Report: Renault may build new Alpine A110 coupe on Alfa 4C chassis, and why you should be excited w/ video
Rumors have suggested that Renault has been working on reviving their classic Alpine brand along with a successor and modern interpretation of the classic Alpine A110 “Berlinette” sports coupe from the 1960s and 1970s. For those who are not familiar, Alpine was a small French automaker that specialized in motorsports and sports cars utilizing Renault engines that sat at the ass end. So in a sense, you could say that they were France’s Porsche. Renault later absorbed the brand in 1978, which then went defunct in 1995.
Fast forward to today and Renault has already confirmed that they were reviving the Alpine brand. But in order to do so and to substantiate its potential success, the French automaker has to reestablish some market awareness and footing in an already competitive worldly automobile industry. So their answer is to revive the A110.
Currently, Renault has been seeking partners to help them build their future Alpine models, even this specific A110 Berlinette revival. That said, AutoCarUK reports that Alfa Romeo’s recently introduced 4C sports car may be used to underpin this future Alpine. It may also used for a future Caterham sports car in hopes to perpetuate the growing sub-supercar niche, aimed specifically at us younger driving enthusiasts and traditionalists. In other words, this sounds like nothing short of a miracle…
CarAdvice Magazine April issue available to download now!
CarAdvice Magazine has achieved 20,000 active users in its first six issues, becoming the number one downloaded Australian motoring app for iPad, and has been featured in the recommended ‘new and noteworthy’ section of the Apple App Store.
The April issue, packed with content listed below, is free to download now at https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/caradvice-magazine/id552851300?mt=8
It includes an iPad-exclusive medium-car comparison test between the all-new Mazda 6 Sport sedan, the top selling Toyota Camry Atara SX, the class favourite Honda Accord Euro and the hugely improved Hyundai i40 Active.
We measure the mids for size, comparing their performance and fuel consumption, measuring their interiors and assessing comfort levels, and noting both their up-front and long term servicing costs, in the most comprehensive test of sub-$ 35,000 petrol automatic sedans. Don’t forget to view our videos of each of the cars, and the full photo gallery of the comparison.
Hydrogen Stations Soar: 27 New Ones In 2012–Worldwide
Toyota FCV-R hydrogen fuel-cell concept car, 2012 Detroit Auto Show
27 hydrogen refueling stations sounds like quite a healthy amount for such an expensive installation.
Renault Fluence Z.E. Australian launch stalled
The Australian launch of the battery-swapping Renault Fluence Z.E. electric car has stalled.
Renault Australia today confirmed it has been forced to postpone the local introduction of the Fluence Z.E. “until further notice” after Israel-based electric vehicle network provider Better Place yesterday announced its decision to cut funding from its Australian program and conduct a wind-down of its local operations.
The innovative design of the Renault Fluence Z.E. allows owners to swap depleted batteries for fully charged ones, giving it a distinct advantage over conventional recharge-only electric vehicles, but also making it hugely dependent on supporting infrastructure.
In partnership with Better Place, Renault originally planned to offer the Fluence Z.E. to customers in Canberra during the second quarter of 2012 before selling it to the public from select dealers across the country by the end of the year. Hold-ups with the rollout of Better Place Australia’s charging and battery-swapping network delayed Renault’s plans last year, and yesterday’s announcement forced an indefinite pause – and potentially the complete abandonment – of the Fluence Z.E.’s local introduction.
Renault says it remains committed to launching electric vehicles in our market and is looking at other options.
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Report: Fiat considering budget automaker for emerging markets as potential grows
In another sort of automotive blitzkrieg, Fiat’s CEO Sergio Marchionne has apparently announced that the large Italian automaker seeks to expand into “low-cost” markets, which include competing brands like Renault-owned Dacia and soon to be, future Datsun. This report comes courtesy of AutomotiveNews Europe.
“We are wondering if there is space for a low-cost brand such as Dacia in the Fiat world,” Marchionne shared this past Sunday at a press conference. Additionally, he elaborated by saying that Fiat has an abundance of manufacturing capacity, though selling a car for 7,450 Euros isn’t profitable in Europe.
Check out more news on the Fiat 500.
Renault-Nissan joins Schwarzenegger in terminating climate change
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is showing its support for the R20 climate action group founded by former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger by becoming a partner for its conference in Vienna, Austria, and providing a fleet of electric vehicles for conference participants to drive.
Focusing on the implementation of a sustainable energy future, the R20 Regions of Climate Action conference will include presentations from Renault’s environment, energy and raw materials leader, Dr Philippe Schulz, and general manager of Nissan Europe’s zero emission strategy, Olivier Paturet.
Outside the conference hall, the Alliance will provide examples of a range of its battery-powered zero-emission electric vehicles including the Nissan Leaf, Renault Fluence ZE and Renault Kangoo ZE. The compact Renault Zoe hatchback and Nissan e-NV200 LCV are set to join the Alliance’s existing EV range in the near future, along with a luxury EV from Infiniti.
The Alliance says Renault and Nissan have sold more than 70,000 electric vehicles globally since the group’s first EV, the Nissan Leaf, went on sale in December 2010.
Report: Daimler, Ford, Renault-Nissan to embark on hydrogen fuel cell pact
In a sort of competitive move against BMW’s recent announcement regarding its alliance with Toyota for hydrogen fuel cell technology, CARandDRIVER reports that Mercedes-Benz’s parent Daimler will pair up with Ford and Renault-Nissan to jointly develop hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
C/D says that the triplet can turn out a production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle as early as 2017 and the new alliance will help speed up the situation.
All major automakers in this collaboration have some solid background with Daimler and Ford potentially claiming industry leadership with their Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation known as AFCC. This small 200-person company, which will kick-off its joint venture between Ford and Daimler on February 1, 2013, will also coincide with Renault-Nissan’s efforts as well.