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RENAULT'S new sedan is to make its world debut in the Gulf. The Safrane, which has been co-developed with Nissan, will be available with the acclaimed V6 2.3l petrol engine and should be available at Renault dealers across the Middle East this week.
The new sedan is based on the most recent edition (July 2007) of the successful Renault Samsung Motors model, the SM5 which has sold more than 600,000 units since its launch 10 years ago.
The exterior design offers a sleek front with expressive headlamps, grille and bumper which blend with the bodywork.
Stylish sidelines and arch-shaped window lines have been adopted to emphasise the vehicle's elegance and there is a choice of seven body colours.
The car is accessed via Renault smart card technology and the refinements continue inside with wood grain inserts and a fingertip controlled entertainment system.
The concept of stress-free motoring is taken to the extreme with the driver memory seat, which automatically adjusts to each driver's preferred seating position. And there are plenty of other practical features including rain-sensing wipers which are operated automatically, should a rare shower occur, and sensitive headlamps which activate when dark conditions are encountered such as when driving through tunnels.
The Safrane will be Renault's entry into the high volume mid-size car category in the Middle East and will directly pitch against the likes of established industry players such as Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.
The Renault Safrane will be available with either a 2.0-litre four cylinder powertrain or a more powerful 2.3-litre V6 (170bhp) powerplant co-developed with Nissan and shifted via a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.
