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.August 27, 2003
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This Week:

• The New Volvo S40 - Class-Leading Safety and Dynamic Driving Wrapped In a Stunning Design

• Auction Plans Announced For Chevy SSR 'Signature Series' Vehicles

• DaimlerChrysler Settles Class Action Case

• Trafic Generation pioneers the leisure vehicle market

• Ford Announces Executive Appointments

• The new Golf - World premiere

• ASIMO Makes Debut In Europe

• Ford GT Production Car Nets $557,500 At Christie's Auction

• Auto Express "New Car Honours 2003": smart leaves the high-calibre competition behind

• GM Engine Plant Marks One Million Milestone

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Trafic Generation pioneers the leisure vehicle market

Photo: Renault

Paris - Developed in partnership with the French coachbuilder Gruau, Trafic Generation rounds out the Trafic passenger vehicle range. Able to accommodate up to seven occupants, this new version is aimed at customers seeking a comfortable, versatile vehicle for daily use, holidays or leisure. Its highly adaptable interior and extensive range of features allow it to be transformed into a "living room" with a sliding table. Occupants can even spend the night in the vehicle, thanks to its bench seat/couchette for three people. Trafic Generation is available with one petrol and three diesel engines, including the recently introduced 99kW (135bhp) 2.5 dCi. Since its launch at the end of 2001, Trafic has become a benchmark in its market. Carrying over the fundamental features of the standard vehicle, Trafic Generation completes the range of the Trafic passenger versions, which already includes the "Combi" and the "Passenger". With this new version, Renault is setting out to conquer the leisure vehicle segment, and expects it to account for nearly 5% of European Trafic sales from 2004.

Trafic Generation can adapt to all needs and all demands. While its travelling comfort features are aimed at families seeking MPV comfort, its adaptability will attract buyers looking for a vehicle which they can use in their regular or occasional leisure activities: sports, short getaways, camping, etc.

An original Trafic-inspired design

The final member of the Trafic family, Trafic Generation inherits Trafic's modern and daring design. The front and rear bumpers are body-coloured in the style of a passenger car. As an option, this feature can be extended to the side protection mouldings, the door mirror housings and the rear lamp surrounds. As standard, the vehicle is equipped with new "crystal" type indicators and repeaters, which inaugurate the new brand image of the Trafic passenger vehicle versions.

The special interior treatment confirms its positioning as a passenger vehicle. The upholstery, available in two colours (Familial and Confort), blends with the seat frames and the side panels. One interior finish feature adapted to the use of such a vehicle is an easily maintained anti-slip covering extending over the entire floor. Within the luggage compartment, a removable and height-adjustable luggage cover/shelf, is clearly passenger car-inspired.

Extra adaptability

Trafic Generation boasts a truly adaptable interior. From their conventional driving position, the individual driver and front passenger seats can be swivelled to face the first row of back seats to create a "living room" seating arrangement. A wall-mounted table, which can be easily unfolded thanks to a new type of linkage, can also be used for eating and picnics with family or friends.

The second row of rear seats consists of an innovative bench which can easily accommodate three people. Its folding back and collapsible headrests allow it quickly to be transformed into a three-place couchette, thus creating an extra configuration.

Using a clever system of double foam mouldings (one for the cushion and another thicker one for the extension), the bench provides optimum comfort whatever its arrangement. The occupants can spend the night in the vehicle on holiday. The adjustable and folding seats in the first back row and the retractable bench seat mounted on four rails slide so as to change the arrangement of the interior and the luggage volume according to need. A clever feature is the arrangement of these rails, which are parallel and equidistant from each other to create the possibility of additional layouts. Individual seats, offered as an option according to country, can be installed in side positions (on rails 1 and 2 or 3 and 4) or in the centre position (on rails 2 and 3). Their light weight (about 35kg) makes them much easier to manoeuvre or to remove completely, for example when loading bulky objects. In its optimum configuration, Trafic Generation can easily accommodate up to seven people and their luggage.

