In Depth: Renault Grand Modus and New Modus

The second-generation Modus and Grand Modus has arrived, drawing on Renault's expertise as pioneers of the MPV. Described as a compact 'minispace' vehicle, the Modus is a 'nippy' cabin-focused city car styled to be both quirky and spirited. The Grand Modus aims to be a family car catering for all occupants and needs, be they family holidays or load-lugging, with a thoughtfully-designed stowage system and functional but bright and airy interior.

Press Release

Renault has brought fresh impetus to its B-segment line-up with a generously dimensioned MPV and a cleverly compact 'minispace'. They are Grand Modus and New Modus.

Renault pioneered the MPV. It has lavished that expertise on Grand Modus. With an extra 16 centimetres in length (4,034mm), generous luggage space (up to 410dm3), and sliding, 60:40 split or fold-flat rear bench, its sheer versatility makes it ideal for new uses like family holidays or weekends with friends. The bright and airy interior, roominess and three regular rear seats enhance travelling comfort for all occupants. It also boasts plenty of thoughtfully designed stowage spaces and functional features like the aviation-style fold-down tables � once again all occupants are catered for. An MPV that performs on the road, Grand Modus has all it takes to become the main car in any household.

New Modus targets multi-car households in search of a small, nippy city car (it is just 3,874mm long) � its turning circle between kerbs (which depends on the version) can be as little as 9.9 metres. This 'minispace' has an expressively styled, assertive personality. A dash of chrome on the grille and between the rear lights adds a touch of class and elegance to some higher ranger models. New Modus has stayed loyal to the spirit of the first generation with its warm and friendly interior.

Both Grand Modus and New Modus are based on the B platform shared by the Renault-Nissan Alliance � a hallmark of comfort and efficiency. Both vehicles come with a wide range of environmentally friendly powerplant packages that are high-performance and fuel-efficient. They include the 100hp TCE and the 85hp and 100hp 1.5 dCi (available with particulate filter). In addition to its outstanding CO2 emission performance, the new Modus family is 'eco-engineered', as exemplified by its instrument panel that drew accolades in 2005 for using 4.5kg of recycled plastic. Five of the six powerplants available meet the standards of Renault�s eco� environmental appellation.

The first-generation Modus stood out as the first compact 'urbanite' to secure EuroNCAP�s top five-star safety rating. Based on the same platform, Grand Modus and New Modus gain the full benefit of Renault�s safety expertise. Both bristle with active and passive safety systems and features that include programmed deformation, ABS, ESP, up to six airbags, additional cornering lights, tyre-pressure monitoring and cruise control.

The wraps first came off Modus in 2004. By October 2007, more than 395,000 units had been sold worldwide, which has helped Renault keep its place as a B-segment leader. It invested �110 million in Grand Modus and New Modus, manufactured exclusively at Valladolid in Spain.

Grand Modus and New Modus will come to market on December 21, 2007, in Italy, then in January and February 2008 across the rest of Western Europe.

Grand Modus and New Modus � a complementary offering

Renault has given fresh impetus to its B-segment line-up with the addition of an MPV and a 'minispace' � Grand Modus and New Modus. New Modus allies carefully crafted compactness with the manoeuvrability of a small urban car. As an MPV that boasts a host of cleverly worked features, Grand Modus has all it takes to become the main car in any household. Sixteen centimetres of extra length, a large boot, a sliding three-seat rear bench, a comprehensive equipment level and a genuine ability to perform on the road all combine to make it truly versatile. Grand Modus and New Modus have assertive personalities and expressive styling. A dash of chrome on the grille and between the rear lights adds a touch of class and elegance to some higher range models.

