels of personalisation it offers, but also for blatantly competitive pricing - £12,495 to £18,895 - that makes it a Morecambe Bay holiday cheaper than the Juke and a Maldives honeymoon less expensive than the Countryman.