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2018 Renault Megane R.S. to be priced from around $45k
The hotly-anticipated Renault Megane R.S. will be priced from ‘circa $45,ooo’ when it arrives in the third quarter of this year, making it more expensive than the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Renault will bring the car to Australia in ‘basic’ Sport trim initially, with prices kicking off from around $45,000 in manual guise. The electronic dual-clutch (EDC) transmission will cost an additional $2500, pushing the sticker to around $47,500.
By way of comparison, the manual Golf GTI starts at $41,490 and jumps to $43,990 with the DSG transmission. The more powerful (and three-door only) GTI Performance Edition 1 cost $47,990 at launch, but just 150 examples were available.
So, what does paying the extra get you in the Renault? Where the GTI makes 169kW and 350Nm, the 1.8-litre turbocharged Frenchie pumps out 205kW and 390Nm in base trim, jumping to 224kW in the range-topping, cup-chassis equipped Trophy.
Regardless of trim, the hot Megane should be well equipped. All variants get a digital instrument panel, an 8.7-inch central touchscreen and Apple CarPlay, along with bucket seats trimmed in Alcantara.
The manual hits 100km/h in 5.8 seconds, and tops out at 255km/h – 5 km/h faster than the dual-clutch. The manual is also lighter, weighing in at 1407kg instead of the EDC version’s 1430kg.
Global markets will have a Cup model sitting between the Sport and Trophy, but the Australian market will only get the Sport and Trophy.
Along with more power, the Trophy rides on a more focused ‘cup chassis’. Other spec differences (along with the price) are yet to be confirmed for the Australian market.
Stay tuned for our first drive review of the Megane R.S. in the coming days.
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2018 Nissan X-Trail Ti long-term review, report one: introduction
In the second half of last year, we welcomed a facelifted Nissan X-Trail Ti to the CarAdvice Melbourne office’s long-termer garage.
As with all of our long-term reviews, our time with the mid-sized X-Trail would be spent in assessing its suitability for the modern family, in a market segment packed to the rafters with options.
The X-Trail Ti is the top-shelf petrol model, available in all-wheel-drive form only, matched exclusively to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Priced from $44,790 before on-road costs, the Ti sits far above the entry-level, front-wheel-drive, manual-geared $27,990 ST model ($30,490 for the CVT auto, $32,490 for the all-wheel-drive CVT).
Above: Do X-Trail owners really stand as proudly by their family haulers as this stumpy bloke? Sales in 2017 suggest they might…
Although the X-Trail can be had in both five- and seven-seat forms, the latter is available only in the front-wheel-drive ST and ST-L models. Our Ti, therefore, is a five-seater.
As part of its styling and equipment upgrade, the X-Trail gained a new front-end look and a more subtly revised rear (mostly the darkened tail lamps with a new LED treatment), along with the hot-button safety technology of the moment: autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
Interior tweaks are likewise minor, limited to a new-look steering wheel and gear lever design, and a revised centre console and arm rest.
Although a new diesel engine has joined the range, our test car is equipped with the same naturally-aspirated (‘non-turbo’) 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that carried over from before the X-Trail’s upgrades.
That engine offers 126kW of power and 226Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 8.3 litres per 100 kilometres (L/100km) on the combined cycle test, using standard 91RON petrol.
Standard kit from the base level includes LED daytime running lights up front, powered folding mirrors, a small tailgate-mounted spoiler, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and push-button start, 60/40 split-fold rear seats, and ISOFIX anchor points on the left and right rear seats.
Safety features in every model includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with forward collision warning, along with six airbags, a limited-slip differential, and hill-start assist.
Because our car is the top-shelf model, it also gets a number of features from the mid-spec ST-L model. Those include tinted rear windows, front fog-lights, leather-accented steering wheel and seats, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and four-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, driver lumbar support, roof rails, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control.
There’s also a larger 7.0-inch infotainment display (up from five inches) with satellite navigation and traffic updates, DAB+ digital radio, 360-degree ‘Around View’ camera system with moving object detection, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.
Well-equipped by any measure, although Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink are all unavailable.
Features specific to the Ti (and TL in most cases) include 19-inch alloy wheels, heated door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, adaptive auto-levelling LED headlights, automatic wipers, motion-activated electric tailgate, a heated steering wheel, heated outer rear seats, a powered tilt and slide moonroof, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The option of tan leather-accented trim also exists.
Safety features for the Ti, beyond the standard, include lane departure warning, intelligent lane intervention, pedestrian protection for the AEB system, and intelligent adaptive cruise control.
With all five seats upright, the two-row X-Trail lists boot space at 565 litres, growing to 945 litres with the back seats folded. The floor is made up of two panels, which can be lifted to reveal a pair of handy compartments. Beneath those is a space-saver spare wheel.
Towing capacity is listed at 1500kg braked and 750kg unbraked. The tow-ball load rating is limited to 75kg, which falls short of leaders like the Cherokee Limited (239kg), Kia Sportage diesel (200kg), and the Subaru Forester 2.0D (180g).
In 2017, Nissan declared 18,955 sales for the X-Trail, making it the third best-selling medium SUV in Australia. Ahead of it was the Toyota RAv4 (21,077), Hyundai Tucson (23,828) and the Mazda CX-5 (25,831).
Fun fact: the Ti makes up just 10 per cent of X-Trail sales, with the most popular – owning 42 per cent of sales in the range – being the ST model we reviewed last year. As Mr Costello noted at the time, the ST’s sub-$30k price point is neatly justified. Can the more expensive Ti make a case for its positioning?
Watch for the next update on our long-termer to come in the week ahead.
