Fab Five out to mesmerize

Renault launches five fun cars

Renault is not exactly a mainstream brand name in Malaysia but they are taking steps to make it appealing to a wide spectrum of the market and the strategy involves offering interesting imported models.

Recently they invited journalists on a day trip to Cameron Highlands to sample five models that are now available on the market; they are the Renault Clio 1.6, Clio RS, Megane Coupe Cabriolet, Megane R26 Sport and Grand Espace IV.

Together with the locally assembled Kangoo people carrier and light commercial vehicle, TC Eurocars has one of the most complete ranges of cars on the market covering a wide range of vehicles from compact hatchback to full-size MPV.

Renault Clio 1.6

Obviously this is the entry-level model for the fully importer local Renault range but it is not what one would describe as inexpensive. The price tag of nearly RM150,000 will get you bigger Japanese or Korean cars but the Clio is a car that is full of character and playfulness.

On our drive up Cameron Highlands, we drew the short straw and had the little car on the uphill stretch from Simpang Pulai to the Lakehouse in Tanah Rata so we were not expecting to have a lot of fun.

We were wrong, while the Clio 1.6 was not exactly rocketing up the popular highland resort town; it certainly had the capacity to entertain drivers on those twisty roads.

The suspension was both supple and accurate. The Clio will enters corners quickly and steadily at speeds which seem improbable, displaying the typical Renault willingness to be thrown into corners with vigour. This is why the Clio is a popular entry level race and rally car in Europe.

Like all French cars, the Clio has the uncanny ability of flattering all road surfaces, no matter how pockmarked or rough they may be.

Renault Clio RS

This hot hatch comes with a 197-horsepower 2.0-litre engine which is the perfect playmate for a close-ratio six-speed transmission.

Tuned by the keen guys at Renault Sport, the engine has a strong and bubbly character, the combination of gutsy torque from as low as 3,000 rpm and peak power that is delivered at a heady 7,250 rpm.

In practical terms it means that the engine is strong from the mid range and keen to race to the red-line every time the driver taps on the throttle.

On the twisty double backs of the old Cameron Highlands- Tapah road, the Clio RS was the most happy.

You can choose to be aggressive by braking hard, downshifting two cogs to second and powering out hard and balancing the car on the throttle, lift-off oversteer style.

Alternatively you can carry a bit more speed into corners and let the chassis’s prodigious mechanical grip take you sideways without much fuss.

Either way, this RM215,000 Clio RS has bags of fun and unlike hot hatchbacks from Japan, this RS will not crash on potholes and  road imperfections and never threaten to send you to a chiropractor if you fail to slow down for bumps.

Renault Megane CC

This is the most stylish of the brood with strong, chiseled features and talents hidden deep in the boot.

The Megane CC is a wonderful open top car that comes with great driving abilities so that you can enjoy the sunshine as well your favourite road.

Pushed hard on less than perfect and certainly not straight state roads, the CC simply tracks the driver’s steering input without fuss and with very little scuttle shake. In fact it has less scuttle shake than a certain, more expensive, German competitor.

The trick is in the stiff chassis and supple suspension which keeps all tyres firmly planted even when the road surface is doing a fair impression of the current stock market ups and downs.

TCEC is asking RM236,000 for this wonderful piece of automotive art, a good price for a handsome and talented car.

Renault Megane R26 Sport

This is the most exciting of the five brothers and like all fast hatchbacks, the R26 is not the car if you want to blend in with the crowd.

The aggressive styling and raspy exhaust note guarantee that the R26 will be the centre of attention wherever it goes.

The turbocharged four-cylinder two-litre engine pumps out 230 horsepower and you can feel every single hoof when the turbine is spinning.

Thankfully all the reins are in the very able hands of Renault’s fabled cup chassis.

With all 310 Newton metres of torque available from 3,000 rpm, you can keep the R26 in top gear at all times and still enjoy decent performance but if you bought the car so you can have some serious fun, then the close-ratio six-speeder is a real joy to use.

There is  complaint that some of the 310 Newton metres are used to wrestle the steering wheel from the driver’s hand instead of propelling the car forward.

But this is a small blemish on an otherwise sparkling display of talent.

The R26’s price tag is almost identical to the CC, so you can decide whether you want to be a refined sort of chap or a keen driver.

Renault Grand Espace

With every generation the Espace gets better and the fourth incarnation of Renault’s ground breaking people carrier is now considered one of the best in class.

The equipment pack on the model we tested included very large panoramic roof, leather seats and upgraded climate control unit with two zone temperature and three-zone blower controls.

The cabin of the Espace is the main attraction of the vehicle, it looks and feels luxurious and six adults can travel long distances without realising the passing hours.

Most MPV’s are boring boxes on wheels but Renault has successfully kept the original MPV interesting with strong proportions, interesting details and angular, jeweled look.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 170 horsepower and 270 Newton metres of torque, both sufficient to make the Espace a decent driver’s car.

This is a premium product and theRM297,000 price tag is an affirmation of its uniqueness.