New Renault Kangoo: In Depth

New Renault Kangoo

More practical and comfortable

By Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
November 22, 2007 4:20 PM
Filed Under: European, Renault

More practical and comfortable

Renault have today released the successor for the in 1997 launched Kangoo, the new Renault Kangoo. This 4.21 meter long LCV (light commercial vehicle), 18 cm longer than its predecessor, is available for businesses as well as families.

The new Kangoo comes with a choice of three engines, namely a 1.5 liter dCi (producing 70 hp, 85hp, 105hp or 105hp with DPF), a 90 hp 1.6 liter 8-valve engine and the 105 hp 1.6 liter 16-valve engine. Cargo space ranges from 660 liters to 2.8 cm3 with the seats folded down. The 1.5 liter dCi with 70 hp and 85 hp have been awared the Renault Eco2 badge.

The new Kangoo comes in three trim levels, Authentique, Expression and Privilège, where the Privilege trim has a foldable front passenger seat for even more storage space.

We can't really get excited about the new Kangoo here at WCF, but we must appreciate Renault's honesty, 'Reduced investment costs for optimal profitability' is how Renault titles the final pages of the press release.

Read on for further details.

Press Release

On its launch in 1997 Kangoo’s affable, expressive style revolutionised the leisure utility vehicle sector. Roomy and versatile Kangoo has been a success, selling over 2,300,000 units since it was launched. New Kangoo matches family expectations more closely. It draws on Kangoo fundamentals, turning them into an optimised blend of quality, comfort, and practicality.

By keeping engineering costs and reducing investment costs, New Kangoo is priced in a competitive bracket that is comparable to that of Kangoo. New Kangoo is produced in France, in the strongly modernised MCA Maubeuge factory. The first Kangoo was also manufactured on the same site, which is one of the most productive factories in Europe in the LCV segment.

At 4.21 m in length, New Kangoo’s resolutely contemporary, affable, cheery lines exert a strong appeal. Its short, chunky front end frees up space for the bright, airy passenger cabin, which is further enhanced by its steeply-raked MPV-style windscreen. Some versions have pop-open windows, and other others electric ones. All have large doors which open onto a comprehensively reworked interior.

New Kangoo emphasizes well-being and ride comfort. For improved ride pleasure, a number of features have been upgraded. With its outstanding roominess, New Kangoo has put the onus on space and the shared ride experience. It is 18 cm longer than its predecessor and that extra length has been lavished on the cabin, where more volume gives the five occupants more room and more comfort! Resolutely contemporary and featuring a more ergonomic design, the dashboard resembles an MPV’s, while the cabin has been refitted and finished with quality materials. New Kangoo boasts standards of thermal and acoustic comfort worthy of an MPV.

Some versions feature automatic climate control. Air is evenly distributed at both front and rear thanks to the design of the circuit, which has outlets at each passenger’s feet. To ensure acoustic comfort, engineers have used the same techniques as for the rest of the range.

New Kangoo takes an ingenious approach to modularity. With its practical design dedicated to the pursuit of leisure, it brings to the segment a novel touch of ergonomic design, roominess, and user-friendliness. Its 60:40 split-fold rear bench folds down easily in one fell swoop to form a flat load space. On some versions the front passenger seat can fold down in the same way, Payload can thus be boosted from 660 litres to 2.8 m3.

What’s more, in this configuration the vehicle can carry objects that are 2.5m long. New Kangoo’s interior boasts up to 77 litres of stowage space, with for example some handy aircraft-style stowage compartments for the rear passengers. It also debuts innovative longitudinal roof bars that convert into a luggage rack. No tools are needed and the rack can take loads of up to 80kg.

