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Renault preparing Miata-fighter

08/02/2007, 4:21 PM

By Andrew Ganz

Renault’s plans for a two-seat roadster have been confirmed, likely for the 2009 model year. The two-seat roadster, which follows up on Renault’s more hard-edged Sport Spider, will battle it out with the Mazda MX-5 Miata in much of the world. It is not known whether the vehicle would eventually make it to the United States.

AutoExpress reports that the new Renault roadster will likely include a version powered by the Renaultsport Clio’s 197-horsepower 2.0 liter four-cylinder.


The roadster is said to take design themes from Renault’s 2004 Wind concept car. The vehicle would likely serve as the flagship of the Renaultsport line.


If the roadster was to be sold in the North America, it’s likely that it would don a Nissan badge given there are no immediate plans to revive Renault in North America.

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08/02, 4:36 PM

posted by:

jJayC08

I don’t like the front end that much, hopefully that will change with the Nissan varient.

The rear end reminds me of a Pontiac Solstice, but all in all it looks like a good car. With a reasonable price, good performance, and maybe a performance varient, this would be a really neat car.

08/02, 4:46 PM

posted by:

obhatti

Those headlights are way too long and stretched out…. and far too high up on the hood!!

08/02, 4:55 PM

posted by:

Madcapp

That’s strange, I laughed when GM was 16 years late to the Miata party with the Solstice/Sky. What award do you get for missing the market worse than GM?

08/02, 5:03 PM

posted by:

dmanero

Sorry, Renault. Go back to the drawing board, this car is the ugliest car you guys have came out with yet.

08/02, 6:46 PM

posted by:

Driven

It could be a hard edged miata. Its almost looks like an old 350Z front with current day nissan headlights and a blown out solstice back. I could see some chicks driving this car just like the miata. Similar demographic.

08/02, 6:53 PM

posted by:

autonutt

Not an attractive design at all.. and isn’t it interesting that many of the design cues look lifted straight from any given Nissan (particularly the wheel arches, door curvature and rising beltline). I imagine this would probably be sold as the Nissan Pulsar or NX if offered in the US.

08/02, 7:07 PM

posted by:

sharpie

Or maybe a new 200SX (like the one the rest of the world got, not the 2 door Sentra of the late 90s)

Still it is ugly! The front end looks like a very fugly Toyota Celica! And recent Renault reliability is unknown in the US. For that, I would rank it behind the tried and true MX5 Miata for its reliability and handling and second year Sky/Sol for the look.

08/02, 7:27 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

Depending on price, I’d take this over a Miata any day (looks-wise), and certainly over BMW’s overdone soul-less Weiberwagen Z4 POS, but I think the Solstice looks better than all of them. The verdict is still out on the Sky.

08/02, 8:04 PM

posted by:

Deanster

JEsus this is an ugly car

08/02, 8:45 PM

posted by:

gtv6

I agree, it does look a little like the Celica. The headlights are terrible. I think they need to build the dodge demon. Normally I don’t like aggressively styled cars, but with a roadster that small, I think you need an aggressive look. That’s the problem with the miata.

08/02, 10:10 PM

posted by:

V-series

Solstice GXP all the way!! 260hp, 260ft/lb of torque, in a 2900lb car. 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. It outruns all of its competition… BMW Z4, Porsche Boxster, S2000, 350Z, MR2, and the MX-5. Plus, its American made so you know it will run forever.

08/03, 2:27 AM

posted by:

GBilbo070

Dont worry you know that it isnt going to look even cloe to that.

08/03, 6:46 AM

posted by:

RicardoHead

I want a Solstice GXP coupe. It’s like a modern 240Z which was the best cheap well-built sportscar of all time.

08/03, 8:08 AM

posted by:

Syrax

copperhead anyday…almost 10 years and still a good design.

08/03, 8:15 AM

posted by:

global_lightning

In the U.S. call it the Fuego II

08/03, 8:33 AM

posted by:

maximus

it looks retarded

08/03, 10:08 AM

posted by:

1487_GM_SALES

Yay, so renault is joining the girlie roadster group.

Solstice and Sky should remain at the top of the roadster class. Nobody can trust renault anymore cause their reliabililty has always been horrid. It’s actually worse than the Miata.

08/03, 11:36 AM

posted by:

AMGoff

since when is renault a desirable brand? even I’d take a Japanese car over a French one.

08/03, 12:05 PM

posted by:

nitinsharma1000

and soltice and sky are more reliable and better interior quality than miata. prove it 1487_GM_SALES is u are a man that is.

08/03, 12:42 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Looks like a lotus.

Miata and knockoffs, ranked best to worst

1 Solstice/Sky
2 Z3
3 Boxster
4 This Renault
5 S2000 (a honda not at the bottom?)
6 MR2

08/03, 12:46 PM

posted by:

1487_GM_SALES

The Solstice and Sky shouldn’t even be in that list moron. You’re comparing one of the hottest cars out there with a bunch of pansy mobiles. It’s like comparing a Vette with a Civic.

08/03, 2:19 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

I messed up.
Miata should be between boxster and renault.

GM sales: Why should the solstice and sky not be there?

The only thing a vette and a civic have in common are four wheels.

For one, a person with a brain would buy a Vette.

