PARIS — Renault will change its sport-themed “R.S. Line” trim on manufacturing fashions with an “Alpine” line, as CEO Luca de Meo seeks to develop the Alpine model.
Below de Meo’s turnaround plan for Renault Group, Alpine, which now sells solely a single mannequin, the A110 sports activities coupe, will acquire three full-electric automobiles within the coming years, together with one developed with Lotus. It is usually the umbrella model for all of Renault Group’s racing actions, together with Formulation 1 and endurance racing.
The R.S. Line – for “Renault Sport” — is considered one of two high trim ranges at Renault, together with the luxury-themed Initiale Paris. A Captur small SUV in RS Line trim begins at 28,400 euros ($34,500), in contrast with 21,750 euros for a base Intens trim. (Initiale Paris trim begins at 31,850 euros.)
De Meo stated in interviews with Automotive Information Europe that customers are demanding extra sportier-themed trim ranges akin to R.S. Line. “My expertise is that tools ranges which have a extra dynamic, sporty look are extra common out there,” he stated, “So I believe we have to go in that path.”
“An Alpine line might be a manner for us to make sure that we’ve got 25, 30 % of the combination on the upper tools ranges, the place you earn a living,” he stated.
Along with the Lotus collaboration and racing actions, de Meo stated he was looking for concepts to higher use the Alpine manufacturing facility in Dieppe, northwest France. The factory, which employed 386 individuals in 2019, builds solely the A110, which bought 1,338 examples in 2020, in response to figures from JATO Dynamics. It’s the smallest meeting web site within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Alpine manufacturing at Dieppe was 4,245 in 2019, in response to Renault figures. The plant is the historic house of Alpine, which was based within the Nineteen Fifties as an impartial Renault tuner by Jean Redele in Dieppe.
Previously Dieppe has constructed Renault Sport high-performance fashions in addition to electrical automobiles underneath contract for Bollore. The A110, launched in 2017, isn’t scheduled to be renewed, and the way forward for Dieppe is unclear.
“If Alpine goes to be relaunched, I’ll discover a resolution for the Dieppe manufacturing facility,” de Meo stated.
“After the life cycle of the A110 there have been no concepts,” he added, saying it was unsustainable to dedicate a complete plant to “one area of interest mannequin.”
“We all know that throughout the Alpine plan Dieppe has a task,” he stated, and we’re making an attempt discover the perfect resolution to verify we will use the 350 individuals there.”