New Kangoo comes complete with a diverse and comprehensive range of reliable powertrain packages to meet the needs of all motorists: two petrol engines and one diesel, and three different outputs. This offering is firmly built on strong values like robustness, reliability, economy, and respect for the environment. The New Kangoo 1.5 dCi 105 (78kW) will offer consumers a diesel engine with particulate filter (76 kW) from launch-day-one. Both other 1.5 dCi powertrains (70hp/50 kW and 85/63kW) fulfil Renault’s eco2 signature, with CO2 emissions lower than 140g/km.

Developed from a C-segment platform that is acknowledged for its dynamic quality, comfort, and safety, New Kangoo offers features hitherto unprecedented in the leisure utility vehicle segment. Its 2.7 m wheelbase lends it sound, balanced, secure handling. Its active and passive safety equipment is identical to that of a family saloon. All versions are equipped with the latest-generation ABS and Emergency Brake Assist and engine torque overrun regulation functions. Some versions feature ESP with understeer control and ASR traction control.

For the safety of its occupants, New Kangoo benefits from state-of-the-art driver assistance systems, most of which originate in the segments above. They include cruise control/speed limiter, automatic headlamp actuation, and wipers with automatic rain sensors, none of which was available on the previous model. New Kangoo also has between two and six airbags, seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, and anti-submarining humps in the front and back seats, as well as three seats with Isofix anchorage points (depending on the version).

1. Family resemblance

2. Well-being and comfort in every seat

3. Unprecedented modularity

4. High-performance, fuel-efficient engines

5. Top-class safety and dynamic performance

6. Reduced investments costs for optimal profitability

FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

Kangoo radically changed the leisure utility segment with an affable, expressive look that the whole family liked. New Kangoo is even more appealing, with a very contemporary, user- friendly, and enthusiastic style.

Affable and robust, it runs in the family

New Kangoo has a truncated bonnet with a chunky front end, reinforced by a weighty bumper. Its droplet-shaped, crystal-coloured headlights attest to the modernity of New Kangoo. The large, plunging, rounded, cab-forward screen and the plentiful glazed area flood the cabin with light. The central bonnet crease echoes the slightly bulging wings, a stylistic trait typical of Kangoo.

At 4.21 m in length, New Kangoo rests on a 2.7 m wheel base and truncated overhangs. Its inner space is the prime beneficiary of its generous dimensions. With its two sliding doors1, New Kangoo’s profile is a call to travel. The doors’ grab handles make them effortless to open. New Kangoo’s stylists have removed the roof mouldings, lending it a flowing shape, further emphasised by the narrower, body-coloured rub-protection on the sliding doors. The fuel flap is also colour-coordinated with the bodywork and blends in with its design. The thicker door pillars, meanwhile, give an impression of robustness, quality, and safety.

New Kangoo sits firmly on a rear that is 1.83 m wide. The tailgate’s large glazed surface area is flanked by vertical arrays of geometrically shaped lights that incorporate the full range of lighting functions. Above the sets of lights a smoothly penned, elegant triangle rounds off New Kangoo’s hallmark rear-end.

Ambience for all tastes

New Kangoo is a car for all the family. From its launch, it will be available with three trim levels, Authentique, Expression and Privilège.

They are paired with different equipment levels and powertrain packages. In all versions the colour of the dashboard’s upper half is Dark Charcoal, while the lower part is in Medium Tropical Grey.

The Authentique finish level is user-friendly and practical. It includes a 60:40 split-fold rear bench, a height-adjustable steering wheel and front seat belts, and a “follow-me-home” light. On the safety front, New Kangoo is equipped with ABS, Emergency Brake Assist, MSR, driver- seat and front-passenger airbags, and two Isofix anchor points on the rear bench. For even better safety performance, New Kangoo has four disc brakes and 15-inch wheels. The Authentique trim level also comes with dark-hued upholstery designed to be multi-functional, Medium Tropical Grey door panels, and carpet in the luggage compartment.

The Expression trim level puts the onus on comfort. Its second sliding door is a call to travel. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable, there is a rev counter on the dashboard, and the front windows are electric. The rear-seat vents add an extra touch of comfort, while the door panels sport a fabric insert that is colour-coordinated with the light hue of the upholstery. The ventilation control and central console are Iridescent Dark Charcoal.

The Privilège version of New Kangoo provides comfort and upper-range equipment, such as electrically demisted external rear-view mirrors, body-coloured front and rear bumpers, and the front passenger seat that can be folded down. For added refinement the upholstery is a light colour, while the air-conditioning control and central console are Charcoal Chrome.

All the trim levels come complete with themed information packs on topics such as comfort, leisure activities, children, and the vehicle’s exterior style, as well as a range of entertainment- and multimedia-related accessories. These features were first seen on Twingo II. Renault provides a portable navigation system holder which fits to the driver’s top left for easy visibility. An Audio Connection Box is also available for New Kangoo Express. This system sits inside the glovebox and enables occupants to listen to their own audio collection thanks to ports for a USB key, mobile MP3 player or iPod. Functions are controlled via the steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote control and a hands-free Bluetooth telephone function is also available.

Moreover, an optional feature on New Kangoo is the twin-section pop-up glass sunroof over the front seats, paired with a fixed glass roof above the rear seats.

WELL-BEING AND COMFORT IN EVERY SEAT

New Kangoo focuses on well-being, shared enjoyment, and travelling comfort. Many of Kangoo’s features have been upgraded, while its exceptional roominess enhances the cabin space experience.

A very automotive world

What is most striking about New Kangoo is its interior space. Its cabin feels bright and spacious thanks to its extensive glazed area. A people carrier made for families, New Kangoo can comfortably accommodate five adults. It has grown 18 cm in length compared to its predecessor and that increase has been lavished on interior space. With 118 mm more elbow room than Kangoo, New Kangoo now provides three fully-fledged seating spaces in the rear. The plentiful leg-room, which is on a par with what is on offer in Vel Satis, is the best in its class at 210mm – 43mm more than Kangoo. Drivers and front-seat passengers also enjoy elbow room that allows the most freedom of movement on the market: 1510 mm, which is 90mm more than Kangoo.

With comfort and quality still the prime concerns, New Kangoo has been treated to a totally reworked dashboard. It adds style, modernity, and carefully considered ergonomic design. Instrumentation is modern, and some trim levels add a touch of class with chrome rims for the binnacles. The very short stalk controls and steering-wheel controls for the radio & CD player fall naturally to hand. For superior comfort, radio and navigation data displays (which come as an option) can be remote-controlled (in some trim levels). Dash data displays are shaded by prominent cowlings so that they are easily legible even in bright light. Special attention has been lavished on the quality and finish of materials. Even the dashboard’s various pillars and beams have been faced with trim.

Ergonomic considerations were uppermost in the design of the driver’s position in order to ensure optimum comfort. The gear control is located in the central console and falls naturally to hand. The height of the driver’s seat can be adjusted by up to 20mm. Its benefits are further enhanced by a footrest – a new ergonomic addition which optimises driver comfort. New Kangoo’s driver’s position is identical to that of an MPV. The seats have been entirely overhauled and redesigned to provide excellent support and comfort. In some trim levels seat backrests are fitted with trays. New Kangoo boasts an original, aircraft-style hand brake – a carry-over from the Mégane philosophy, which helps free up a huge volume of space between the seats. Also for reasons of ergonomic design and comfort, the electric window controls are now located on the door elbow-rests. Finally, to ease access to the rear seats, the two sliding side doors2 open to a width of 635mm.

New Kangoo focuses on the shared ride experience down to the most minute details. The optional interior communication mirror, located in the console of the stowage rack, truly bridges the gap between front and rear occupants. Thanks to its rounded surface front-seat occupants can communicate more effectively with those in the back seat, particularly children, without having to adjust the regular rear-view mirror.

