GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: New Renault Scenic leaked
Sleek new-generation Euro people-mover leaked, but it's not confirmed for AustraliaRenault's new fourth-generation Scenic people-mover has been leaked overnight, revealing a progressive new design that ties in with other Renault designs, such as the upcoming new Megane hatch.
Presenting a contemporary, mature exterior style including a front-end with Renault's trademark double-element headlights – courtesy of design chief Laurens van den Acker – the five-door, five-seat people-mover will be officially unveiled at the 2016 Geneva motor show on March 1.
Based on the same platform architecture (CMF) as the new Megane, the Scenic is likely to be powered by a similar range of small petrol and diesel four-cylinder engines and can likewise be built in right-hand drive for markets such as the UK and Australia.
Renault Australia's Corporate Communications and Sponsorship Manager, Emily Fadeyev, revealed that the new model was being examined but that a local release is not on the cards at present.
"We've looked at it and we think it's a great-looking, expressive vehicle," said Fadeyev.
"We are looking at future opportunities and we are constantly monitoring the Scenic's suitability, but at this stage there's nothing in the [product] plan."
In other words, the Scenic could cost too much in Australia and sell in too few numbers for a viable, profitable business case. When motoring.com.au suggested as much, Renault's PR boss concurred, but added "you never know".
Unlike SUVs, people-movers are not a boom segment in Australia. In 2015, a total of 11,946 new people-movers were sold in Australia, up 16 per cent on the year prior's 10,220.
But that overall sales tally represented just one per cent of the Australian new car market in 2015, and the top-sellers in the segment are not five-seat vehicles like the Renault Scenic, but larger seven- and eight-seat vehicles like the Kia Carnival (3638 sales) and Honda Odyssey (2836).
In the past, French car maker Renault has built Grand Scenic models with seven seats the company also has the Espace large people-mover with seven seats, but the latter will never be sold in Australia because its left-hand drive only.
The last time we reviewed the Renault Scenic on Aussie roads was in 2008, and it was removed from sale in Australia not long after that and effectively replaced by the Koleos SUV.
What do you think of the new Renault Scenic – could it find a niche in Australia if re-introduced?
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