Renault Vel Satis

Renault Vel Satis
Overview
Manufacturer Renault
Production 2002–2009 (LHD, 62,201 built)
2002–2005 (RHD)
Assembly Sandouville, France (Sandouville Renault Factory)
Body and chassis
Class Executive car (E)
Body style 5-door hatchback
Layout FF layout
Related Renault Laguna
Powertrain
Engine petrol
2.0 L F4Rt I4 T
3.5 L VQ35DE V6
diesel
2.0 L M9R dCi dCi I4
2.2 L G9T dCi I4
3.0 L P9X dCi V6
Dimensions
Length 4,860 mm (191.3 in)
Width 1,860 mm (73.2 in)
Height 1,580 mm (62.2 in)
Curb weight 1,735 kg (3,825 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Renault Safrane
Successor Renault Latitude
Rear view of Vel Satis

The Renault Vel Satis is an executive car that was produced by the French manufacturer Renault, launched at the 2001 Geneva Motorshow to replace the already-discontinued Safrane. It was previously revealed as a concept car in 1998, at the Paris Motor Show. However, the following production model does not have very much in common with it.[1] It is still considered to be one of the most expensive cars ever built by Renault although it remained a minor success.

The name Vel Satis is a composite of elements of the words Velocity and Satisfaction. A specially prepared Vel Satis was used by the President of France until 2009. The car was also Renault's flagship car, It has since been replaced by the Renault-Samsung built Renault Latitude.

First Renault with Adaptive cruise control (ACC) (supplied by Robert Bosch GmbH[2])

Overview

The Vel Satis is distinguished by its unusual height (13 cm higher than a Safrane), which benefits interior space but results in proportions some viewed as being ungainly. In September 2002, Car described it as "ugly and very French."[3] Design commentator Stephen Bayley decided that the problem with the car was that it was "not ugly enough." Patrick Le Quément, Renault's design chief, explained that the car was intended to have physical presence, rather than aspiring to classical elegance.

Renault's stated intention was to target less conformist, selective modern customers who were identified as "distancing themselves from the conventional saloon." [3] The Vel Satis was an attempt to redefine the prestige car in French terms.

It had a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating and was available with a variety of engines:

The Vel Satis shares its "platform" (chassis, powertrain, assembly process) with the Laguna and Espace IV and was produced on the same assembly line in Sandouville, France.

Reviews of the car were critical of its ride and its handling but noted the car was quiet under most conditions. "The gearbox is prone to considerable hunting in its quest to deliver power, at which point engine noise intrudes more than anticipated, and the change itself is by no means the smoothest in the class."[4]

The reviewer noted that the V6 diesel engine was better suited to the car's "lounge lizard pretensions" but that "all of which conspires to make the car's ride quality even more of a disappointment." The ride quality was described as feeling "over-tough at pottering speeds, but displays a tendency to disintegrate into chop and judder when confronted with anything other than the smoothest of surfaces." [3]

In March 2005, Renault UK decided not to develop an RHD version of the facelifted 2005MY Vel Satis, as sales of the model had been poor in the United Kingdom since launch. Although 3,500 sales were predicted, only a third of these were achieved. This came only two years after the Avantime coupé/MPV, which was equally ambitious in its design, was discontinued by Renault.

The 2005MY Vel Satis featured an reprofiled front grille section with less chrome, giving it an appearance similar to more recent concept cars from the brand. On August 27, 2009, Renault cancelled the Vel Satis production. The 2011 Renault Latitude is considered a replacement in Europe and other nations, because of its similar dimensions and class to the Vel Satis.

References

  1. ↑ Renault Concepts, Retrieved October 2011
  2. ↑ http://presseservice.pressrelations.de/standard/result_main.cfm?aktion=jour_pm&r=54080&quelle=0&pfach=1&n_firmanr_=102116&sektor=pm&detail=1
  3. 1 2 3 CAR magazine, Sept 2002
  4. ↑ CAR Magazine, Sept 2002
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« previous — Renault vehicles timeline 1980 to date, Western European and North American market
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456
City car 4 Twingo I Twingo II Twingo III
Twizy
Supermini 5 / 7 Super 5 Clio Symbol Symbol II
Clio I Clio II Clio III Clio IV
Zoe
Small family car 14 9 / 11 19 Fluence
Alliance / Encore Mégane I Mégane II Mégane III Mégane IV
Large family car 18 21 / Medallion Laguna I Laguna II Laguna III Talisman
Executive car 20 / 30 25 Safrane Vel Satis Latitude
Coupé Fuego Avantime Laguna Coupé
Roadster Spider Wind
Crossover SUV Captur
Koleos
Kadjar
Mini MPV Modus
Compact MPV Scénic I Scénic II Scénic III
Large MPV/CUV Espace I Espace II Espace III Espace IV Espace V
LAV Express Kangoo I Kangoo II
Van Trafic I Trafic II Trafic III
Master I Master II Master III
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