The Renault Vel Satis is a five-passenger, five-door executive hatchback, manufactured and marketed by Renault from 2001-2009 over a single generation, sharing its platform with the Laguna II and Espace IV and manufactured on the same assembly line in Sandouville, France and noted for its unorthodox styling approach to the luxury segment.
| Renault Vel Satis | |
|---|---|
 Renault Vel Satis (Pre-facelift) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Renault |
| Production | 2001–2009 (LHD, 62,201 units) 2001–2005 (RHD, 1,293 units) |
| Assembly | France: Sandouville (Sandouville Renault Factory) |
| Designer | Patrick Le Quément |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Renault Laguna II Renault Espace IV |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4,860 mm (191.3 in) |
| Width | 1,860 mm (73.2 in) |
| Height | 1,580 mm (62.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,735 kg (3,825 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Renault Safrane |
| Successor | Renault Latitude |
Launched at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show to replace the already discontinued Safrane, the Vel Satis followed a 1998 Paris Motor Show concept.[1]
As Renault's flagship model, it was the company's first car offered with adaptive cruise control,[2] Renault reportedly spent €550 million developing the Vel Satis, predicting 50,000 sales across Europe in its first year.[3] In total, over an eight year production, approximately 62,000 were manufactured.[4]
The name Vel Satis is a portmanteau of Velocity and Satisfaction.
Overview
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The Vel Satis is noted for its height (13 cm higher than a Safrane), benefiting interior space, and remains in use by high-ranking French officials. It was the second ever car to receive a five star Euro NCAP safety crash test rating, after the Laguna II.
Engine availability included:
- 2.0 T 16 valve 4-cylinder
- 3.5 24 valve V6-cylinder
- 2.0 dCi 16 valve 4-cylinder
- 2.2 dCi 16 valve 4-cylinder
- 3.0 dCi 24 valve V6-cylinder
The Vel Satis received a minor facelift for the 2005 model year, featuring a revised front grille, rear apron, twin-flow exhaust system, and chrome-plated door handles. The interior featured revised fittings, fabrics and materials and revised radio and navigation systems. The 2.0-liter petrol engine received an increase in output to 125 kW.
In March 2005, Renault UK decided not to develop a RHD version of the facelifted Vel Satis, as sales of the model had been poor in the United Kingdom since launch.[citation needed] Although 3,500 sales were predicted, only a third of these were achieved.[citation needed] This came two years after Renault discontinued the Avantime coupé/MPV.
On August 27, 2009, Renault ended production of the Vel Satis — losing an estimated €18,710 per vehicle produced.[5]
Reception
editPatrick Le Quément, Renault's design chief, said the Vel Satis was intended to have physical presence, to redefine the prestige car on French terms, and to target less conformist customers.[6]
In September 2002, Car described the Vel Satis as "ugly and very French."[6]
Reviews of the car were critical of its ride and handling but noted the car was quiet under most conditions. "The gearbox is prone to considerable hunting in its quest to deliver power, at which point engine noise intrudes more than anticipated, and the change itself is by no means the smoothest in the class."[7] The ride quality was described as feeling "over tough at pottering speeds, but displays a tendency to disintegrate into chop and judder when confronted with anything other than the smoothest of surfaces."[6]
References
edit- ^ Renault Concepts Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved October 2011
- ^ "Robert Bosch GMBH | Premiere auf dem Automobilsalon in Genf: Renault Vel Satis mit neuer Wischertechnik von Bosch | Pressemitteilung | Pressemeldung". Archived from the original on 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2015-01-19.
- ^ Andy Enright (October 28, 2005). "Renault Vel Satis (2002 - 2005)". RAC.CO.UK.
- ^ "Renault 1998-2009: A short history of missed opportunities". Driven to Write. November 2, 2014.
- ^ "Zoom, sputter, aagghhh!!". The Economist. 2013-09-25. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b c CAR magazine, Sept 2002
- ^ CAR Magazine, Sept 2002
External links
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