At the rear is an optional feature that is entirely without precedent in the leisure utility segment - electric windows that slip entirely out-of-sight into the sliding side doors. Also designed to improve ergonomics is the location of the electric window control: in the centre pillar’s facing trim. Some trim levels also provide rear passengers with a 12V plug socket, at the base of the central console where the elbow rest is located.

Thermal and acoustic comfort levels unprecedented in the segment

New Kangoo provides standards of thermal and acoustic comfort that are worthy of an MPV. Firstly, it benefits from automatic climate control in some trim levels. Its air-conditioning performance is remarkable, whether measured in terms of how fast or how quietly it operates. Thermal comfort is evenly distributed between the front and rear of the car thanks to the system’s architecture, which has outlets at the feet of each passenger.

As for acoustics, New Kangoo has reaped the benefits of Renault’s achievements in the field. Its underbody has been specially engineered to attain the highest standards of acoustic performance. A material that swells to fill cavities has been inserted in the box sections to absorb noise and vibrations from the powertrain and the outside. Fifteen-millimetre-thick absorbent felt pads the wheel arches, floorpan, and boot space underlay mats to prevent noise from propagating. Taken as a whole, these different measures bring gains of 3dB in high- octave frequencies – the equivalent of a noise reduction of 50%. New Kangoo’s engine cradle is specially insulated from noise, which reduces vibration and increases steering precision.

UNPRECEDENTED MODULARITY

New Kangoo offers a comprehensive range of interior layouts for every occasion. Practical and leisure-oriented, its ergonomic design, roominess and user-friendliness are quite simply unprecedented in a leisure utility vehicle.

A range of functional interior layouts

New Kangoo is designed to make everyday life that little bit easier. Loading is simplified by a modular system unprecedented in its segment. Renault’s engineers have developed a rear bench seat that folds down to create a flat floor surface. The 40:60 split-folding rear bench seat can be easily lowered with a simple pull on the handle at the top. This brings the rear bench seat backrest down to rest on the seat cushion. A joining piece at the bottom of the backrest and the seat cushion ensures continuity between the boot floor and the backrest in its folded- down position. On some versions, the front passenger seat has the same function, so that long objects can be transported. When both are folded down, the space between the front passenger seat and the rear bench seat is minimal. In this configuration, the vehicle can easily accommodate objects 2.5 m long. New Kangoo offers a range of six possible seat configurations, each suited to a different kind of load. Thanks to a supporting mechanism, the rear bench seat can be returned to its initial position with no effort.

The boot capacity can be expanded from 660 litres (with the rear parcel shelf in position) to 1.3m3 up to the roof (with a luggage restraint net –optional-), in a five-seater configuration. With a single movement, the rear bench seat is folded down and then the capacity increases to 2,6 m3 assuming the vehicle is loaded up to the ceiling and fitted with a luggage restraint net (1,5 m3 if loaded up to the top of the front seat backrests). Moreover, if the front passenger seat has been folded down, load capacity can even climb to 2,8 m3 (loaded up to the roof with a luggage restraint net). Access to the trunk and its flat floor is made easier by a loading height of 573 to 615 mm, depending on versions.

The luggage compartment is fitted with a rear parcel shelf, which can be positioned at two different heights to suit occupants’ needs. The shelf can bear a weight of up to 50kg. In a further effort to make New Kangoo as practical and user-friendly as possible, Renault’s engineers have designed a brand new system that allows users to slide the shelf out of the way behind the rear bench seat backrest. No longer having to worry about where to put the rear shelf, users can take full advantage of the generous trunk capacity (1,312 litres when loaded up to the roof, with a luggage restraint net) and still have room for five people.

Every object has its place

New Kangoo’s modularity, unrivalled in its segment, makes the car pleasant and practical for everyday use. It is complemented by a selection of handy storage spaces. In fact, New Kangoo boasts nearly 77 litres of storage space located at various points throughout the cabin (depending on the version):

New Kangoo is aimed at customers seeking a smart, functional vehicle. With its innovative two-in-one roof bar system (available as an option), New Kangoo is the very epitome of a fun, multi-use car. This system was designed primarily for ease-of-use: with no need for tools, the longitudinal roof bars can be converted into a luggage rack that can bear a load of up to 80kg. For enhanced safety, there are clear visible and audible signals that indicate when the bars are correctly locked in place. Carrying a roof locker or another bulky object has never been so simple!

