Latest news with #A290
Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault second-quarter sales volumes flat on drop in demand for vans
Renault reported zero growth in second-quarter sales volume on Wednesday, after a plunge in demand for vans in Europe offset growth in passenger cars. The French automaker, which had warned last week of weaker than expected June sales volumes, said its second-quarter sales were down 0.1%, despite a raft of new vehicle launches. That compared with growth of 2.8% in the first quarter. "Throughout the first half of the year, we have seen increasingly fierce competition between players in the European commercial vehicle market ," said Ivan Segal, global sales and operations director for the Renault brand, which represents 70% of the French automaker's sales. "Demand is difficult, we sense an economic context full of uncertainty, certainly leading companies to postpone a certain number of purchases," he told reporters. Renault is currently being run by its finance chief Duncan Minto as it searches for a new chief executive to replace Luca de Meo, who departed this month. The company, which will publish its full half-year figures on July 31, also last week revised down its full-year operating margin and free cash flow forecasts. While Renault brand car sales increased by 8.4% in the first half, thanks in particular to the Clio, a best-seller in Europe, sales of highly profitable vans and light commercial vehicles, which make up a fifth of Renault sales volumes, fell by 29%. The decline was exacerbated by an unfavourable base effect and an update to its product offering. Sales of Renault brand electric vehicles jumped 57%, however, outperforming a market that grew by 25%, thanks to the success of the R5 in France, Germany and Spain. The A290, the new electric model under Renault's Alpine premium sports brand, helped the brand post an 85% jump in registrations in the first half of 2025. Segal said he expects the Renault brand to regain market share in commercial vehicles in the second half. He added overall growth would be "in line" with the first half while the brand would see double-digit growth outside Europe. Renault generates more than 70% of its sales in Europe, which has protected it from the trade disruptions linked to U.S. tariffs but makes it vulnerable to any slowdown on the continent where competition from new Chinese entrants is rising. Seeking higher growth markets, the Renault brand has been rolling out new models in Latin America, Turkey, Morocco and Korea, which resulted in a 16.3% increase in sales outside Europe in the first half of the year.
Business Recorder
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
Renault second-quarter sales volumes flat on drop in demand for vans
PARIS: Renault reported zero growth in second-quarter sales volume on Wednesday, after a plunge in demand for vans in Europe offset growth in passenger cars. The French automaker, which had warned last week of weaker than expected June sales volumes, said its second-quarter sales were down 0.1%, despite a raft of new vehicle launches. That compared with growth of 2.8% in the first quarter. 'Throughout the first half of the year, we have seen increasingly fierce competition between players in the European commercial vehicle market,' said Ivan Segal, global sales and operations director for the Renault brand, which represents 70% of the French automaker's sales. 'Demand is difficult, we sense an economic context full of uncertainty, certainly leading companies to postpone a certain number of purchases,' he told reporters. Renault is currently being run by its finance chief Duncan Minto as it searches for a new chief executive to replace Luca de Meo, who departed this month. The company, which will publish its full half-year figures on July 31, also last week revised down its full-year operating margin and free cash flow forecasts. While Renault brand car sales increased by 8.4% in the first half, thanks in particular to the Clio, a best-seller in Europe, sales of highly profitable vans and light commercial vehicles, which make up a fifth of Renault sales volumes, fell by 29%. The decline was exacerbated by an unfavourable base effect and an update to its product offering. Sales of Renault brand electric vehicles jumped 57%, however, outperforming a market that grew by 25%, thanks to the success of the R5 in France, Germany and Spain. The A290, the new electric model under Renault's Alpine premium sports brand, helped the brand post an 85% jump in registrations in the first half of 2025. Segal said he expects the Renault brand to regain market share in commercial vehicles in the second half. He added overall growth would be 'in line' with the first half while the brand would see double-digit growth outside Europe. Renault generates more than 70% of its sales in Europe, which has protected it from the trade disruptions linked to U.S. tariffs but makes it vulnerable to any slowdown on the continent where competition from new Chinese entrants is rising. Seeking higher growth markets, the Renault brand has been rolling out new models in Latin America, Turkey, Morocco and Korea, which resulted in a 16.3% increase in sales outside Europe in the first half of the year.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Renault second-quarter sales volumes flat on drop in demand for vans
Renault reported zero growth in second-quarter sales volume on Wednesday, after a plunge in demand for vans in Europe offset growth in passenger cars. The French automaker, which had warned last week of weaker than expected June sales volumes, said its second-quarter sales were down 0.1 per cent, despite a raft of new vehicle launches. That compared with growth of 2.8 per cent in the first quarter. "Throughout the first half of the year, we have seen increasingly fierce competition between players in the European commercial vehicle market ," said Ivan Segal, global sales and operations director for the Renault brand, which represents 70 per cent of the French automaker's sales. "Demand is difficult, we sense an economic context full of uncertainty, certainly leading companies to postpone a certain number of purchases," he told reporters. Renault is currently being run by its finance chief Duncan Minto as it searches for a new chief executive to replace Luca de Meo, who departed this month. The company, which will publish its full half-year figures on July 31, also last week revised down its full-year operating margin and free cash flow forecasts. While Renault brand car sales increased by 8.4 per cent in the first half, thanks in particular to the Clio, a best-seller in Europe, sales of highly profitable vans and light commercial vehicles, which make up a fifth of Renault sales volumes, fell by 29 per cent. The decline was exacerbated by an unfavourable base effect and an update to its product offering. Sales of Renault brand electric vehicles jumped 57 per cent, however, outperforming a market that grew by 25 per cent, thanks to the success of the R5 in France, Germany and Spain. The A290, the new electric model under Renault's Alpine premium sports brand, helped the brand post an 85 per cent jump in registrations in the first half of 2025. Segal said he expects the Renault brand to regain market share in commercial vehicles in the second half. He added overall growth would be "in line" with the first half while the brand would see double-digit growth outside Europe. Renault generates more than 70 per cent of its sales in Europe, which has protected it from the trade disruptions linked to U.S. tariffs but makes it vulnerable to any slowdown on the continent where competition from new Chinese entrants is rising. Seeking higher growth markets, the Renault brand has been rolling out new models in Latin America, Turkey, Morocco and Korea, which resulted in a 16.3 per cent increase in sales outside Europe in the first half of the year.
