Renault Scenic to be reborn as XMOD crossover
THE end of the line has arrived for Renault’s time-honoured Scenic MPV, which has seen a whopping 4,300,000 models produced since its debut in 1996.
Its replacement, called the Scenic XMOD, will herald a new, more crossover influenced, style when it hits the streets in May.
Due to make its debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, the newcomer is aimed at combining the outdoor cues of a crossover with the refined world of an MPV.
With raised ground clearance and unique alloy wheels, the car will also feature special front and rear bumpers, sill guards and chrome-finish roof bars across the range, while the front will show off Renault’s new design identity and LED daytime running lights.
At the same time, and to mark the launch, the existing Grand Scenic model has been restyled with a bigger Renault logo at the front set against a gloss black background to emphasise the new grille.
Scenic XMOD is the first vehicle in the French manufacturer’s range to feature the new Grip Xtend traction control system which enables the vehicle to grip more confidently under difficult conditions.
In Expert mode, Grip Xtend manages the braking system while leaving the driver in full control of the engine torque, the Road mode offers conventional traction control settings and the Loose Ground mode optimises braking and engine torque control.
Renault says the XMOD’s boot capacity is up to 555 litres, making it one of the biggest in its class, and there are 71 litres of additional stowage space spread around the cabin.
Both the Scenic XMOD and new Grand Scenic will be up for grabs with three new Energy powertrains, including the TCe 130 Stop & Start engine which boasts a 15 per cent improvement in fuel consumption over the previous TCe 130 unit.