HIGH-PERFORMANCE, FUEL-EFFICIENT ENGINES

New Kangoo is available with a full range of engines to suit each customer’s individual needs. Its line-up of powertrain packages prides itself on values such as robustness, fuel economy and respect for the environment. This is why one of the diesel versions of New Kangoo is available with a particulate filter.

1.5 dCi: 70hp (50kW), 85hp (63kW), 105hp (78kW), 105hp with particulate filter

The 1.5 dCi has made a name for itself as an innovative, quiet, high-performance engine that delivers top-class driving comfort and is not only cheap to run, but also environmentally- friendly. On New Kangoo, it is available with three levels of output.

The 70hp (50kW), 85hp (63kW) and 105hp (78kW) versions are intended for different kinds of motorists, with different needs. Available on the entry-level New Kangoo, the version that develops up to 70hp (50kW) at 4,000rpm is synonymous with minimal running costs. It delivers 185Nm of torque at 1,750rpm. Thanks to its low combined-cycle fuel consumption (5.2 l/100km), it emits a frugal 138 g/km of CO2, which makes New Kangoo the most environmentally-respectful leisure activity vehicle on the market. It is accompanied by a 5- speed manual gearbox.

The 85hp (63kW) version, which achieves maximum output at 3,750rpm, is a picture of versatility. With 200Nm of torque available from 1,750 rpm, this engine is as comfortable on city roads as it is on long journeys. And it gives New Kangoo an extremely attractive fuel- economy-to-performance ratio. With an average combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 5.3l/100km, it emits 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Like the 70hp version, it comes with a 5- speed manual gearbox.

New Kangoo now comes equipped with the higher version of the 1.5 dCi, already available on Clio, Modus, Mégane, Scénic and New Laguna. Developing 105hp at 4,000rpm, with 240Nm of torque at 2,000rpm, this engine is intended for motorists seeking even greater driving pleasure. With its second-generation common rail injection system, variable-geometry turbocharger and 1,600-bar injection pressure, this version is guaranteed to deliver excellent performance. And it does so without adversely affecting fuel economy, boasting a combined- cycle fuel consumption of 5.5 l/100km, achieved thanks to its piezo-electric injectors and 6- speed manual gearbox.

On the noise front, a twin-mass damping flywheel eliminates booming at low revs. The engine is also immediately available with a particulate filter. The particulate filter completely eliminates black smoke, thanks to an additional injector mounted on the exhaust line.

105hp (78kW) 1.6-liter 16-valve engine

The 1.6 16v engine develops 105hp (78kW) at 5,750rpm, with a maximum torque of 148Nm at 3,750rpm. This Euro IV-compliant 1,598cc block delivers exceptional driving pleasure. Fuel consumption is kept under control by a roller-bearing rocker arm timing system and use of lighter materials. Combined-cycle consumption is as low as 7.7 l/100km. Usually accompanied by a 5-speed manual gearbox, the engine will also be available with a Proactive 4-speed automatic transmission, in which case its maximum torque climbs slightly to 152Nm at 4,000rpm.

90hp (66kW) 1.6-liter 8-valve engine

A Renault favourite, the 1.6 8v engine, which develops 90hp (66 kW) at 5,500rpm, is renowned for its robustness, reliability and efficiency. Its impressive 128Nm of torque are available over an extensive operating range, from 3,000rpm right up to 4,500rpm. Easy to maintain and economical, it consumes a mere 7.9l/100 km. The block will be marketed with a five-speed manual gearbox. It will be available on the second half of the year 2008.

