Renault Latitude Flagship Premieres in Moscow, European Version to Debut in Paris

We first heard about the Renault Latitude in June, but today, the French carmaker revealed its new flagship sedan to the public for the first time at the Moscow International Motor Show. What is in effect a replacement for the controversially styled Vel Satis positioned above the Laguna in Renault's line up, is also a 2010 Samsung SM5 sedan in disguise - if you can call a new grille and different badges a "disguise"...

The Latitude will be manufactured in South Korea at the Busan Renault-Samsung-Motors plant and will go on sale at the end of September in Morocco and Algeria, then in Russia and Ukraine and in Africa. Renault will unveil the European version of the car with specific engines, fascia and exterior detailing at next month's Paris Motor Show.

For now, it's the French carmaker's largest car measuring 4,887mm long, 1,832mm wide, 1,483mm tall with a wheelbase of 2.760mm. It's 195mm longer, 19mm wider and 45mm taller than the Laguna five-door liftback. According to Renault, the boot compartment can hold 477-liters, or 511 liters without the spare wheel.

In Russia, the Latitude will come with a choice of two power plants. The entry level 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol unit produces 139HP and 191Nm of peak torque, and is offered with a continuous variable transmission (CVT) returning a combined fuel efficiency of 8.3lt/100km (28.4mpg US).

The range-topping 2.5-liter V6 petrol churns out 177HP and 233Nm, and is combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. Renault says with this engine the Latitude reaches a top speed of 209km/h (131mph) and returns a combined fuel consumption of 9.7lt/100km (24.2mpg US).

For some markets, the lineup will also include a 2.0-liter diesel with 150HP or 175HP, a V6 diesel with 240HP and a 3.5-liter V6 petrol delivering 240HP.

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New Renault Latitude Sedan Takes Flagship Spot in Range

Renault has lifted the covers off a new flagship sedan named Latitude that will in effect replace the discontinued (and rather controversial) Vel Satis.

Described by the French carmaker as "its latest international status-enhancing family saloon" [sic..], the Latitude will get its first public outing at the Moscow Motor Show at the end of August, while Europeans will get their first view of the car at this Fall's 2010 Paris Motor Show.

For those of you that keep a close eye on global automotive news, the new Latitude won't come as a surprise as it's based on the Renault Group's 2010 Samsung SM5 sedan that recently went on sale in South Korea. And by "based", we mean re-badged and VW- re-grilled... [see pictures of the SM5 below]

Built on a modified version of the Laguna's platform, Renault's new flagship model features a conventional four-door sedan body instead of a five-door fastback form like it's 25, Safrane (not the Samsung-based Safrane) and Vel-Satis predecessors

The Latitude measures 4.890mm in length, 1.830mm in width and 1.490mm in height, meaning it's 195mm longer, 19mm wider and 45mm taller than the Laguna hatch.

Renault has not yet released details on the engine range, but motorists should expect the usual mix of petrol and diesel engines.

The French automaker said that the Latitude will be offered with a variety of features that place the emphasis "on innovation and travelling comfort", including a dual-mode air ionizer with double fragrance diffuser, triple-zone climate control, a massaging driver's seat, Bose Premium audio, the Renault hands-free card and more.

According to the company, the Latitude is due to go on sale this autumn in Asia, Africa, Russia, Turkey, Gulf, Australia and Mexico, with Europe to follow shortly after.

New Renault Latitude

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New Samsung SM5 Sedan

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Renault Revives Safrane Nameplate with a New Luxury Sedan

French carmaker Renault has revealed a new mid-size luxury sedan that revives the Safrane nameplate after an eight year hiatus. The original Safrane was a rather bluntly styled 5door executive saloon built from 1992 to 2000 that was replaced in the European market by the ill-received Vel Satis. However, the new Safrane, which as you may have already noticed is virtually a rebadged version of the Renault Samsung Motors SM5 sedan, won’t be sold in Europe as the French firm plans to sell it exclusively in the Gulf States where it will be offered with a V6 engine matted to an automatic gearbox. -Continued

Like the Samsung SM5, the new Safrane is manufactured in Renault Samsung Motors’ Busan plant in South Korea, an 80.1% owned subsidiary of the Renault group. The Samsung SM5 is developed on the same platform as the Nissan Teana and the North American Nissan Maxima.

Thanks for the tip Omar N.!

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Carscoop: Korean Car Posts and Commentators..

This is an unusual post from Carscoop but we felt that we had to say something about a series of comments that we have been receiving from an individual(s) whenever we post something about Korean cars. Being negative or sarcastic is one thing and we totally appreciate hearing your thoughts, but calling people “idiots” or saying that they are worth dying in an accident if they own a Korean car for instance, is something unacceptable on our behalf (see one of the rejected comments after the jump).

Don’t get us wrong; we support the freedom of speech with all our heart, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Your freedom stops where the other's freedom starts… -Continued

Just to get a taste fo what we're talking about, here’s one of the comments we decided to remove from our post on the Hyundai Genesis Coupe:

Anon#2: You are doing a GREAT JOB!!

Eveyone should know the truth about hyundai/kia, koreans know nothing but CHEATING,COPYING and PASTING.

I wonder what's in their brain... dog crap??

So as those ppl who said those garbages are "good"?! It's really SAD...

There should be a law: "People who have hyundai/kia, when they have accidents on the road, they should not be saved by people, they deserve to die in the accidents anyway, dont waste the resources on them please!!"

READ MORE - Carscoop: Korean Car Posts and Commentators..