New Renault Twingo RS 133 and Clio RS 200 Silverstone GP Limited Editions

British consumers will have one more choice when it comes to Renault’s Twingo Renaultsport 133 and the Clio Renaultsport 200 hot hatches as the French firm has added yet another trim level to their range in the form of the ‘Silverstone GP’ limited editions.

Named after the country’s most famous motor racing circuit and home of the British Grand Prix, both models were specifically created for the UK market, with only 50 of each offered for sale from July 1.

Both the Twingo RS 133 and Clio RS 200 ‘Silverstone GP’ sit on a lowered Cup Chassis and feature a silver metallic paint and contrasting ‘Deep Black’ details, including 17-inch alloy wheels (‘Speedline’ on the Clio), roof and door mirrors.

The two limited edition hot hatches also feature extra-tinted rear windows and Silverstone GP B-pillar badges inscribed with the new grand prix circuit map, while the Twingo benefits from a matching ‘Deep Black’ rear spoiler, fog light surrounds and a new full stainless steel exhaust system as well.

Inside, both models gain a unique numbered interior plaque (1-50), Renaultsport Monitor onboard performance tracking system and grey and black Renaultsport carpet mats, while the Clio also features Renaultsport Recaro front seats, Bluetooth and multi-functional TunePoint for portable music players.

In addition, owners will also receive a free Renaultsport Experience at Silverstone to try out their cars.

On-the-road pricing has been set at £14,995 for the Twingo RS 133 version and £19,995 for the Clio RS 200 model.

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Renault Fluence Z.E. Priced £17,850 OTR after £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant in the UK

Following the announcements on UK pricing for the Kangoo Van Z.E. and Twizy, Renault today confirmed prices for its third pure-electric model, the Fluence Z.E. ahead of its launch in the market in 2012.

The four-door, five seat Fluence Z.E. saloon will carry an on-the-road price of £22,850, which drops to £17,850 (US$28,500) after the £5,000 UK Plug-In Car Grant has been deducted.

Buyers will also have to lease the batteries with pricing set at £75 (US$120) per month based on 6,000 miles/3 years. The French firm said additional mileage and contract length details will be available closer to vehicle’s launch.

Renault said the Fluence Z.E. is the most affordable electric car in Britain (not counting quadricycles like its own Twizy or the G-Wiz) undercutting its rivals by a “sizeable margin”. As an example, the French firm gave the Mitsubishi i-Miev electric mini that costs £6,140 more than the Fluence Z.E. at £23,990 (US$38,302).

The zero-emissions French sedan is powered by an electric motor that develops 70kW (95-horses) of power and 226Nm (167 lb-ft) of instant torque on tap, with its lithium-ion battery offering a driving range of up to 115 miles or 185 kilometers.

The launch model will be offered in a single trim level called Prime Time. Standard features include 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, ecoMeter and Carminat TomTom Live smart satellite navigation, and charging sockets on both front wings.

The French marque has already began accepting pre-reservations for its pure electric saloon via www.renault-ze.com with a £20 reserve.

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Renault Unleashes Super Hot Mégane RS Trophy with 265-Horses

With the Italians still trying to find their way and the Japanese being limited for now to the Mazda3 MPS, it’s up to the French to question the German leadership in the upper range of the hot hatchback segment. Now, Renault is raising the stakes with the presentation of a hotter version of its RenaultSport Mégane boasting more power under its hood.

The Mégane RS Trophy is a special edition version of the standard model with a limited production run of 500 cars. Renault is quick to note that the Trophy is not a successor to the hardcore R26R, which leaves the door open to a more extreme variant in the near future.

The most significant change brought by the Trophy is the modified 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine sporting a higher maximum turbo pressure (from 2.3 bar to 2.5 bar) and a new air intake system. As a result, output is boosted by 15HP and peak torque by 20Nm over the standard car for a total of 265-horses and 360Nm (265 lb-ft).

Renault says the RS Trophy completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint 0.1 seconds faster than the standard car at 6.0 seconds, and reaches the 1,000 meter mark (0.62 miles) from standstill in 25.4 seconds (down 0.3 seconds) while also boasting a 4km/h higher top speed at 254km/h.

On a less interesting note for buyers of the Mégane RS Trophy, fuel economy on the combined European cycle is estimated at 8.2lt/100km (28.7 mpg US or 34.5 mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of to 190g/km, which oddly enough, represents a saving of 0.2 lt/100km and 5g/km respectively over the standard 250HP Mégane RS.

There are no changes to the chassis but the Trophy does come with a new set of Formula 1-inspired Bridgestone Potenza RE050A high-performance tires for improved grip.

Cosmetically, the high-end Mégane RS stands out thanks to its black roof, specific decals, a new rear lip spoiler, 19-inch Gloss Black STEEV alloy wheels with red accents and the LED daytime running lights. There’s also a new Sirius Yellow finish that joins the Glacier White, Etoilé Black and Cassiopée Grey hues.

Inside, the Trophy is fitted with Recaro bucket seats available in fabric or leather, while it also gets an R.S. Monitor providing onboard data-logging system records for a range of mechanical parameters in real-time.

Renault said order books open on June 20, 2011, with the newcomer being available in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Prices in France will start from €35,500 (~US$51,900).

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Monstrous Paramount Marauder Armored Vehicle to Star in First Episode of Top Gear Season 17

In just a few hours from now, Top Gear will air the first episode of season 17 on BBC. During the past two weeks, we got a taste of what Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have in store for us this year through two teaser clips. In one of those trailers, we saw a large off-road-like vehicle playing the role of a monster truck on a white Alfa Romeo 156 and an older generation Renault Megane sedan.
It turns out that the vehicle is a mine protected armored truck called Marauder from South African company Paramount Group and the driver behind the steering wheel is Richard Hammond. We were contacted by Paramount Group who told us that the Marauder will be featured in tonight's first episode of Top Gear Season 17.
We’ll have more on this tomorrow with bonus pictures and videos after the program airs on TV, but for the time being, check out the Marauder’s specifications and a gallery of the vehicle below.

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Renault Koleos SUV Refreshed for the 2012 Model Year

It’s only three years old, but it’s apparently time for the Renault Koleos compact SUV to receive its first facelift. The changes include an exterior makeover and new interior trim, plus noticeable CO2 and fuel consumption savings in the case of the crossover model’s range of diesel powerplants.

The first thing you’ll notice on the updated model is the brand new fascia, evidently inspired by the newly launched Latitude sedan, which like the Koleos, is the product of Renault Samsung Motors in Busan, South Korea.

The styling changes up front include new headlights, a larger single frame grille with chrome accents plus a redesigned bumper, fenders and hood. Other exterior tweaks include the new exterior mirrors that now incorporate LED indicators, fresh alloy wheel designs and the introduction of the pictured “Cayenne Orange” finish.

Inside, the Koleos benefits from a new selection of upholsteries and trims and the introduction of a restyled speedometer housing and display.

Depending on market, the latest Koleos is available with the 150HP or 175HP version of the firm’s M9R diesel engine, or with the 170HP (TR25) petrol engine.

For the new model year, updates to the range of diesel engines and transmissions have resulted in lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with the two-wheel drive version powered by the dCi 150 engine now rated at 148g/km and the dCi 175 unit at166g/km.

The Koleos is also available with a Nissan-developed all-wheel drive system.

The French firm’s crossover is offered in 40 countries on five continents and is produced at the Renault Samsung Motors plant in Busan, South Korea.

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