Daimler-Nissan Alliance Bearing Fruit: Renault To Get Mercedes-Derived Luxury Car

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

While the rumormill is rife with talk of Infiniti/Mercedes alliances for small, front-drive cars, one of the products to come out of the tie-up might be a luxury car for Renault.

Bloomberg is reporting that the new Renault luxury car would arrive sometime after 2014. The Mercedes-based car would follow a new Espace minivan and another luxury sedan (ostensibly to replace the Laguna). Renault COO Carlos Tavares described the car as

“… using their platform and designing a Renault upper body to extend to it what I might call the French touch,”

CEO Carlos Ghosn confirmed that the vehicle would be built in France, welcome news in light of Renault’s new habit of outsourcing jobs to “emerging markets“. Renault’s last attempt at an executive car, the Vel Satis, (above) was considered a flop.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Adamatari Adamatari on Feb 16, 2012

    I've heard the Val Satis was very good in some ways - interior room and such - but failed badly enough in others (design, for one) that it ended up foundering. Honestly, the front end is a problem but I would have to drive it and ride in it to really judge.

  • Sector 5 Sector 5 on Feb 17, 2012

    Oh my gawd France you are late to this party. Talk about a replay of the early 90's Chevy Nova-Toyota Corolla pact. The only gain will be down the road for buyers of used Renault luxury.

  • Sector 5 Sector 5 on Feb 17, 2012

    Oui Renault Le Pen/ Renault Vichy.

  • Buddy-Boy Buddy-Boy on Feb 17, 2012

    Oui, oui, oui. Renault Darlan, Renault Laval, Renault Collabo

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