New Kangoo and the Renault eco2 signature

Two versions of New Kangoo have received the Renault eco2 symbol: the 70hp (50kW) and 85hp (63kW) 1.5 dCi versions. The “Renault eco2” symbol is a sign of Renault’s work to protect the environment, awarded to vehicles which meet a specified set of both ecological and economical criteria: to receive the symbol, a vehicle must be manufactured in an ISO 14001- certified plant and produce CO2 emissions of less than 140g/km (or run on E85 bio-ethanol or B30 bio-diesel), with at least 5% of plastics used sourced from recycling.

As an extension of this programme, two new bio-fuel versions of New Kangoo will be available in the second quarter of 2008: a 1.6 16V version running on E85 bio-ethanol and an 85hp 1.5 dCi version powered by B30 bio-diesel. B30 will progressively be extended to other Euro IV- compliant diesel engines without particulate filters and to all Euro V-compliant diesel engines.

TOP-CLASS SAFETY AND DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE

Equipped with a chassis derived from Scénic – a car renowned for its dynamic performance and excellent safety standards – New Kangoo delivers a level of performance unparalleled in the leisure activity vehicle segment.

A dynamic ride

As ever, Renault’s engineers have put together a formidable package on New Kangoo. The car’s platform is derived from Scénic, a benchmark in terms of stability, handling and driving pleasure. The front and rear tracks are wider than on the previous generation, improving handling. The front track now measures 1.52 m (+121 mm) and the rear track 1.53 m (+118 mm) The wheelbase has also been increased to 2.7 m.

The MacPherson-type front suspension is paired with a rectangular lower arm to ensure good directional stiffness and high damping capacity. The front and rear shock absorbers have been calibrated to adapt to the load of the vehicle and offer the best possible balance between ride and handling in all situations. The rear suspension features a programmed-deflection torsion beam with coil springs, plus an anti-roll bar 15.1mm in diameter, which together ensure sound handling and optimum chassis stability.

All these factors combine to reduce body roll and enhance the vehicle’s cornering stability. Body roll remains virtually identical irrespective of whether New Kangoo is carrying a load or not, which makes for sound and predictable road holding in all load configurations.

New Kangoo is equipped with new-generation variable power steering with a height-adjustable steering column. The steering system is configured to facilitate city-centre driving, with a 10.7m turning circle and rigorously precise directional control, which further reinforces occupants’ feeling of safety.

Fifteen-inch wheels offer New Kangoo reassuringly solid road holding ability. The brakes are also a strong feature; no car on the market boasts a better stopping distance. The dimensions of the four vented disc brakes (280mm at the front, 274mm at the rear) give them real bite and stopping power. The brakes are designed to maintain a stopping distance of 39m even after ten consecutive braking operations from 100kph to 0.

Top-class active safety

New Kangoo has exactly the same level of active safety equipment as a family saloon. All versions are equipped with a Bosch 8.0 ABS system with Electronic Brake Variator (EBV) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) with automatic triggering of the hazard warning lamps (depending on the market). The Expression and Privilège versions of New Kangoo now also come equipped with Electronic Stability Program (ESP). All this equipment, together with an under-steering control system (USC), puts New Kangoo top of its segment when it comes to safety. The panoply of active safety systems is completed by traction control (ASR) and torque moment regulation (MSR) functions. The first allows the vehicle to move off on low-grip surfaces, while the second prevents the wheels from locking during deceleration or braking on a slippery surface.

New Kangoo also boasts a range of modern driver assistance systems to bolster occupant safety, most of which have been lifted directly from upper-segment vehicles and did not feature on the previous Kangoo. The features available as standard or as options on the various versions of New Kangoo include a speed limiter and cruise control function, automatic headlamps, a parking assistance system with reversing sensors, and wipers with automatic rain sensors. Visibility is enhanced by expansive glazed areas, the ergonomic design of the cockpit and the shape of the external mirrors.

