Renault and Zahid Renault launch new 2009 Safrane Challenge in Saudi market

The new Renault Safrane was launched under the theme "Take the Safrane Challenge" - a unique opportunity for discerning Saudi customers to test and compare it against the leading competitive sedans in its class, within the comfort of Zahid Renault showrooms across Saudi Arabia.

Heading the Renault Asia-Africa delegation was Mr. Katsumi Nakamura, Executive Vice President, Leader of the Asia Africa Management Committee, joined by Mr. Thierry Koskas, Asia-Africa Commercial Vice President; Mr. Jean Paul Franco, Director and Controller Sales & Marketing; Mr. Christian Bocquet, Quality and Services Director; Mr. Mohamed Bennani, Managing Director, Renault GCC; Mr. Amaury Galliez, GCC General Manager- After Sales and Mr. Ayumi Kurose, Executive Secretary, Asia Africa Region.

"This top-level participation reflects not only the importance of the Saudi market to Renault, but also our belief that the new Safrane offers Saudi families the best value for money proposition in the segment,"

said Alain Sykora, Director Automotive at Zahid Tractor.

"The new Safrane is a stylish and roomy sedan that comes with the acclaimed V6 2.3-litre engine developed by the Renault Nissan Alliance,"

said Yousuf Khaja, Renault Franchise Manager.

He added, "Manufactured in the ultra modern plant of Busan, the Safrane is the second Renault model after Koleos to be industrialized by Renault Samsung Motors, the 80.1%-owned Renault subsidiary that has been rewarded for five consecutive years as the No. 1 Korean automotive maker in terms of product quality."

"With a 3-year, 100 000-km bumper-to-bumper warranty, Renault Safrane is the first model to benefit from the new Renault Customer First program," Khaja said.

Available in 3 trim levels (PE : 2.0l ; SE & LE with a V6 2.3), the Safrane looks dynamic with 16-inch aluminum wheels and expressive headlamps, grille and bumper blending harmoniously into the sleek body (color options are white, white pearl, metallic and neo black, glamour beige, olive and sporty silver).

Smart Card technology allows access into a luxurious cabin with mahogany brown, wood-grain refinements. A fingertip-controlled audio entertainment system (with MP3 option) at the 4-spoke sporty steering wheel offers a concert hall experience through 7-way speakers, including an 8-inch sub-woofer.

The refinements extend to minimal noise levels from road and engine, and independent climate control settings for driver and passenger sides, which make the Safrane's air conditioning one of the best in the regional market.

"The concept of stress-free motoring and ergonomic simplicity can also be seen in the Driver Memory Seat, which automatically adjusts to each driver's preferred seating position," Khaja said. "Other practical features include rain-sensing wipers which automatically activate in the advent of a rare regional downpour, and headlamps which turn on automatically when dark conditions are encountered, such as when driving through tunnels. Rear parking sensors are also provided."

The V6 (5-speed automatic transmission plus manual mode) delivers a smooth 170 ps at 6,000 rpm. Also available is the brand new 2.0 litre 4-cylinder engine from the Renault-Nissan Alliance whose torque and fuel economy is the highest among its peers at 20kg.m and 9,3l/100km respectively (automatic transmission). Besides, the 2.0 engine weighs only 103 kg, 16 kg lighter than the previous engine.

All these coupled with cutting-edge engine electronic controls such as CVTC (Continuously Variable Timing Control), VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control), and ETC (Electronic Throttle Control), make the Safrane Challenge worth taking for motorists wanting to determine for themselves the leader in the mid-size sedan segment.

The Safrane Challenge is now underway at all Zahid Renault showrooms.