Auto Car
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
The best electric sports cars – driven, rated and ranked
If any sector best highlights the speed of our transition to electric, it's the sports car class. Traditionally the preserve of petrol-soaked, adrenaline-pumping machines, this corner of the market is growing in size and full of contenders that shine in not just the EV field, but also the sports car segment as a whole. This new source of power is delivering the sort of power and performance that internally combusted alternatives could only dream about – as well as broadening the definition of a 'high-performance car'. That's why our list runs the gamut from traditional low-slung sportsters to curvaceous coupés and continent-crushing GTs. We've gathered models from established players of the driver's car art, plus makers more normally associated with humbler offerings. This is also one of the fastest-moving market sectors, with new additions arriving all the time. So some of the cars you see here can be driven out of a showroom today, while others are little more than a line in an order book. Our top pick is the Alpine A290, which was awarded Best Fun EV at the 2025 Autocar Awards. Our experienced judges awarded it the prize due to its blend of engaging dynamics, excellent performance and comfortable daily demeanour. "It picks up where Renault's hot hatches left off," our judges said. But what else makes our list? Let's get to it and run through the best electric sports cars money can buy today.
Miami Herald
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Alpine's New A390 Is a Performance EV Crossover With French Flair
In recent years, legendary French performance and sports car brand Alpine has been reimagining itself as a performance-oriented electric car brand. Last year, the Renault-owned marque launched its first electric car, the A290, a compact hatchback designed to be a faster and more agile version of one of its parent company's smallest offerings. But if sales figures are any indication, many electric vehicle customers are opting for the kind of space and usability found in crossovers like Tesla's Model Y and BYD's Seal U. However, Alpine's lineup of electric vehicles is expanding, and its latest offering is its take on other cars from the popular segment. Alpine has recently unveiled the A390, a five-door electric crossover that it insists you call a "sport fastback." Based almost entirely on the A390_β (beta) concept, the new Alpine takes some crucial styling cues from its A110 sports car and remixes them into a package that looks a little more futuristically aggressive and edgy than most crossovers on the road. From the outside, the A390 slightly resembles the A110, as subtle and sporty features like hidden and flush door handles and a sloped roof give the top half of the crossover the same distinct shape. At the same time, Alpine has also given the A390 some aggressive looks to separate itself from its 'egg-shaped' competition, including triangular-shaped LED cutouts, pencil-thin headlights, and oversized air intakes on the front bumper. The A390 may blend modern and futuristic styling, but it is Alpine's biggest car ever. Its raw numbers show that it has a 106.6-inch wheelbase and measures 181.7 inches in length, 74.2 inches in width, and 60.3 inches in height. Underneath the stylish skin, Alpine proves that it means business with its performance. The new A390 rides on Renault's AmpR Medium platform, which is also used in the Renault Megane E-Tech, Scenic E-Tech, and the Nissan Ariya. However, it features some tweaks for a better driving experience, including an all-wheel drive system with an Active Torque Vectoring system to enhance its handling in the corners. The A390 comes in two different trims: the GT and GTS. Both feature a tri-motor setup with one motor in the front and two in the back. The base GT model delivers 396 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, capable of 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph. Conversely, the GTS makes 463 hp and a massive 596 lb-ft of torque, cutting the 0-60 time to just 3.9 seconds and bumping the top speed to 137 mph. Both versions use an 89 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides 323 to 345 miles of WLTP range and can be charged at charging stations offering up to 190 kW DC fast charging. The A390 also features a steering wheel-mounted "overtake" function that provides a boost of power for approximately 10 seconds, although it takes 30 seconds to cool down before it can be used again. In addition, Alpine's two distinct "Drive Sound" profiles, called "Daily" and "Sport," feature different synthetic engine sounds that can be adjusted according to your mood or throttle position. The Alpine A390 shares much of its interior with other Alpine and Renault models, including familiar bits like the steering wheel, drive selector, and dashboard electronics. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12-inch "portrait mode" infotainment screen with some physical switches are pointed toward the driver. However, some Alpine-specific features suggest this is a more premium offering than other models. Top-of-the-line A390 GTSs get Nappa leather Sabelt bucket seats with massage functionality and a 13-speaker, 850-watt Devialet audio system. Pricing has not been announced yet, but it's pegged to be competitive against electric rivals like the $75,300 Porsche Macan Electric and the $109,000 Maserati Grecale Folgore. Alpine is currently offering the A390 solely in Europe, as it is putting its plans to expand to the U.S. on hold due to the tariff situation. Initially, the brand was due to launch in the States during the 2027 model year. Politics aside, French cars are an anomaly in the United States. Though established car enthusiasts may stray away, I can picture a new generation of well-to-do people searching for the avant-garde, adopting the Alpine as their vehicle of choice. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
