A player in the van market for 120 years, Groupe Renault is upgrading its light commercial vehicle range with enhanced styling, connectivity and bespoke features. And to further satisfy its professional customers, the new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) boast quality levels comparable to those of passenger cars.
Since launch in 1980, Master and Trafic have established themselves as essential models in the LCV market, having sold in over four million units. To respond to new customer needs, New Master and New Trafic have gained stronger design, powertrains and equipment:
▪ Imposing and meticulous design
▪ New engines
▪ Bespoke cabins for professionals
▪ All-conquering robustness
▪ Driving comfort
▪ Connected onboard experience.
Revealed in April 2019 with a new “Urban Gray” body color, they will be launched in Europe starting in September 2019. Both models feature the new visual identity of the front end of Renault LCVs.
By improving the standards of its LCV and passenger-transport range, Groupe Renault is reasserting its determination to move from European leader to world leader consistent with the objectives of its strategic plan, Drive the Future (2017-2022).
This major ambition is based on quantified objectives:
▪ Increase LCV sales by over 40%
▪ Double market coverage from 24% to 50%
▪ Remain the electric LCV leader by marketing an electric version of all of its vans (excluding pick-ups)
▪ Become the world LCV leader with sales of over 2.5 million units a year, thanks to the Alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi.
New Renault Master: muscular design, power and robustness
Featuring a new front end, New Master has also been redesigned inside. The cabin scores higher on perceived quality as well as functionality and practicality, with chrome inserts, new upholstery, and a cockpit equipped with an enhanced mobile office. The new 2.3 dCi engines provide more power and torque while reducing fuel consumption. Driving is safer and more seamless thanks to new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). New Master Z.E., Renault’s fourth electric vehicle, joined the Group’s LCV line-up in 2017.
Since launch in 1980, Renault Master has ranked at the forefront of the large van market:
▪ 2.4 million units sold, 118,176 of which in 2018
▪ Sold in over 50 countries
▪ Master has set sales records every year since 2014
▪ Renault launched Master 2 in 1997 and Master 3 in 2010
▪ Master is available in 350 versions with three heights, four lengths and useful load volume of 8 to 22 m3.
Produced at the Batilly plant (France)
Master has been produced at the Renault Sovab plant in Batilly since 1980. The plant has nearly 2,700 employees and has hired 370 people in the last four years. In parallel, the site’s business activity generates nearly 5,000 indirect jobs locally. Eighty-four per cent of the plant’s suppliers are based in France. Produced at Renault’s Batilly plant in France and Curitiba plant in Brazil since 2009, Renault Master is the market leader in France, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Brazil and Morocco.
Extra style, with no compromises on functionality
Front-end metamorphosis for greater robustness
The comprehensive restyle is consistent with the shared visual identity of the other models in Renault’s LCV
range. New Master gains extra robustness through a more expressive and dynamic front end:
▪ New vertical-design grille
▪ The C-Shape light signature, fit as standard, embodying the identity of the Renault range
▪ A higher hood line
▪ Reinforced bumpers and front wings.
The contrast between the vertical emphasis of the grille and the horizontal emphasis of the hood lends New Master a strong and powerful look. A handlebar-shaped chrome grille and additional chrome strips bring a touch of elegance and sophistication to the front-end design.
New Master is being launched with new opaque body paint, “Urban Gray”.
Enhanced interior design: top-quality materials and pure styling
New Master has taken on passenger-car cues. The interior gains in quality through the use of higher-quality, darker and less glossy materials. The designers have created more horizontal, simple and pure lines.
The elegant and functional interior features:
▪ A new restyled dashboard with large open or closed storage spaces
▪ Chrome inserts on the air vents, air-conditioning buttons and new steering wheel
▪ A new gear-stick handle, black with chrome surrounds
▪ New, more high-tech upholstery
▪ A dashboard equipped with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen
▪ The navigation screen is fully integrated in the central area of the dashboard whatever the multimedia system used, be it R-LINK Evolution or Media Nav Evolution.
More power with the 2.3 dCi engine
New Master is powered by a new range of 2.3 dCi engines more adapted than ever to the needs of professionals.
▪ The engines comply with the Euro 6d-temp / Euro 6d standards (depending on vehicle volume and mass) and are equipped with Twin Turbo technology.
