Renault has profited from the Moscow Motor Show to reveal New Renault Symbol, the latest vehicle to join its line-up as part of the Renault Commitment 2009 plan.
The lines of this three-box saloon suggest refinement and elegance, and its status-enhancing front-end looks are underpinned by the design of the headlamps and the specific grille which is picked out in chrome. The robust lines of the rear are also suggestive of status, while the cabin is comfortable and carefullyappointed.
New Renault Symbol is truly economical to run. Its range of latest-generation engines all combine performance, fuel efficiency and respect for the environment. Both the petrol- and diesel-powered versions of this new vehicle can claim best in class fuel consumption, returning a low 4.3 litres/100km (equivalent to CO2 emissions of 116g/km) with the 1.5 dCi 85hp engine, and 5.9 litres/100km (equivalent to CO2 emissions of 140g/km) with the 1.2 16V 75hp powerplant.
New Renault Symbol sets new standards when it comes to travelling comfort, too. The running gear is inherited from that of Clio II which is acclaimed for the first class balance it strikes between comfort and roadholding. Passengers will also appreciate the quiet drive ensured by the thoroughly soundproofed cabin, while thermal comfort has been engineered to function in the extreme climates of countries like Russia, Turkey, etc.
The large (506 dm3), practical boot meets the needs of a wide variety of uses, ranging from family holidays, professional use or a weekend away in the country.
And this new three-box car is equally uncompromising in the realm of, delivering optimal protection for all occupants.
New Renault Symbol has plenty of arguments in its favour to win over families in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Turkey, the Maghreb countries and the Gulf States. Indeed, this new vehicle heralds the forthcoming renewal of Renault's entire three-box line-up and is due to be released for sale on the majority of its markets between September and November 2008.
Status symbol
Renault has chosen the Moscow Motor Show to take the wraps off New Renault Symbol, the first three-box saloon to form part of the Renault Commitment 2009 plan. This new model was designed to meet customer demand in such dynamic markets as Russia and Turkey. New Renault Symbol is the fruit of international cooperation between different Renault engineering departments.
Close collaboration between Renault engineering teams, plus best level quality New Renault Symbol was developed over a period of 26 months. Digital technologies including modelling and dynamic simulation were employed at every step of the project which resulted in both time and cost savings. The total capital outlay for New Renault Symbol – including production-related investment – was €100 million. The use of the running gear from Clio II, itself a benchmark in its segment in terms of comfort and roadholding, permitted design lead times to be kept to a minimum while ensuring an extremely high level of quality.
Although Clio Symbol was derived from Clio II, New Renault Symbol is a model in its own right. Designed jointly by Renault engineering teams at the Technocentre (France), in Turkey and in Romania, it is manufactured at the Oyak-Renault plant in Bursa, Turkey, one of the Renault Group's leading factories in terms of quality.
It is both ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified and employs the production methods spelled out in the Renault Production Way (SPR). Quality control also covers the management of this factory's diversified production which manufactures five different body types on the same line. Bursa's capacity is 360,000 units in three shifts for the five models it produces, namely New 
Renault Symbol, three- and five-door Clio III, Clio Estate and four-door Mégane saloon.
A vehicle aimed at promoting growth outside of the Europe region
The decision to manufacture New Renault Symbol in Bursa was taken at a very early stage in the project in order to ensure its production as near as possible to the countries where it would be sold. Indeed, Russia, Turkey, Romania and Algeria are key markets for this model and are expected to absorb more than 80 per cent of production. The rest of production will go to the CEEC (Central and Eastern Europe countries), the Middle East and Africa.
This new three-box car targets automobile markets that are enjoying strong growth. Between 2000 and 2007, the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) grew by 176 per cent, while new growth economies such as the Maghreb countries and Turkey grew by 87 per cent, and mature markets (Western Europe, North America and Japan) receded by 4.5 per cent. Forecasts expect this trend to be even more marked in years to come.
In this highly competitive marketplace which has seen a significant renewal of the offer, New Renault Symbol has many arguments in its favour, beginning with the brand's performance in this segment.
Clio Symbol has been a success story since 2000, with sales totalling more than 600,000 units. It was once again Turkey's best-selling car in 2007. Up to the end of April 2008, Clio Symbol topped its segment in Turkey and was second in Romania, Morocco and Algeria.
New Renault Symbol, tailor-made for its markets
New Renault Symbol reaps the benefit of the organization by regions introduced by Renault in 2006 and which features regular meetings between all the key local players and representatives of centrally-based functions for a more streamlined decision-making process in tune with the needs of the marketplace.
The Euromed1 region was closely involved in the project, notably in terms of deciding the specification of the new car and then forecasting sales volumes.
Customer surveys and feedback from the field conducted at a very early stage in the project enabled a detailed analysis of the segment to be made with a view to producing a vehicle that perfectly matched customer demand. Two major factors stood out as essential, namely exterior looks and low running costs (fuel consumption, upkeep and servicing).
Despite variations from one market to another, this process outlined the principal characteristics of the typical New Renault Symbol buyer who is male and looking for a spacious family car that is comfortable, easy to run and versatile (family journeys, travelling to and from work). The typical buyer is also looking for the best quality-to-price ratio, as well as a safe, attractive car. Brand image is seen as important, too.
New Renault Symbol is the first step in the creation by Renault of a range of three-box models. This will enable the brand to build on the thousands of satisfied Clio Symbol buyers and also win over new customers thanks notably to the newcomer's statusenhancing looks and extremely competitive running costs.
The car is due to be released for sale on the majority of its markets between September and November 2008.
1 The Euromed region includes Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldavia, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.
- Renault, France - also photos
