Renaultsport to expand

Renault’s move back into Formula 1 via its purchase of the Lotus team is a public signal the French car company’s Renaultsport hot-tuner division is set for a significant expansion beyond the focussed Clio and Megane RS hot hatch models – and perhaps into SUVs like the Captur.

But only a few of the expansion models under consideration are likely to gain the coveted RS title, with more likely to wear the more affordable and less focussed GT badge, as the sub-brand grapples with expanding its line-up without diluting its reputation.

Speaking to Australian motoring journalists at the global media launch of the fourth-generation Megane small car in Portugal this week, Renaultsport sales and communications director Regis Fricotte said the expansion confirmed by Renault-Nissan alliance boss Carlos Ghosn could include SUVs such as Captur, Kadjar and Koleos and even the forthcoming Alaskan utility.

He explained the Renaultsport would act as “a bridge” between Renault’s increased motorsport involvement and the company’s road cars.

“We want to develop Renaultsport,” Fricotte said. “It has been re-confirmed by Mr Ghosn that Renault wants to develop its motorsport activities globally, so we will be looking at other potential ways to develop the Renaultsport brand.

“It’s not only limited to Clio and Megane.

“Now to tell you which project will succeed and not succeed … that’s internal and I can’t tell you what we are looking at.”

But he did say: “We look at everything. Almost everything.”

Fricotte said any Renaultsport expansion model would have to tick off three fundamentals before it was green lighted.

“The selection is fairly straight forward,” he said. “The selection is market demand and then technical and economic; technical feasibility, economical viability.

“So if you have those three conditions and the guys feel we can do something then the guy will do it. But it’s got to have the three.”

He also stressed the sanctity of the RS badge and how difficult it would potentially be to transfer that to vehicles such as high-riding SUVs.

“We have a very clear view of what we can call an RS and what we cannot call an RS,” he said.

“We have a mission to protect what we have got. If RS is today a name then I think it’s because for the last 15 years we haven’t been too silly to make too many stupid things.”

Fricotte said that Renaultsport developing an SUV would mean a change of mindset to reflect the different type of vehicle being developed.

“The type of car we develop today, we measure sportively, very simply by engine acceleration and chassis.

“In other segments it doesn’t make sense. On an SUV you would need other things than just acceleration and chassis.

“You are not going to lower an SUV; it is the opposite of what it's been created for. So there are other compromises and other positioning to be developed if you are looking for an SUV.”

Fricotte said Renaultsport could not easily follow the example of BMW M, Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport which do adapt SUVs and tune them to be more sporting.

“When they look on the shelf they are not shy at picking up whatever engine they have,” he said.

“They have a diversity of engines we don’t have. From 100 horsepower to 350 or 600, they can pick and that will do. We are not a premium manufacturer; we don’t have that luxury.”