Monday 7th June 2004

Renault Fluence

4 seater sporting coupe concept from the French

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Renault debuted their new concept car not at the British Motor Show at the NEC, but at the Louis Vuitton Classic concours event thing at Waddeson Manor last weekend.

The pretty coupe features a front mounted 3.5 litre V6 with 280bhp and the chassis is said to be tuned for a "fast and agile driving style" (despite 22" wheels!).  The interior features individual sliding seats, a capacious boot, reading lamps and a boot lined with leather.

Further details of the car were limited to several pages of design speak singing the praises of ethereal design, lines of force and seamless this, that and the other.

[Alpineandy]

I like it. Bearing in mind Renault now run (and largely own) Nissan, Whats the odds of it having Z350 performance.

[dinkel]

Alpineandy said:

I like it. Bearing in mind Renault now run (and largely own) Nissan, Whats the odds of it having Z350 performance.

In a flash it's the Hyundai everybody hates so much . . . (and I like). Rebadged?

[will_t]

Typical over styled French design. Tries too hard to make a statement at the cost of producing a flawed design. The interior is so French but overall, for Renault, not bad.

IMHO Will

[annodomini2]

what about the front?

[wedgepilot]

Massive c-pillar blindspot, anyone?
The rear is ugly, and the front can only be worse seeing as they've decided not to show it at all

The boot is a nice idea though.

[xsaravtr]

Doors are too big... suicide doors might have been better ala Mazda...

[bigjimmy]

This is what the Vel-Satis should have looked like!!!!!!!!!

[Stig]

I think Renault should seriously rethink the name in case someone hyphenates it:

F-Luence!

Load of shite

[steve-p]

You know what they say: never buy anything French unless you can eat it, drink it or wear it. Having said that, it is not quite as grotesque as Renaults of late, so it's a good thing.

[murcielago]

Just another concept from Renault or is it going to be put in production?.......

[robbo64 snr]

More chance of Chris Bangle designing a normal-looking car.

[hendry]

Stig said:

I think Renault should seriously rethink the name in case someone hyphenates it: F-Luence! Load of shite

And funny that this car should follow from the last Renault concept, called Wind....

[lotusinlove]

murcielago said:

Just another concept from Renault or is it going to be put in production?.......

french people are not ready to buy such cars, even more they are french...

but renault have a little experience with the clio v6, so maybe it can be a good sport car...

such boot will not be in production soon. such seats too

that's again a concept, i think, but mybe a future competitor for 407 coupé...

[smele]

Looks interesting and the interior is very clean. It is pleasing to see such a minimalistic interior, looks easy to clean as well.

[dinkel]

Clio V6 mhhh . . . Not a concept anymore. but this is:

RS4 Grand Prix V10 3500 cc / 213.6 cu in
Power 596.6 kw / 800.0 bhp
Torque 705.0 nm / 519.9 ft lbs
Bhp / Liter 228.57 bhp
312.2 kph / 194.0 mph
0 - 60 mph 2.8 seconds
Not bad for a 1300 kg car.
http://rs911.free.fr/belgretro02/Renault%20Espace%20F1%20cab.jpg

Renault please . . .

[DustyC]

Hardly an original shape.

It seems that more are jumping on the TT band wagon now.

I applaud Maxda for coming up with something original in the RX8