All the Alliance news from Frankfurt

SEP

2013

Renault-Nissan Alliance Team
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All the Alliance news from Frankfurt

Exciting new models, wild concept cars and groundbreaking new technologies all displayed under the searing heat generated by thousands upon thousand of spotlights… yes, it’s Frankfurt Motor Show time again.

This biennial motoring extravaganza is upon us once more and the Renault-Nissan Alliance has plenty of news to share.

At Nissan the all-new X-Trail is taking centre stage. Combining the company’s 4x4 expertise and its class-leading crossover know-how, the new X-Trail is ‘the ultimate, all-weather, highly capable, modern family vehicle.’

Nissan has also stolen a march on rivals by designing a taxi specifically for Barcelona… but this is no ordinary taxi. It’s a 100 per cent pure electric taxi, based on the forthcoming e-NV200, production of which starts in Barcelona next year.

Nissan and Barcelona have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the use of electric vehicles as taxis and delivery vehicles by improving the quick charging network and looking at privileges for zero emission operators.

The new electric taxi – complete with iconic black and yellow bodywork – was unveiled at Frankfurt by Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn, who said: “We applaud Barcelona for making this clear commitment to integrating the revolutionary Nissan e-NV200 electric vehicle into the city’s taxi fleet.”

Renault, meanwhile, is showing the sixth design study initiated by Vice President Corporate Design, Laurens van den Acker. Each of the six concepts has followed a ‘life-cycle’ theme such as Love, Explore, Family, Work and Play. The star of Frankfurt, the Initiale Paris, represents Wisdom and is seen as an all-new take on premium class travel.

It illustrates ‘open-mindedness and the pleasures and sensations associated with a premium vehicle’ and previews the forthcoming replacement for the Espace.

Among its features is the unique aluminium and Plexiglas roof that depicts a map of Paris, showing the city districts, arteries and the River Seine.

At the other end of the scale, Renault chose Frankfurt to announce its involvement as a technical partner with the forthcoming FIA Formula E motor racing championship. The single-seat championship, due to kick off in September next year, is for electric vehicles only. Renault is responsible for the electric drivetrain and its safety, system integration and performance optimisation.

Up to 20 drivers will race identical 200km/h Spark-Renault SRT_01E cars in the ten round championship, which will be held on around newly created street circuits laid out in the centre of cities including London, Beijing, Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro.