The global crossover market has reached and crossed its saturation point. If a manufacturer now has to enter this space, they have to bring something special. Replacing the aging Kadjar, Renault Austral brings just that, in the form of rear-wheel steering.
A few weeks ago, Nissan launched their smallest crossover, the Magnite, to compete in India’s fierce sub-four-meter “Compact SUV” category. The segment is so lucrative that the Renault-Nissan alliance is not happy with just one product. So here comes the twin to the Magnite, the 2021 Renault Kiger.
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance has been a troubled marriage, fighting through adversities including reduced market share, stronger competition and internal issues that came to a head with the spectacular rise and fall of former CEO Carlos Ghosn. With the Covid-19 pandemic hammering down on the industry, their struggle has only gotten worse. To counter this slump in business, the alliance has organised a contingency plan. Nissan has announced a 4-year plan which includes drastic decisions like shutting down plants and significantly trimming their lineup.
The all-new 2020 Renault Captur has broken cover and it is now built on the French manufacturer’s new CMF-B platform. The new Captur gets slightly bigger, along with 85-percent new parts from its predecessor. Renault claims it is now lighter, more aerodynamic, quieter and more fuel-efficient.
After already giving us the Renault Megane GT earlier this year, the more powerful Megane RS is now available for customers in the UAE and GCC region.
It may not be the first small, affordable or capable small SUV, the Renault Duster is however the people’s car of the crossover era. Bridging the gap between dedicated compact off-roaders like the Suzuki Jimny and small sensible saloons pitched at emerging markets, the Duster made the practical SUV an accessible option for budget-minded drivers, with 2.45 million sold since its 2010 launch as a Dacia and 2012 Middle East introduction as a Renault.
Renault Middle East is quietly celebrating their own little milestone in the region, selling more cars than ever this quarter and achieving their highest ever GCC market share. Granted, it’s only at 1.5% now, but there is cause to celebrate. Despite a decline in the region’s overall market, Renault Middle East actually managed a 0.29% increase in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period last year. We sat down with Marwan Haidamous, Managing Director of Renault Middle East, for a chat on this as well as future products.
The Renault Megane was never a major player in the compact segment. Blame it on lack of awareness, brand preconceptions or just lack of desirability, but it just never caught on in the GCC (except with one of our people, who actually owns one). There’s an all-new model in town now. Will it make waves?
Renault is well-known in the Formula 1 arena. As they’re completing 40 years of involvement with the most elite motor racing championship, Renault has decided to infuse some F1 heritage to one of their hot hatches to make the Clio RS 18.
Al-Futtaim may be best known in the UAE as a Toyota dealer, so this news was a bit of a surprise — Groupe Renault and Al-Futtaim announced that they have signed definitive agreements for the exclusive assembly and distribution of Renault vehicles in Pakistan.