This budget manufacturer hopes to offer interesting and eye-catching models at every price point but there are bumps in the road ahead.
Renault’s Australian arm is lobbying head office for access to new models but red tape is holding it back.
The brand’s local vehicle distributor, ATECO, has asked for several models from upper management in the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, including cars from the Dacia budget brand.
The Dacia Duster is a cut-price crossover.
Romania’s Dacia Duster and Dacia Bigster shape up as cheaper alternatives to the likes of Mazda’s CX-30 and the VW Tiguan.
Renault’s Australian managing director, Glen Sealey, said the main holdup for Dacia models was “really for them to say let’s go”.
“They’ve given positive indications but you never know until the cars are on boats,” he said.
“There’s a whole range of product we could have there.
Dacia’s Bigster concept shapes up as a rugged-looking SUV.
“Our interest is in two, which is the Duster and the Bigster.
“There’s no guarantees in life with Renault, but certainly that’s the vehicles we are studying and working on.”
The Dacia Spring, a budget electric car with 33kW of power and 230 kilometres of range, is not on the menu for Australia.
But an electric hot hatch based on the eye-catching Renault 5 concept car is on the brand’s radar.
The Renault family has interesting models in mind for the future.
Sealey said the local operation had its hand up for the model, but head office had not committed to engineering the car to meet Australian standards.
“I’m pulling a figure out here, if it costs 3 million Euros to engineer the car for Australia, they could spend 3 million Euro to get another feature in a car for Europe that could get them a better return,” he says.
The Renault 5 concept could become reality. Photo: Eric Piermont / AFP
Renault recently rebranded its Formula 1 team to become Alpine, its sportier spin-off. Alpine has built one model to date, a lightweight mid-engine sports car similar in nature to the Porsche 718 Cayman.
Alpine’s French driver Esteban Ocon won the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021. Photo: FERENC ISZA / AFP
The car has a loyal following in Europe, but Australian deliveries of the Alpine A110 s were cut off by strict side impact rules that also claimed the Nissan GT-R and Lexus RC-F.
Alpine has replaced Renault Sport as the brand’s performance arm, and is rumoured to be working on more desirable versions of regular cars such as the electric Renault Megane E-Tech.
There is more to Alpine than the A110 sports coupe.
Sealey said there was plenty of exciting news to come from the French spin-off.
“They’re working on an all new product plan this year,” he said.
“We’re very excited by Alpine. We think that will work really well in Australia.”
Keyword: Renault eyes important new models for Australia