Caught! New Renault Master on Cold Weather Testing
The French van manufacturer Renault has sent its new Master for cold weather testing and is expected to bring the model to market by the end of this year or early next year. After the end of the cooperation with Opel, the only confirmed cooperation partner so far is Renault-Group partner Nissan. The successor appears significantly more angular on the first images from winter test drives in the far north, the shorter hood is more compact, and the front section and windshield stand steeper. The sensor technology in the front section is clearly visible. The headlights appear significantly more distinctive and are positioned more horizontally than vertically as before. The roof section of the standard version with a high roof and standard wheelbase slopes slightly towards the rear, which should be beneficial for aerodynamics and fuel consumption. In terms of the chassis, the individual wheel suspension remains at the front and the rigid axle with leaf springs at the rear; a trailer hitch is optionally available. The loading edge of the front-wheel-drive model seems to be slightly lower than before. The mirrors appear more square than rectangular and should provide good visibility to the rear and blind spot.
On the drive side, the package of the new Kangoo is likely to be fully adopted. So far, the recently updated Master E-Tech does have more payload thanks to an increase to 3.5 or even 3.8 tons (previously 3.1 tons), as well as especially the new battery with a capacity of 52 kWh and now 204 instead of the previous 120 kilometers with a small 33-kWh battery. However, it still has to make do with a relatively weak E-motor of the previous generation with 57 hp. At least there is now a 22 kW DC charger, but this also falls far behind in comparison.
The last facelift in 2019 brought a new front design and an update in the interior. However, important driver assistance features like distance, emergency braking, and active lane assist, which would help the Kangoo achieve level 2 of automated driving, are now missing. All of this is expected to be on board with the new update. In addition to the already available hydrogen version for long-distance and heavy-duty requirements, as well as the E-Tech electric variant for urban and suburban applications, the new Master is likely to feature an updated diesel engine compliant with the latest Euro-6-D standard, which is unlikely without a double SCR catalytic converter. An automated transmission like the Kangoo's is also likely to be included.
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