08/03, 2:21 PM

posted by:

1487_GM_SALES

The Solstice and the Sky are above the others in performance, quality and certainly reliability. They’re hot right now. The rest of your list is filled with a bunch of loser pansy-mobiles. That is what I meant.

08/03, 2:22 PM

posted by:

1487_GM_SALES

The Solstice and the Sky are the Covette
The rest are the Civic.

One is a top pick, the rest a for losers.

08/03, 3:04 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

holy crap gm sales called someone a moron, now thats irony at its finest.
isnt the miata an mg ripoff then?

08/03, 3:11 PM

posted by:

TOZO

Might have done better with a rebadged Nissan Z.

08/03, 3:17 PM

posted by:

Htay5500

the miata has been around for 17 years, and the sky/solstice have only bee around for a year. how are they succeding the miata in quality/reliability?

08/03, 3:53 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

CTS the miata could be called an MG ripoff, but that sort of car faded away back when the fiero and original mr2 were on the market. The miata represented the return of that type of car to american popularity.

htay: I don’t have a problem with the quality of the miata, but compared to all it’s knockoffs, it’s underpowered, overpriced and feminine

I laugh at any “man,” that drives a miata, and at any women older than 22 who drives one

and you meant “exceeding,” not “succeding.” I stand firm that the GM twins are of higher quality and will prove more durable

08/03, 4:00 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

GM sales: They’re all 4-cylinder convertible type cars (’cept boxster and some z3s), not quite with the balls-out power of a sports car, but zippier that a piece of excrement such as a yugo or civic.

Not my cup of tea, but if I wanted such a car, i’d get the sky.

Should’ve bought a Saturn years ago, instead of a honda

08/03, 4:21 PM

posted by:

Me

So, jackjimturkey, you laugh at men and women who drive miatas. It’s too bad you would never drive one (or its “knock-offs”) or risk being called feminine, right? I’m sure the “balls-out” Hennessy Viper in your garage exudes your testosterone levels enough. Don’t worry, you’re covered. But, then again, if you didn’t drive them how can you come up with your cool little random lists of best to worst?? Oh and good call lumping the Civic in with a Yugo. BTW, I don’t have a miata, but they are a blast to drive.

08/03, 5:31 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

i wouldnt call any of them a ripoff in all reality, this segment goes back 60 years.

08/03, 6:00 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

I’m not concerned about being called feminine, I just think the miata is. I wish I had a Hennessy Viper, but i don’t. Viper’s not really my speed, give me a maranello.

Me: If I did drive a miate, you think i would admit it?

08/03, 6:12 PM

posted by:

Htay5500

I wouldnt get a miata, but I know some guys who used those cars as track/auto-x cars. I tried it, and the handling, and response was good! though the suspension and a stabilizer bar was in it. over all, it is a great car. but I’m into subarus for now.

08/03, 7:05 PM

posted by:

Blakkarr

It’ll probably sell as a Nissan in the US, like their Versa is really a Clio. That would be nice though if unlikely.

08/03, 7:12 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

htay: I like subarus, because they’re tough.

versa is really a clio? Didn’t know that

08/03, 9:52 PM

posted by:

AMGoff

I’m all for defending Detroit… but GMsales makes that Assclown Deanster look like a well informed, eloquent, gentleman… I’m really not quite sure who you’re helping there pal.

08/04, 2:15 PM

posted by:

Htay5500

jack: reault & nissan have some sort of conjunction together. dont remember what other nissan cars is based on renults or the other way around.

AMGoff: I like GM (for their corvette and silverado, avalanche too as well as some caddies, tahoes and suburbans), but fanboys like v-series and gmsales piss the **** off me. I respect domestic fans, not their fanboys, or whoever bags on other imports/domestics ignorantly, but I just don’t like fanboys at all.

08/04, 2:25 PM

posted by:

Htay5500

not to mention their muscle cars.

08/05, 11:34 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Someone up higher mentioned the clio/versa connection. I’m in an occupation that requires skepticism, so I looked it up.

08/06, 3:16 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

well said htay5500

08/06, 3:50 PM

posted by:

sharpie

“Miata and knockoffs. . .” by jackjimturkey

You can’t call Miata knockoffs and rank Sol/Sky #1. They have the look and that’s about all they have. S2000 beat both the Miata and Sky/Sol hands down, but we are talking a lot more money, same thing with the Z3. So again, your list is comparing orange to apple. Why don’t you throw a Porsche in there then?

For the money, Miata reigns, but doesn’t look as nice as Sky/Sol. The Renault is uglier than any roadster I can remember, and yes it is ranked behind the Demon unless the Made in China car is no more than tin can on wheels.

FYI, there are devoted fans or cults following the Miata both in the US and worldwide since the 1990s. So much for your ill-informed knockoffs comment.

08/06, 5:18 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Boxter us in there: it’s porsche’s version of the miata. a honda will only beat a mazda or gm product to the junkyard

sharpie: what are you talking about. I thought i made it perfectly clear that I considered gave the miata credit for reviving interest in the “small roadster” segment.

The other cars, even though they may be better than the miata, are still knockoffs. had the miata flopped, would there be a solstice? No.

The dodge demon looks cool, and I hope they make it, but I’m not buying one

 
 
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