New Renault Master makes its world premiere at the 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show, which opens today in Birmingham.- Renault’s large van will be available with new Twin Turbo engines. Although more powerful (up to 165hp), they will return lower fuel consumption with savings of up to 7.3 mpg*.
- The new range brings new technologies, including latest-generation ESC, Grip Xtend, Hill Start Assist, Trailer Swing Assist and the clever Wide View mirror.
- Long distance users and courier companies will appreciate the new L4 rear-wheel drive panel-van version of New Master with single rear wheels that is poised to join the range.
- New Master features a new grille that embodies Renault’s new styling identity in keeping with the rest of the brand’s LCV range.
- New Master will be manufactured at Renault’s SOVAB plant in Batilly, France, and will be available for sale this summer.
Following last year’s renewal of its Kangoo Van range and the reveal of All-New Trafic in Amsterdam very recently, Renault is preparing to introduce New Master which will be built in Batilly, France. The line-up will feature new engines and technologies, as well as redesigned front-end styling.
The chief evolution is to be found under New Master’s bonnet, namely a choice of 2.3 dCi engines with power outputs ranging from 110 to 165 horsepower (compared with 100-150hp previously).
- The 110hp and 125hp versions will ensure an attractive trade-off between price and fuel consumption.
- The 135hp and 165hp versions will be equipped with Twin Turbo technology and, in addition to being more powerful, will be even more fuel efficient. The 165hp version, for example, will provide a fuel-consumption saving of 7.3 mpg* despite delivering 15 extra horsepower and 10Nm of additional torque. This will bring the fuel consumption of the L2H2 165hp* version of New Master up to more than 40 mpg (40.9 mpg*, equivalent to 180g of CO2/km)*.
Fuel consumption can be improved even further by up to 10 per cent simply by pressing on the ECOmode button which adjusts engine torque and the climate control/heater system’s settings.
Meanwhile, the range has been embellished with a number of new safety- and comfort-related features, including latest-generation ESC with Load Adaptive Control as standard equipment, as well as Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend which optimises grip in difficult conditions, such as snow, mud and sand.
Trailer Swing Assist will also be available (in association with the towing option). When swaying of the trailer is detected, the system alternately applies the brakes and limits the delivery of engine torque until the phenomenon is halted.
The steering system of the Twin Turbo versions of New Master will be equipped with an electric pump to facilitate manoeuvring and minimise the effort required by the driver to turn the wheel at low speeds. It also permits a fuel-consumption saving of 0.5 mpg*.
Combi 6 & 9 Seat versions are equipped with atyre pressure monitoring system which warns the driver if a tyre is underinflated or punctured.
Another new feature is the optional Wide View mirror incorporated in the passenger-side sun visor which enhances safety by providing an unprecedented rearward view of the blind spot on the opposite side of the vehicle.
The New Master range continues to offer a made-to-measure selection of more than 120 versions in the UK, with a choice of four lengths and three heights, panel van, crew cab, platform cab, chassis cab, tippers, dropside and box van variants, as well as front- and rear-wheel drive, for a carrying capacity of between eight and 22 cubic metres. New additions are the L4H2 and L4H3 panel van versions with single rear wheels. Their long final-drive ratio makes them ideal for long-distance use and courier companies. The wider space between the wheelarches permits europallets to be carried at the back of the load area.
Thanks to a new grille design, New Master’s front-end embodies Renault’s new styling identity. The bigger, more vertically-positioned logo will consequently be a feature of all the vehicles that make up the catalogue of Europe’s number one LCV manufacturer, a status it has enjoyed since 1998.
The comprehensive renewal of the range which began a year ago has allowed the manufacturer to consolidate its lead, with a market share of 14.5 per cent in 2013. The previous-generation of Master performed strongly last year, too, securing a market share of 11.9 per cent in its segment in Europe and 13.4 per cent in the Euromed-Africa region (top-two ranking).
New Master will be available in Renault’s UK dealerships from the end of summer 2014 and order books are due to open in June.