Comprehensive protection

New Kangoo affords all its occupants the best possible level of protection thanks to top-class safety equipment and structural design. In the event of an impact, a vehicle’s structure is its occupants’ first line of defence. New Kangoo’s structure combines steel with a variety of materials designed to absorb and dissipate energy. For the driver and passengers, the cabin acts like a cocoon, protecting them from the intrusion of parts of the front unit.

New Kangoo’s two front-seat seat belts are fitted with pyrotechnic pretensioners, designed to provide optimum restraint in the event of an impact. All five seat belts are equipped with calibrated internal load limiters for chest protection. New Kangoo comes equipped with a minimum of two airbags and some versions have as many as six: two front airbags, two chest airbags and, for the first time, two curtain airbags. To minimise pelvic injuries to occupants in the event of a head-on impact, the front and rear seat cushions are designed with anti- submarining humps.

Other elements that contribute to the protection of occupants in the event of a frontal impact include a collapsible magnesium steering wheel armature and a combination of padding and sheet steel around the steering column to lessen the risk of leg injuries. New Kangoo also features a retractable brake pedal to protect the driver from ankle injuries.

Further enhancing both the safety and the comfort of the driver and front-seat passenger are headrests that absorb energy in the event of a rear impact. First seen on Clio III, they considerably reduce whiplash. The height of the headrests may now be adjusted not by sliding their stalks up and down in the holes in the seat backrests, but by sliding the headrest itself up and down on the stalks. At the rear, the bench seat is fitted with three comma-shaped headrests, which can be folded down for better visibility in the interior rear-view mirror. It has also been strengthened so as to resist any luggage catapulted forward in the event of an impact. A luggage restraint net is also available as an option for the same purpose.

The front passenger airbag can be deactivated so that a child seat can be attached to the front seat. The Isofix anchorage system, which is also available at the sides of the rear bench seat, makes it easy to install a child seat safely and securely.

REDUCED INVESTMENT COSTS FOR OPTIMAL PROFITABILITY

10 years ago, Kangoo changed the face of the “ludospace” segment thanks to its liveability and versatility. New Kangoo, an even more practical and comfortable model that builds on the affection for its predecessor, offers a vehicle that combines the functionality of an LCV with the comfort of a passenger car.

By keeping engineering costs and reducing investment costs, New Kangoo is priced in a competitive bracket that is comparable to that of Kangoo. New Kangoo is produced in France, in the strongly modernised MCA Maubeuge factory. The first Kangoo was also manufactured on the same site, which is one of the most productive factories in Europe in the LCV segment.

New Kangoo: more than a “passenger vehicle”

Since it was first launched in 1997, more than 2.3 million Kangoos have been produced on four continents: MCA Maubeuge in France, Casablanca in Morocco, Cordoba in Argentina and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Kangoo is still one of the top three best-selling passenger vehicles on the European “ludospace” segment, with a market share of 20.3% at the end of September 2007. Kangoo has been setting the standard in the segment since it was launched in October 1997, with its original concept that combines fun, simplicity and functionality.

The more practical and comfortable New Kangoo combines the driving pleasure and level of finish characteristic of a Renault passenger car with the reliability of Europe’s leading small van, Kangoo Express. New Kangoo plans to keep its customer base loyal by offering a vehicle at a price that is comparable with Kangoo with equivalent equipment levels and engines, and to win over new targets that value practical and comfortable cars.

The passenger and LCV versions of New Kangoo were optimised through a parallel design engineering process. New Kangoo benefits from the specifications and the reliability offered by light commercial vehicles. Developed on the same chassis as Scenic, New Kangoo offers improved comfort, better roadholding, optimal braking and a bigger loading space than its predecessor.

The same demands were made of the conception, testing and production of New Kangoo as of New Laguna

Designed by Renault’s i-DVU Light Commercial Vehicles Engineering department in Villiers St Frédéric (France), which employs 1,000 engineers and technicians, New Kangoo benefits from the quality innovations developed for New Laguna, thru an action plan named “Excellence Quality”.

