Laurens van den Acker took over as head of Renault Group design in 2009 and presided over a profitable revamping of the Renault model’s lineup. Now, beneath new CEO Luca de Meo, he’s stepping right into a much less hands-on function on the automaker as government vice chairman, group design. Van den Acker spoke with Automotive Information Europe Information Editor Peter Sigal on the Munich auto present about his new place, the approaching Renault Megane E-Tech Electrical, and the long run Renault 5 and Renault 4ever retro-influenced EVs.
How does the Megane E-Tech Electrical compact symbolize Renault’s design DNA? It options an natural form however with sharp technological detailing.
Megane E-Tech for me is greater than only a automobile. It is also a logo of the Renaulution plan, for the intent and the imaginative and prescient of the corporate, as a result of it is a full-electric automotive with out compromise. And I believed it was very courageous of Luca [de Meo] to name it the Megane, as a result of by doing that you just present there isn’t any approach again [to internal combustion]. It is the guts of our lineup. It is a vital automotive as a result of for Renault to have the ability to promote electrical automobiles, they are going to be costlier. We have to improve the design, the end and the standard, and provides it sufficient substance when it comes to expertise and sensations that [the higher price] actually is justified. Design clever, it is within the center, as a result of it is the automobile that’s on the finish of my reign at Renault design and the beginning of Gilles Vidal’s. You possibly can already see the affect of Luca — we did a Megane present automotive for him, and he pushed the manufacturing automotive to get as shut as we probably may to the present automotive. And this had a very constructive affect as a result of he pushed the dimensions of the wheels, he pushed the finishes, the colours.
Are you able to discuss in regards to the inside display format, in an inverse “L” place with greater than 700 sq. centimeters of almost steady display area from the instrument panel by means of to a deep contact display, aside from a small air vent?
What we now have seen is regardless of every little thing there’s an inflation in display dimension. That is pure — if my cellphone is larger than yours, I’m extra trendy, I’m extra progressive, I’m richer. However there’s a profit. And we felt that the vertical format is the simplest if you wish to use the navigation options. The problem for us was find out how to combine the air vents in a approach that appears pure.
The Google Automotive System interface can be a giant step ahead. The power to make use of Google apps, Google maps, Play Retailer, Assistant — that’s actually going to simplify issues for lots of people, proper?
In the long run, that is what folks use of their vehicles. You possibly can neglect your smartphone at house however you’ll nonetheless have all of your apps in your automotive. Folks will discover the identical digital setting within the automotive as of their smartphones. That is only a improbable USP [unique selling proposition]. There are lots of, many complaints about multimedia programs in vehicles, irrespective of who does it, and 80 p.c of these complaints are linked to navigation. By not making an attempt to be a greater navigation integrator than Google, we hopefully will scale back our potential complaints.
Designers have mentioned that when we now have devoted EV platforms, we can have extra freedom to be inventive. How is that mirrored within the Megane E-Tech on the CMP-EV platform?
The engine compartment could be very compact, which permits us to have very brief entrance overhangs and permits us to place the HVAC system in entrance. And since the engine could be very slender, we are able to put huge wheels and tires on the automotive and never sacrifice a decent turning radius, as a result of with a traditional engine, we might not be capable to to show the wheels sufficient. Within the passenger compartment we now have created one other area for storage and we now have superb knee room. We’ve a wheelbase of two.70 meters, which is compact SUV dimension. So you might have tons of leg room, although the automobile is 4.21 meters lengthy. And we now have have a really voluminous and really deep trunk area, as a result of there isn’t any exhaust.
As a result of electrical automobiles are essentially less complicated than inside combustion automobiles, will that shorten the time to marketplace for a brand new automobile?
We’ll discover different methods to complicate our lives, as a result of we have to introduce all types of sensors and radars and cameras and safety. I feel the place it would save us time is after the product is launched as a result of the vehicles will likely be simpler to assemble. We won’t have a particular line for a sophisticated gearbox, for instance. So there are specific issues which can be simplified. However there are different issues that can compensate.
How does the Renault 5, which has a retro affect even when it is not a retro design, and the Renault 4ever future EV match into the general design path of Renault?
In two methods. First, I don’t take a look at these vehicles as a beginning path that must be utilized to the remainder of the lineup. For me, they’re distinctive. It is kind of like a Ford Mustang or a Ford Bronco — you might have the core lineup after which you might have a Bronco and a Mustang as a result of these are telling you tales of the previous. Once I began at Renault in 2009, folks requested me if I used to be going to do a brand new Renault 4 or Renault 5. And I mentioned, “Look, I am employed for the long run. That’s for the previous, and I wanted to do a brand new Clio.” And on the time, I feel that was the precise selection.
What has modified?
Now what you see on this transformation [to EVs] is that sure automobiles are disappearing. Is there nonetheless room for a number of the nameplates that we now have? What is the subsequent Scenic? Is there room for a Twingo? And on this specific interval the place you might have a threat of turning into banal, like anyone else, to have the ability to dive into this treasure field of icons that we now have that basically inform a narrative in regards to the roots of the corporate, the model, is a richness and a bonus that we must always use. And now the thought of a Renault 5, an electrical, progressive, cool metropolis automotive is tremendous engaging, and it helps us to provide a taste to the model.
Prior to now 10 years, you might have been very hands-on with the Renault model. However with Gilles Vidal coming over from Peugeot and now in control of Renault model design, what’s your future function?
I’ve completed my hands-on job for about 10 or 11 years. And I feel, I hope, it was constructive for the corporate. It is as much as you guys to evaluate. However I additionally knew that with Luca arriving, inevitably he needs to open up a brand new chapter. And I do know from expertise that one of the best ways to try this is to have a brand new man who’s hands-on. So on this new place that we created [EVP group design] I’ll attempt to assist the design groups at Renault, Dacia, Alpine, and extra essential, give the corporate what it must hold including new blood, new power and a brand new path.