Clever storage arrangements

As with the rest of the Trafic range, this new version confirms Renault's expertise in travelling comfort. All available space is transformed into a storage arrangement, whether in the front and rear door panels, behind the wall-mounted table, in the seat backs - with the fitting of map pockets and, for the seats in the first back row, tables with cup-holders - or again beneath the rear bench seat, notably with the inclusion of a ski-hatch. The rear bench cushion also conceals a large locker with a volume of almost 45 litres, into which luggage or a duvet and pillows can be placed.

The dashboard houses an illuminated and cooled glovebox which is able to accommodate two 1.5-litre bottles, plus a spectacle-holder, cup-holders with a removable ashtray and several storage bins.

The luggage compartment also houses storage space in its side walls. For safer loading, it is equipped with tie-down rings and includes the option of a luggage retention net. Altogether, more than 10 storage spaces are provided in the rear of the vehicle.

Comfort and features worthy of a passenger car

As in Trafic Passenger, the Trafic Generation cabin has been the object of special care to combine spaciousness with functionality. To improve ergonomics, the steering wheel is adjustable for reach and the controls are easily accessible to the driver.

Movement between the front seats towards the rear of the cabin is made easier by positioning the gear lever in the dashboard. For improved comfort all the seats, derived from those in Espace IV, and the rear bench are fitted with elbow rests. As well as strong sideways support, the front seats offer good lumbar support and are height-adjustable, providing the driver with a high position and optimum visibility.

The vehicle is also fitted as standard with many comfort features including power steering, central locking, trip computer, electric front windows and split-view door mirrors, and tinted glass. Other features include four reading lamps, roller sunblinds, 12V power points in the rear, and even a table lamp.

In addition, Trafic Generation comes with a wide range of optional features to allow buyers to equip the vehicle according to their specific needs: two tilting sunroofs, front and rear air conditioning, heated seats, a ventilation filter, and a wide range of radiocassette or CD units (with or without changer), as well as Carminat Advanced Navigation. Soon after its launch, the version will also offer such accessories as a mobile DVD kit, a refrigerator and a bicycle-carrier.

Best-in-class safety

Trafic Generation benefits from all the technology of the Trafic range in terms of active safety, notably the efficient and fade-resistant brake system with four discs (305mm x 28mm at the front, 285mm x 12mm at the rear). This braking system is completed by ABS with EBD as standard. In addition the version will be equipped with ESP from launch and optionally according to country.

Trafic Generation also provides steering precision and ride comfort close to that of an MPV, notably thanks to its suspension (anti-roll bar with articulated mounting to the spring/damper unit at the front, torsion beam axle with trailing arms, Panhard rod and variable-rate hydraulic dampers at the rear) with specially rated springs.

Designed to provide a high level of occupant protection, it is equipped as standard with driver and passenger airbags, thorax side airbags, three-point safety belts with both pretensioners and load limiters for the front seats and the side seats in the third row, and head restraints for all seats. These features can be optionally supplemented with front curtain airbags. The seats are also equipped with Isofix attachments.

In the area of vehicle security, the entire Trafic range benefits from special locks which resist all attempts at picking. With the addition of an immobilizer as standard, and the option of deadlocking and an anti-intrusion alarm, Trafic Generation provides peace of mind together with maximum protection of contents.

A complete range of engines and transmissions

Trafic Generation offers a range of powerful and economical engines, comprising one petrol engine and three common-rail diesel engines.

An economical vehicle to operate

Trafic Generation was designed to provide high reliability and durability. Its low levels of fuel consumption are accompanied by widely spaced maintenance intervals, with an oil change called for only every 30,000km (or two years). The vehicle's completely galvanized external panels, and the use of wax injection within box sections, allows the manufacturer to offer a 12-year corrosion warranty.

A partnership spanning engineering to manufacture

Trafic Generation was developed by the engineering departments of Renault's Light Commercial Vehicles Division in Villiers St Frédéric (France) in collaboration with the French coachbuilder Gruau. It will be built in the Nissan factory in Barcelona (Spain), which assembles Renault LCVs for Renault, Nissan and General Motors Europe (Renault Trafic, Nissan Primastar and Opel Vivaro) alongside the Luton factory in the UK. The vehicle will then be converted by Gruau in its nearby plant. Trafic Generation will go on sale during the first quarter of 2004.

(August 26, 2003)