The goals of increased reliability and a reduction in incidents were both taken into consideration right from the very first design phases. The “Quality Excellence” plan including 350 potential customer problems was developed on the basis of the known incidents suffered by comparable vehicles. The action plan covered all the factors that can avoid vehicle-off-road breakdowns: product design, quality of build, reliability of purchased parts, after-sales methods. Every function in the company was involved in the “Quality Excellence” plan.

The factory staff was also closely involved in the first prototype phases and a 150-strong team was dispatched:

All of the technical documentation describing the correct assembly procedures was completed in the first prototype phase to make sure that factory production started under optimal conditions. A total of 3,800 potential improvements were escalated and applied to the product and the processes before factory production started (e.g., changes to the wiring connections to the dashboard).

New Kangoo covered more than 3.5 million kilometres of validation test drives, twice as many as first-generation Kangoo. New Kangoo was tested under extreme conditions. 2,000 km were covered in Swedish Lapland, while more than 1,200 hours were spent in the isolation chamber. The endurance specifications were toughened for most parts, from the opening panels, to the bodyshell and suspension. The test vehicles were completely dismantled to check for any concealed anomalies.

New Kangoo is manufactured in the ISO 9001-certified MCA (Maubeuge Construction Automobile) factory in France, one of Kangoo’s traditional production sites.

In order to elevate New Kangoo to the top quality level in its category right from launch and improve on the performance of its predecessor, which is already “best in class”, MCA is applying the methods and tools of the Renault Production System (SPR) and is capitalising on the recent successful industrial production startups in Novo Mesto (New Twingo) and Sandouville (New Laguna). The quality of New Kangoo is also guaranteed by the teams of qualified operators. A total of 110,000 hours of training have been delivered. Most of the training courses focussed in behaviour at the workstation and improved dexterity, which helps to develop the repeatability of gestures and to limit the risks of non-quality.

Development engineering costs and investments costs reduced by 25%

This result was achieved thanks to the carry-over of components and subsystems from the C-platform Scenic, the commonalisation of industrial production processes with Nissan and improved performance in design and purchasing.

The diversity of the Kangoo range was taken into account right from a very early stage in order to limit the development of new parts and to include components from Renault’s subsystems bank (structural parts, engine suspension, power steering, etc.). The use of digital models in the project phase allowed a complete prototype phase to be eliminated.

Development costs were significantly reduced by decreasing the number of test supports and modelling many of the crash tests.

The suppliers for New Kangoo were also involved at a very early stage, in the so-called project convergence phase, and by using the Alliance’s ANPQP supplier quality control tool. This standard Renault-Nissan Alliance tool is used to control the quality of parts purchased, not only in terms of the product itself, but also the manufacturing processes used by the suppliers. The performance of Purchasing has contributed to keeping the costs of purchased parts under control.

In terms of environmental protection, €65 million were committed to developing “clean” versions (particulate filters, E85 and B30 biofuels) and to prepare for the future pollution control standards, Euro 5.

A strongly modernised MCA factory

Renault has invested €232 million in the modernisation of the means of production in the MCA Maubeuge factory in readiness for the arrival of New Kangoo and to elevate the plant to the highest levels of industrial performance and product quality:

The MCA factory was ISO14001 certified in 1999, and its certification was renewed in 2002 and 2005. In an effort to protect its environment, the MCA plant has taken a range of concrete actions:

New Kangoo is central to Renault Commitment 2009

With New Twingo, New Laguna, Logan MCV and Logan Van, New Kangoo is one of the first five of the 26 models included in Renault’s Product Plan between today and 2009 and makes a direct contribution to the drive for quality announced as part of Renault Commitment 2009. With New Kangoo Express and New Kangoo Express Compact, the Kangoo family will also contribute to reaching the target of a 6% operational profit margin by 2009, and its three- vehicle family will help to achieve the 800,000 extra vehicle sales in 2009.