You know that stunt in the movies where a car drives through some impossibly narrow alley? Or how about the one where a car is drifted into a parallel parking spot at high speed? Those are tough stunts for sure, but how about spinning a car lengthwise through two barriers that are just 18 centimeters longer than the car you’re driving? That’s what the obviously-very-good stunt driver Terry Grant did this past weekend at the Live Action Arena of the Autosport International Show in the UK.

Grant was performing various stunts all weekend long, but this one in particular landed him his 16th Guiness World Record. The way it was done had Grant reversing the car and swinging the front end around while passing through two barriers. It was attempted numerous times and each time the barriers were moved closer, which meant he continually kept breaking his own record. The final record-setting attempt had the barriers set just 378 centimeters apart. The diagonal length of the Twingo is only 370 centimeters, which meant he had 4 centimers on either end of the car to get it through unscathed. It’s an impressive stunt, to say the least, and we’ll probably see recreated in a Bourne movie one day. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

[Source: AutoBlog]

Volkswagen, Honda, Peugeot… they can all try to make hot hatches, and they may even turn out to be smashingly good. But Renault will always be the king of the hot hatches. The latest from Renaultsport, the French automaker’s competition division, is the Clio Cup. It’s essentially a beefed-up and stripped-down version of the critically-acclaimed Renaultsport Clio 197. (Think Clio Superleggera, or Clio Scuderia.)

Although the Clio Cup has already been available for a while now, it was originally intended for the company’s one-make racing series in the UK (pictured above), supporting events for the British Touring Car Championship. Despite the Clio Cup series limiting entries to 38 cars per race, Renault has sold over 60 in the UK as buyers have been snatching them up for track use, evidently prompting Renault to change its strategy.

Now available for public consumption and use on the road, the Clio Cup is virtually identical to its track-bound counterpart: power is boosted to 205 hp from the standard 197, the suspension is tightened up and extra weight has been stripped out. It’s being certified for road use in the UK under Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) tests, mandating the fitment of regular seat-belts and bigger side-view mirrors as the only modifications required for its streetability. While prices haven’t yet been announced, the track version sells for £22,500, prompting an anticipated MSRP in the neighborhood of £27k.

[Source: AutoBlog]

It’s been a long time coming, but the new Twingo is finally here! For the first time in 14 years, Renault’s city model will be sold in Britain. Has it been worth the wait? In this exclusive photoshoot, Auto Express looks at the first right-hand-drive car to hit the UK.

And there’s no doubt initial impressions are good. Renault is aiming its new baby upmarket – at the likes of the Fiat 500 and MINI. As a result, there’s a depth of quality that shines through the compact dimensions.

Although the faired-in nose and large headlamps still give the Twingo a friendly face, the look is surprisingly grown-up – particularly when compared to the previous model. Chunky, angular bodywork is more reminiscent of the Renault Modus than the innova-tive original, but that’s not to say the car has sacrificed its individuality. The latest Twingo has lots of character.

At launch, there will be a choice of only two models: the GT and Dynamique. Go for this GT and you get neat touches such as racing checks on the doors and silver finish for the mirrors, spoiler and front foglight surround.

Inside, there’s an extremely spacious cabin with easily enough room for four adults. Extra boot space can be freed up by sliding the two individual back seats. With the independent rear chairs pushed fully forwards and the bench folded flat, the 3.6-metre-long Twingo offers 951 litres of stowage space – a hugely impressive figure for such a small car.

Up front, the newcomer is just as practical, with a 13-litre glovebox and generous door bins. There are also extra cubbyholes next to the steering wheel, on top of the dashboard, plus a 3.7-litre bin under the front chairs. Netted pockets on the seatbacks are provided for passengers in the rear.

Ahead of the driver, the central digital speedo and trip computer display dominates your view. As with the MINI, the Twingo has its rev counter mounted on a pod on the steering column. Quality is impressive, with most of the matt-finished plastics soft to the touch. Both models also benefit from the TunePoint audio connection in the glovebox. It enables owners to plug in virtually any music player, from Apple’s iPod to a simple USB memory stick.

And the technology doesn’t stop there. Buyers will be treated to standard air-conditioning, cruise control, a full-length sunroof and automatic control of wipers and lights.

When the Twingo goes on sale in September, there will be two engine options. The Dynamique is powered by Renault’s familiar 75bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit, while the GT has the new 100bhp TCE (Turbo Control Efficiency) version of the same motor. The latter propels the Twingo from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds, yet returns 47mpg. Both units can be specified with either five-speed manual or semi-auto boxes.

