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Next year’s all-new Renault Megane will put original design back to the top of the company’s agenda according to CEO Carlos Ghosn, whose admitted that criticism of the more conservative new Twingo and Laguna models has stung the company.
"Renault is still capable of doing very original cars," Ghosn told Autocar. "Next year’s Megane will be very modern".
The boss of Renault Nissan also admitted that the new Laguna was a "refined and classical" design but claimed that it was what the market is demanding. "We know that very innovative designs only give short term success. Classical designs last longer," he said.
The first of many
The next Megane will be a cornerstone in Renault’s ambitious plan to launch 24 new models between now and the end of 2009. Ghosn admitted that half of them will replace existing cars, such as the Megane hatchback and the current Scenic MPV. The rest will enter niches Renault doesn’t current fill.
Early next year we’ll see the new Koleos SUV, built by Samsung in Korea and sharing a platform with the recently launched Nissan X-trail. Ghosn also admitted that a large saloon, replacing the ill-fated Vel Satis, is also planned. "We need to sell big cars to people, there’s still a solid market for them, especially in China, India and Russia," he said.
Chas Hallett
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