Renault is using the launch of the New Master van to spearhead an assault on the Australian market
By Gary Worrall | February 17, 2012
With 14 years market leadership in European light commercial van sales, Renault is using the launch of the New Master van to spearhead an assault on the Australian market.
With European vans dominating the Australian market the groundwork for Renault is in place, particularly after posting a strong sales performance in 2011. The company enjoyed an 89 percent increase over the 2010 result.
The standout performer was the updated Kangoo, recording a 320 percent increase in sales for the year, throwing down the gauntlet to established competitors Volkswagen, Peugeot and Citroen.
In total Renault sold 615 vans in Australia during 2011, although this figure was artificially restricted by a shortage of right-hand drive models as the factory in France geared up for the new model.
Renault Australia Managing Director Justin Hocevar says the company is confident of a strong 2012 and is actively recruiting additional dealers, with three new retailers signing up in January and February alone.
“The previous Master won many friends in a wide variety of business areas and we are confident the New Master will be even more popular. We are working hard on extending the reach of our LCV dealer network,” Hocevar says.
“We have a new Euro 5 compliant, economical and very powerful engine, a six-speed gearbox with optional Quickshift transmission which makes city driving even easier, and of course a very large load area.”
The New Master is available as either a medium-wheelbase or long-wheelbase, with both versions offered with a choice of 6-speed manual or the Quickshift 6-speed automated manual transmission.
With a maximum load area of 12.5 cubic metres (LWB – 10.3 cubic metres MWB) and a top payload of 1645kg for the MWB with manual transmission, down to 1569kg for the LWB with Quickshift, Hocevar is confident in the broad appeal of the New Master.
The engine offers plenty of punch with the new 2.3 dCi motor, used in all versions, generating 107kW at 3500rpm and a 350Nm of torque between 1550-2750rpm, allowing comfortable cruising while ensuring good acceleration for overtaking.
Australian operators will receive the range-topping models with plenty of goodies as standard, including cruise control, speed limiter, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with Bluetooth connectivity, as well as driver and passenger front airbags, ABS, EBD, and ESP.
To improve occupant safety even further, Renault is offering an optional safety and security pack that include a driver’s head and thorax side airbag, automatic headlights and front wipers, alarm, heated rear window, fog lights and cornering headlights (except when the driver suspension seat is specified).
Renault is offering two other option packs, with the convenience option including a storage compartment under the passenger seat, 12-volt rear load area power socket, driver and passenger additional door storage, sun glasses storage, and lidded dashboard storage large enough for a laptop computer.
There is also a premium pack with an integrated satellite navigation with the display screen mounted above the rear view mirror, rear parking camera with display incorporated into the driver’s sun visor (replaces reversing sensors) and multimedia connection box (aux jack and USB).
A short run through Melbourne traffic, visiting a number of industrial highlights including the Port of Melbourne and the industrial areas around Altona, showed the New Master to be a competent performer. The Euro5 engine delivered a usable spread of power for cruising and acceleration.
With a demonstration payload of 500kg loaded into a MWB fitted with the automated Quickshift transmission, there was no noticeable drop-off in performance; the shifts were crisp and accurate in both automatic and manual modes.
The Quickshift includes a heavy load setting to prevent wheel slip in the front wheel drive when carrying full loads. Hill starts on both flat roads and steep inclines failed to generate any slip or stutter, with or without the heavy load mode selected.
General visibility was good. Renault wisely opted to include spotter mirrors on both sides to help eliminate blind spots.
Reversing out of a tight spot revealed a reasonable turning circle for the medium wheelbase, while the long-wheelbase struggled slightly during a tight U-turn, not surprising given the 4.3-metre wheelbase.
Typical French quirks include the cruise control buttons spread between a dash-mounted rocker switch and a pair of thumb buttons on the steering wheel face, while a stalk under the wheel controlled the audio system.
The only real criticism on the day was a lack of space between the dash-mounted gear lever and the steering wheel for taller drivers, although even this was not a critical fail.