THE ALL NEW SPOTIF – A SENSORY EXPERIENCE
The underlying concept for the Renault Kangoo has always been the proposition of versatility. With over 1 million Kangoos sold across the globe since its introduction in 1997, the Kangoo has won many hearts. One of the main reasons for this popularity is the Kangoo’s unique ability to hold many “faces” and applications. As an extension to the basic product proposition the idea of the “Sportif Serie Limitee (SL)” model was mooted.
The development of a “sports oriented” model should always begin with the interface between driver and vehicle at static mode. The sense of touch, feel and sight influences the driving experience. The driver is connected to the vehicle in two critical points; the steering wheel and the seat. With that in mind, much time was spent in the selection of right materials to suit the nature of the car. At the end of the test, leather was decided as the best option. But not just ordinary leather, to fulfill the “Sportif’s” product proposition, it was decided that a special high grade leather called “Expression” was to be used. It not only gives a sense of quality through the eyes but its buttery smooth texture will excite the senses upon touch. The leather has been applied onto the steering wheel and all seats. It is further complemented by additional side padding for driver and passenger seats so the occupants will feel more secure while seated.
To give the Sportif a more aggressive stance a bespoke body kit was designed. The design brief for the enhancements was to be just that – an enhancement. It was essential that the design did not overpower the basic look of the vehicle but only add a more dynamic persona that would accentuate the current body lines. We are confident the final 5 piece body kit design has achieved this and would appeal to those who appreciate differentiation with subtlety. Following the use of high quality materials on the interior, no expense was spared to ensure that the exterior enhancements would serve the user well into the future. Instead of fiberglass that is more brittle on impact, the decision was made to use polyurethane (PU). PU is a more expensive material to use but allows better impact resistance due to its flexibility.
On top of cosmetic enhancements, the Sportif SL adds a level of functionality from the newly developed roof compartments. These compartments utilize the extended roof area above the interior pillars. The idea behind these compartments came from viewing how current Kangoo customers use their vehicles. It became evident earlier on that additional storage place would be a boon for owners. The compartments were designed to ensure that the most widely carried items could be stored – a tissue box and an umbrella!
The Sportif SL currently only comes in Tango Orange; an exciting and vibrant color to suit the vehicle’s new persona. A more basic Sportif is also offered in Lemon Yellow.
The current 1.4 liter power-train has been retained as it still delivers the ideal balance between fuel efficiency and performance.
The Sportif SL pack retails for RM7,900.00 above the OTR price of RM69,888.00 for the basic Kangoo (Auto); the basic Sportif pack will retail for RM4,800. As an introductory offer, the first 50 people are given a 50% discount from the price of the Sportif SL or Sportif pack.
With a more vibrant persona and an interior warmth that cocoons the driver, the All New Sportif is set to delight the senses of all who come to know it.
