Renault Latitude could replace Laguna in Australia in 2011

By Tim Beissmann | June 08th, 2010

Renault has released the first images and details of its upcoming Renault Latitude sedan, which could replace the Laguna in Australia as early as next year.

Renault Australia managing director, Rudi Koenig, said if the decision was made to launch the Latitude in Australia it would not arrive until next year at the earliest.

“Whether it replaces Laguna here will be an issue for us for next year but it’s certainly a prospective vehicle for our market,” Mr Koenig said.

The Latitude will be assembled by Renault Samsung in Korea where it is known as the SM5. The SM5 is the sister car to the Nissan Maxima/Teana.

A global release issued by Renault overnight said that the Latitude was “due to go on sale this autumn (our spring) in Asia, Africa, Russia, Turkey, Gulf, Australia and Mexico”, but Mr Koenig said the Australian announcement was slightly premature.

“Basically it’s in our longer term planning for our market to replace Laguna and it’s obviously the most probable candidate,” he said.

Mr Koenig admitted he was “disappointed” with the Laguna’s recent sales performance. Last year just 95 were sold in Australia with the car in run-out mode for much of the time, and while sales of the all-new model have increased to 78 in the first five months of 2010 it is still far from competitive in the sub-$60K medium segment, clinging to just 0.2 percent of the market.

“It’s a very hot field in Australia because we have local manufacturers in that field as well and it makes it a very hard segment for us. Laguna has proven to be a hard sell so we are looking for a product to replace Laguna in our product range.”

Renault has released few details of the Latitude, with the interior, equipment lists and engine ranges to be revealed in full at the Paris Motor Show in early-October.

Its dimensions – 4.89m long, 1.83m wide and 1.49m high – make it 19cm longer, 2cm wider and 4cm higher than the current Laguna.

The bi-Xenon headlamps will be adaptive and directional while the tail-lamps will be LEDs. Renault says the boot will be one of the biggest in its class and that the equipment list places an emphasis on innovation and travelling comfort.

Interior features will include a dual-mode air ioniser with double fragrance diffuser, triple-zone climate control, massaging driver’s seat, Bose premium audio system and the Renault hands-free card.

Mr Koenig said he did not expect Latitude to be a volume seller in Australia, but saw it going head-to-head with the Maxima, Volkswagen Passat, Peugeot 407, Citroen C5 and other medium/large offerings from Japan.

“It’s in our possibility plans at this stage, but we’re focusing on all the products we’re launching this year at the moment,” he said.

The Fluence heads the list of new models to be introduced in the second half of 2010, and it will be officially unveiled at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in mid-October.

Mr Koenig confirmed the Megane hatch, Coupe-Cabriolet and RenaultSport 250 will also join the local line-up later this year, as will the new Kangoo van.

“Unfortunately it’s late in the year so we’re not going to be able to have an impact on our sales results this year, but certainly it should help us next year,” he said.

Who?

Latitude = Saab 95 x Lexus LS, very nice
http://www.facebook.com/sammo.8191 Sam Moss

It doesn’t look bad, just a bit generic.
Not a very inspiring design, it’s one that just plays it safe – this isn’t the French way of doing things.

Renault may gain some buyers in Australia with this car – but only if pricing is competitive. They need a volume product for the Australian market (like Peugeot’s 308 or VW’s Golf), their survival here depends on it.

Joober@work

Agree, looks good but comparable to most sedans on the market, and hence what sam mentions this would only be a seller if the price is right plus features to differentiate.

Do we have interior shots?
Labrys

Yeah I have to agree with this too.
It does look like every other car in the market.
However, that may not be such a bad thing.
For a sturggling brand it can be tough to do different things from fear that they simply won’t sell.
Making a car similar to what is on the market and selling well, then pricing it right may see customers return.
Definietly have to wait for some of those interior shots also.
The Fluence looks quite nice though.

ox

Looks much better than the laguna.
VR

Looks like a Honda legend! I like the look of the Laguna much more. The Laguna looks much better in real life than in photos. It would be a great shame if Renault looses it’s French flair.

Roman

I thought it looked similar to the Legend too.

Radbloke

It kind of looks like the current Liberty. Only better.
carlos

it looks a bit of 1st gen KIA!!