We will have to wait until the summer to see if the newcomer will measure up on the road. But on first acquaintance, the little Renault looks to be a winner. With prices for entry-level cars starting at around £8,000, it won’t be cheap, yet the fit, finish and equipment make up for that. So even in a class this full of enticing options, the Twingo is a welcome addition.

TO: Auto Express

Take five! That’s the offer Renault has made to fans of its Clio Campus for 2007. For the first time, the popular budget hatch gets two more doors as part of a facelift.

Available now, the Campus five-door comes with a choice of engines – the 1.2-litre petrol costs £8,645 while the 1.5 dCi diesel is priced at £9,745. Both get central locking, electric front windows and a trip computer.

These images have been produced using information from Auto Express’s top French contacts, and show what to expect from two of Renault’s most exciting new cars.

Taking over from the still-popular Scenic compact MPV, the new version, shown above in red, will get an even more distinctive appearance. As well as a fresh front end that looks set to spread across the range, the next-generation people-mover will need a practicality boost if it is to keep up with its new Citroen C4 Picasso rival. The Renault will continue to be offered in both five and seven-seat forms, with plenty of new interior features to boost versatility. However, bosses at the company are confident that the current model still has plenty of life left in it. As a result, the next Scenic won’t appear for at least another two years.

Buyers wanting a trendy new city car won’t have to wait that long for the new Twingo, however. Last year’s Paris Motor Show concept model won’t change significantly as it’s prepared for the forecourts, as this image shows.

The Twingo will go on salein the UK in September, with a choice of normally aspirated or turbocharged 1.2-litre engines, plus a 1.5-litre diesel unit. Prices are expected to range from £7,000 to £9,000.

SOURCE [Auto Express]

AUGUST JOSE AMORIM
publisher-assistant of vehicles of the Leaf of S.Paulo

He had a time where consuming none remembered them: all only wanted minivans. But, still in slow camera, the turkey hens are in the Brazilian market. The Renault started to make the Mégane Grand Tour in the Paraná, and the Peugeot imports of the 307 France sw.

Mecanicamente, them well is seemed. Beyond having automatic exchange of four speeds with manual exchanges, they use engine 2,0 16V. The power and the torque (force) have next values, with advantage of five horses and 0,8 kgfm for the 307 – that it beat to the countrywoman naturalized in all the tests of performance.

In the taking of acceleration time, the difference arrives 1,69s: to reach 140 km/h, the 307 takes 25,52s, and the Mégane, 27,21s. It enters the tests of retaken, the biggest interval is of 1,77s. Km/h is transferred 16,88s it Peugeot to go of 80 the 140 km/h, and the chronometer indicates 18,65s for the Renault.

As they are come back toward the family, is presumed that the consumer is worried about the security. E the two turkey hens, equipped with the same system of brakes, almost estake the speed in the same distance. If km/h will be the 40, the driver of the Mégane will need 30 cm to less stopping the car that of the 307. If km/h will be the 100, the advantage will be of 1,4 m.

Expenses

It follows in the consumption the balance between the Mégane Grand Tour and the 307 sw, that the Toyota sovereignty of Fielder and its fight against 8,881 units emplacadas in 2006 (the Toyota did not yield the vehicle for the Leaf test). The two register the mark of 8,4 km/l in the city. In the road, the Renault is capable to twirl 100 more m with one liter of gasoline.

The decisive factor for a father of family will be the price divided between the two models. The 307, that she is taxed with Tax of Importation of 35%, are R$ 9,460 more expensive than the Mégane, but benefit inherits of hatchback one high relation cost/.

Cost R$ 79,950 and offers itens serial as airbags of the type curtain and lateral, retrovisores that if they strike automatically when the turkey hen is locked, sensory of rain and luminosity, air-conditional with independent regulation for passenger and driver.

The Mégane, of R$ 70,490, brings “basic” the electric trio, brakes with antitravamento and electronic distribution of the lockwire, wheels of light league, and its direction is electric – lighter in maneuvers. Perhaps most sensible they are vain for the “charms”: the glass ceiling of the Peugeot and the key in card form and the brake of hand in the format of stick of the Renault.

The cars had been yielded for test for the assembly plants

TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE MAUÁ
www.maua.br
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