▪ Power and torque have been increased, to a maximum 180 hp and 400 Nm, for a dynamic and responsive drive.
▪ The engines reduce fuel consumption by up to 1 l/100 km (NEDC correlated figures).
Depending on the version, the new powerplants are available with a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.
They are fitted with the latest pollution control technologies, including a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system.
Capacious cargo area designed for efficiency
The largest mobile office in its category
New Master has one of the largest storage volumes in its category, at up to 105 liters. For greater practicality, the cockpit has been redesigned with:
▪ A new “Easy Life” folding tray above the glove box, which unfolds with a simple push, providing:
– An additional work space
– A lunch space equipped with a large, central cup holder
▪ A capacious 10.5-liter “Easy Life” drawer for easier access
▪ An induction smartphone charger
▪ A docking station for tablets at the center of the dashboard
▪ High-performance connected multimedia solutions:
– R-LINK Evolution
– Media Nav Evolution (compatible with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™, depending on the version).
To improve the driving experience, particular work went into the man-machine interfaces on the New Master dashboard.
LED lighting and ergonomic handles for easier loading and onboard work
The loading area on New Master has been optimized so that professionals can work more efficiently in all conditions:
▪ New LED lighting opposite the sliding door and at the rear in the central part of the ceiling
– five times more lighting power in the cargo area
▪ New ergonomic door handles for easy entries and exits
– One minimum at the rear, two with a sliding door, and three with two sliding doors
– Robust, easy to grip and ideally positioned for excellent rear and side access.
“All Around Safety” driving experience
Equipped with a lane departure warning system, rear park assist and a reversing camera, New Master is available with new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to make driving easier and ensure the complete peace of mind of drivers and passengers:
▪ Front Park Assist
▪ Rear View Assist, with a screen on the upper part of the windscreen providing optimal rear visibility for medium and long distances
▪ Blind Spot Warning, alerting drivers of objects in their blind spots
▪ Side Wind Assist (standard), a vehicle stabilization system that activates at speeds of over 70 km/h and corrects sideways deviations by up to 50% in extreme conditions
▪ Automatic lights and wipers (standard)
▪ Active Emergency Braking System, active both in cities and on highways.
New Master: bespoke excellence
Available in nearly 350 versions, with three heights and four lengths, New Renault Master is perfectly adapted to the needs of all professionals.
▪ The chassis cabs, available in front- and rear-wheel-drive, are designed to withstand heavy loads.
▪ New Master comes in a broad range of versions with maximum authorized laden masses of 2.8 to 4.5 tonnes and useful volume ranging from 8 to 22 m3.
▪ New Master is available in a variety of body types, including van, seven-seater deep cab for transporting teams to construction sites, tipper, platform, high-volume, chassis and flatbed. In all, it exists in 500 possible varieties.
In 2018, 38.5% of Master vehicles were converted. The conversions can be relatively simple, such as adding a workshop to the loading area, or more technical and complex, including vans with boom lifts, vans for firefighters, and vans for transporting horses.
Master Z.E., the all-electric version
Particularly suited to last-mile deliveries in city centers, the large electric van, New Master Z.E., addresses all motorists placing a premium on environmental issues. It has a real-life range of 120 km (*), adapted to daily last-mile deliveries or other professional uses in urban environments.
33 kWh battery
▪ New Master Z.E. is equipped with the new-generation lithium-ion Z.E. 33 battery with 33 kWh and optimized electronic management.
▪ A complete charge takes six hours using a 32A / 7.4 kW WallBox.
57 kW motor
▪ New Master Z.E. is powered by the R75 electric motor with high energy efficiency and power of 57 kW (equivalent to 76 hp).
▪ Tried and tested on ZOE and Kangoo Z.E., the motor makes New Master Z.E. ideal for use in and around the city.
▪ The motor is manufactured at Renault’s Cléon plant in France, the group’s flagship facility for high value-added engines and gearboxes.
Six versions to meet the diverse needs of professionals
▪ New Master Z.E. is available in six versions with a choice of three lengths and two heights.
▪ The four van versions have a useful volume of 8 to 13 m3.
▪ The two platform cab versions available in lengths L2 and L3 are ideal bases for conversions into high- volume bodies for transporting loads of up to 22 m3.
(*) Range is always greater than 80 km in the most severe use cases (heavy loads, driving in the city center with frequent stops, winter conditions).