Steve-Poyza

What Kia?

http://www.facebook.com/sammo.8191 Sam Moss

yeah?

LRE

Nice but generic. It would be a shame if Renault stopped selling a large hatch here, I would\’ve thought this would sell alongside the wagon and the hatch, rather than replace them.

I thought the new SM5 was based on the current Laguna?
Isn\’t the interior the same?

The biggest problem with the Laguna is that it was overpriced. If they had had the current price from the start it might have had a chance…
ManualsOnly

As an ex Scenic RX4 owner I think Renault cars are very well designed but the thing that really lets them down is their engines. Put some of that F1 experience in all your engines and make them available in ALL models. Why are the decent engines only available in the 2 door hot hatch ?? Old sub standard technology engines don’t work in Australia at the prices Renault charges.
Brett

Im looking at replacing my RenoSport at if this has a good engine it may do. I’ve loved this car since I’ve had it, but it was a demo fully optioned an a very good price. Even if this thing had the current 2 litre turbo it would be good enough. French cars including my big bum Megane have looked different in the past and it hasn’t worked too well here. This could be the one to do it.
Shak

the only way a mid sized sedan will compete thoroughly in its market is with a party peice or a redeeming feature. the mazda 6 has the looks, the Accord Euro has the luxury, and the Camry has………a cardigan, and supposed reliability.

Able

“the Accord Euro has the luxury”

Sorry to whine, but how did you get to this conclusion? I found the Euro to have the most slippery I’ve ever experience and rear legroom was appalling! Add the very silly complicated dash/exterior design and an always-vocal engine and I’m not sure that it’s luxurious. I think the premium mid-sizers (Passat, 159 etc etc etc) are more luxurious, and yes I am taking into consideration the extra cost heft. Even the normal Accord is more luxurious.

Of course, that’s just me!

Shak

Fair enough. I should have used the passat as the luxury example. but no need to attack, just trying to solidify my point, about how most of the successful mid sizers have like a standout feature. The passat really doesnt sell in big numbers so it just didnt occur to me.

Able

Bring the Korean-made car in with a 4-cyl petrol/diesel man/auto and maybe a V6. Price it from the low 30k mark with great equipment levels (much like the Koleos) and it should be enough to catch people’s attention. Much better than the Laguna…looks relatively normal too (which some would say is bad, but the Laguna is bad different, not good different)
Norbert Jahn

I’m not surprised that sales for Renault are down. They have a bad reputation for expensive parts and their gearbox in the RX4 is well known to fail and cost 6000.00 dollars to fix at around 80.000 kms!!!

Vicki Ryal at Vehicle Distributors Australia Pty. Ltd.(Renault) does not seem to address this problem when brought to her attention.
Steve-Poyza

I’m very unhappy about this car replacing the Laguna. Why not sell it along side the Laguna? That could maybe even attract more people to the Laguna if they’re drawn by the Latitude but then find out about the Laguna. I’m sorry, I just feel that Renault shouldn’t be getting rid of their unique French style in order to be generic. I guess at the end of the day generic sells better, even just by reading these comments you can see that the Laguna is a rather polarising car. Unlike this, which seems to be liked by most. At least they seem to be going all out on kit, but the interior (if it looks like the Samsung’s) won’t be as nice as the actual Laguna’s even though it is based on it.
bob

Its just a Laguna sedan (Not related to the Nissan Maxima), so what’s all the fuss about?
Luke

I like Renault and I’m a long standing customer for Renault, even if quality issues and lack of respect from Renault Australia should (and most probably will) let me to change to other brands!
But now, not only there are quality and respect problems, but also design’s. Until now the design was interesting, but the new Latitude and Fluence are very unattractive, bland and not even built in Europe. (That should be a requirement for European cars I hope), otherwise if I chose a Japanese looking car I opt for Honda Toyota etc. etc. that are less expensive to keep and service!
I am very disappointed that Renault Australia does not recognise the value of a long standing customer and that (apart the 250) the general feeling is of lower quality and lower design.

PS To Norbert Jahn above: I liked the RX4 but I had many problems with it, and moreover, I know what you mean with Vicki Ryal and Directors at Vehicle Distributors Australia Pty. Ltd.(Renault); a very bad experience to contact them.