Renault is another large French carmaker that also manufactures buses, trucks and vans. It forms the world’s 4th-largest auto manufacturer in a joint operation with Nissan under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn. Renault also owns majority shares in Romanian manufacturer Dacia and Korea’s Renault Samsung Motors.
Renault itself was founded in 1899 by Louis, Marcel and Fernand Renault, and is currently based in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The company employs some 124,000 people, runs operations in 118 countries, and 2009 revenues topped 33 billion euros, so it is no minnow. Renault is known for its revolutionary designs (like the well-known derriere of the Renault Megane) and participation in motor racing, especially Formula1. The motorsports division recently tasted success, winning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 with their superstar Spanish driver Fernando Alonso. The team was run by the flamboyant Italian Flavio Briatore, who was disgraced and forced to resign from motorsport in 2008 following the infamous race-fixing incident. In that year’s Singapore race, Alonso’s teammate Nelson Piquet was ordered to crash his Renault Formula1 car at a point in the race that would greatly aid Alonso’s race strategy.
Renault sells the following cars in New Zealand- first up is the Clio RS, a pocket rocket with a 2.0-litre engine and 6-speed manual transmission. It is hard to get more performance from any other car for the money. The Koleos is next, and it’s a compact SUV sold with a choice between 2.5 petrol or 2.0 diesel engine, as is the Laguna wagon. The Megane is sold as a stylish hatchback, and a performance-oriented 2.0 turbo is available as well. The Scenic is a small MPV only available with a 1.9 turbo engine.
Looking at buying a Renault? Check the vehicle history of any Renault by entering its number plate in the field above.