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2018 Hyundai Santa Fe leaked
The next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe has been leaked on a Korean website, ahead of an expected reveal on February 7.
Posted on Daum, an exterior photo shows the all-new SUV with its Kona-inspired face, while an interior snap previews the overhauled cabin.
We don’t have images of the rear, unfortunately, but the photos we do have demonstrate the two-tier headlight design set to inspire the wider Hyundai SUV range, lashings of chrome, and new alloy wheels.
The skid plate-like treatment on the front bumper gives the Santa Fe a more purposeful look, while a strong side character line extends from the LED daytime-running light clusters all the way through to the tail-lights.
Inside, the Santa Fe looks very much like an enlarged i30, thanks to its floating infotainment system and minimalistic approach to buttons on the centre stack.
The cabin appears to have more leather-look surfaces on the dashboard and doors, while the instrument binnacle is dominated by a fully-digital speedo – like higher versions of the related Kia Sorento.
Expect wireless smartphone charging to also be available on the new model, along with more USB inputs for mobile-reliant families.
According to Daum’s post, the Santa Fe will also debut a new rear cross-collision avoidance system – essentially an autonomous emergency braking function for rear cross-traffic – along with the company’s latest infotainment system with remote services compatibility and an array of internet-based navigation and search functions.
The article also reveals a three-tier engine range – a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol. Outputs aren’t confirmed at this stage, but a new eight-speed automatic transmission and new rack-driven electric power steering system are said to help achieve “best-in-class fuel economy”.
We’ll have to wait until the official reveal to get more details, so stay tuned…
CarAdvice will also be attending the international launch drive of the new Santa Fe in South Korea later this month, so expect locally-focused coverage and a first drive review in the coming weeks.
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2.23 million diesel cars on local roads: report
Diesel popularity is falling amid a storm of negative publicity, but there are still more than 2.2 million diesel passenger cars on Australian roads.
According to Roy Morgan, 45 per cent of Australians would still seriously consider buying a diesel – down from 50 per cent in 2016, but comfortably more than those considering an electric car (37 per cent) or an LPG vehicle (21 per cent).
Of the 2.23 million people driving diesels, 1.13 million live in capital cities, with the remaining 1.1 million located in regional areas. Accounting for population, that makes country buyers 36 per cent more likely to drive a diesel than city slickers.
New South Wales is the largest market for diesels (26.3 per cent of sales), while Queensland accounts for a whopping 24.9 per cent of all diesels, followed closely by Victoria (23.1 per cent). With 14.6 per cent of diesel vehicles, Western Australia punches well above its weight as well.
Interestingly, men account for 66.7 per cent of diesel drivers, with a (very slim) majority (31.5 per cent) aged between 35 and 49. Perhaps unsurprisingly, city-dwellers are likely to favour SUVs, while those living in the country favour dual-cab utes.
Don’t expect the stats to remain the way they are for long, though.
“With the speed of change taking place in this industry currently, particularly in areas such as electric cars, it is important to track consumers’ likely interest in these potential fuel changes,” said Norman Morris, industry communications director for Roy Morgan.
“Currently, 37% of the population say that they would seriously consider purchasing an electric vehicle, up from 29% just one year ago. This is now not far below the level of interest in diesel with 45% and well ahead of LPG on 21%, both of which are showing downward trends. The changes in technology such as driverless cars and fuel preferences have the potential to impact rapidly on vehicle purchasing intentions as they can be regarded as major disrupters”
Porsche to invest $9.42b in electrification
Porsche has announced it plans to spend more than €6 billion ($9.42 billion) on electromobility within the next five years, doubling its expenditure to focus on upcoming plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models and electric vehicles (EV).
Decided at the most recent Porsche AG Supervisory Board meeting, the investment has been divided into material assets and development costs – around €3b ($4.71b) for the former and just over €3b for the latter.
“We are doubling our expenditure on electromobility from around three billion euro to more than six billion euro,” said Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board for Porsche AG.
“Alongside development of our models with combustion engines, we are setting an important course for the future with this decision.”
The company has confirmed some €500 million ($785m) will be used for the development of the Mission E electric sports car – including all its “variants and derivatives” – and around €1 billion ($1.57b) for the electrification and hybridisation of the existing product portfolio.
Porsche says the production version of the Mission E has a system power output of 600hp (447kW), allowing it to dash from 0-100km/h in “significantly less than 3.5 seconds” – so around 3.0 seconds then, Porsche?
The company also claims its upcoming EV will offer a range of up to 500 kilometres, while being able to replenish 400 kilometres of range in just 15 minutes thanks to 800V fast-charging.
Meanwhile, Porsche will continue to invest in the electrification of its core model range, currently headlined by the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (above) – which teams a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for a massive 500kW of power and 850Nm of torque, making for a 3.4-second sprint from 0-100km/h.
According to the German marque, around 60 per cent of Panamera customers in Europe opt for hybrid versions, with that ratio increasing to 90 per cent in Scandinavia.
Finally, Porsche will also invest in the upgrading of charging infrastructure throughout Europe, in a joint venture with Audi, BMW Group, Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company.
The project will see some 400 rapid charging stations introduced along major European traffic routes by 2020, with construction having already commenced last year. Porsche’s own dealer network is becoming part of Europe’s charging infrastructure, too.
It’s the latest in a spate of announcements from various manufacturers committing to development in electromobility. Parent company Volkswagen aims to have one-third of all vehicle sales to be electrified by the year 2025, while Volvo has committed to all new models released from 2019 to feature some form of electrification.
The wave of investments are likely to be in response to Silicon Valley-based Tesla, which until now has been largely unchallenged in the high-performance EV arena.
What do you think about Porsche’s electrification plans?
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