Renault Vel Satis
| Renault Vel Satis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Renault |
| Production | 2002–2009 (LHD, 62,201 built) 2002–2005 (RHD) |
| Assembly | Sandouville, France (Sandouville Renault Factory) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | Renault Laguna |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
petrol 2.0 L F4Rt I4 T 3.5 L VQ35DE V6 diesel 2.0 L M9R dCi dCi I4 2.2 L G9T dCi I4 3.0 L P9X dCi V6 |
| 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 |
The Renault Vel Satis is an executive car that was produced by the French manufacturer Renault, launched at the 2001 Geneva Motorshow to replace the already-discontinued Safrane. It was previously revealed as a concept car in 1998, at the Paris Motor Show. However, the following production model does not have very much in common with it. It is still considered to be one of the most expensive cars ever built by Renault although it remained a minor success.
The name Vel Satis is a composite of elements of the words Velocity and Satisfaction. A specially prepared Vel Satis was used by the President of France until 2009. The car was also Renault's flagship car, It has since been replaced by the Renault-Samsung built Renault Latitude.
The Vel Satis was the first Renault model offered with Adaptive cruise control (ACC) (supplied by Robert Bosch GmbH)
The Vel Satis is distinguished by its unusual height (13 cm higher than a Safrane), which benefits interior space but results in proportions some viewed as being ungainly. In September 2002, Car described it as "ugly and very French." Design commentator Stephen Bayley decided that the problem with the car was that it was "not ugly enough." Patrick Le Quément, Renault's design chief, explained that the car was intended to have physical presence, rather than aspiring to classical elegance.
Renault's stated intention was to target less conformist, selective modern customers who were identified as "distancing themselves from the conventional saloon." The Vel Satis was an attempt to redefine the prestige car in French terms.
It had a five-star EuroNCAP safety rating and was available with a variety of engines:
The Vel Satis shares its "platform" (chassis, powertrain, assembly process) with the Laguna and Espace IV and was produced on the same assembly line in Sandouville, France.
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