An extra asset in the small car segment

One B-segment customer in six buys an MPV, which accounted for 17% of the segment's sales in 2006, that is to say 4.3% of all passenger cars sold in Europe. Since it was first marketed in September 2004, the comfortable, road-going, high-quality, reliable Modus has amply satisfied its customers. Renault has now rejuvenated its Modus line-up with the New Modus 'minispace' designed for customers looking for a vehicle that is compact and manoeuvres easily. To satisfy demand for greater versatility, Renault is marketing another new offering � Grand Modus. With a spacious boot among its many advantages, this MPV has all it takes to become the main car in two-car households.

New Modus: appealing style, assertive personality

With an overall length of 3,874mm (82mm longer than the original Modus), a wheelbase of 2,482mm and a slightly raked rear screen, New Modus has an appealing style. The expressive design of its headlamps, front bumpers with broader beading, and reinforced rear-end protection that blends smoothly with the bodywork place New Modus firmly in the MPV category.

Underscoring the tailgate are the newly designed rear lights, with chrome beading running
between them on some versions. Depending on the equipment level and country, a touch of class and elegance is added by the chrome grille, tinted rear-windows, 15- and 16-inch aluminium wheels, and the body-coloured door handles and bumpers.

Grand Modus shows the Renault MPV pedigree

Renault pioneered the MPV and has lavished that expertise on Grand Modus. It is longer than New Modus, with regard to both its overall length and wheelbase which have been lengthened by 160 and 93mm respectively and now measure 4,034 and 2,575mm. The design of this status-enhancing MPV sits easily with the extra centimetres and loyally reflects the New Modus styling. The addition of new quarterlights increases the glazed area and further sharpens occupants� sense of interior space.

An airy, modular layout and spacious boot

With its generously dimensioned luggage area of 410dm3 when its sliding, 60:40 split, fold-flat rear bench is set to its foremost position, Grand Modus offers a whole range of new uses, like family holidays or weekends with friends. The bright and airy interior, roominess and three regular rear seats put the accent on travelling comfort for all occupants. Grand Modus and New Modus boast plenty of glazed area, which makes the cabin outstandingly airy and sharpens the sense of interior space. They both cater for all occupants with plenty of thoughtfully designed stowage spaces and functional features like the central overhead aircraft-style stowage.

Grand Modus: the main family car to boot

Grand Modus has one of the biggest boots in its class. Its capacity ranges from 305 to 410dm3, depending on the position of the rear benchseat � a gain of 136 dm3 or 50% over the first Modus. Flat-folding the rear seat yields boot space of up to 1,454 dm3 (an extra 171dm3) and a capacity to carry loads of up to 1,278mm in length. Extensive, thoughtful work went into achieving this result, including a longer rear overhang (by 118mm over the first-generation Modus), new boot trimming and a new small-size rear wiper motor. The low, 605mm loading sill makes it easier to load heavy, bulky items. The contents of the boot are protected from prying eyes by a supplementary parcel shelf and special awning that adjust to match all rear seat positions.

Meanwhile, New Modus offers a boot with a volume of up to 293dm3 (19dm3 greater than the original Modus) and 1,302dm3 when the triptic rear bench is folded flat. (1,195dm3 with fixed rear bench.

A friendly, modular layout

Grand Modus and New Modus have remained loyal to the original Modus world with friendly, modular layouts that make driver and passengers feel at home. Every trim level has its own special personality. The new range of upholstery reflects this sense of friendliness and cosiness: Duo (the Expression equipment level) and Dark Charcoal Leather (optional with the Dynamique equipment level).

Occupants can see the central instrument panel from wherever they are sitting � its uncluttered design makes it even easier to read, while the sleeker cowl houses the soberly, unobtrusively designed instruments. The driving position, too, is in line with first-generation philosophy. It combines saloon car posture with the panoramic view of an MPV. The height-adjustable seat and more vertically-positioned steering wheel enable drivers to find the ideal driving position. Getting in and out is an easy matter thanks to the high clearance of the seats which are soft yet hold passengers firmly in place.

The New Modus family manages the feat of producing outstanding roominess in a very compact car. Generous roof clearance of 1,031mm at the front and 900mm at the rear seat caters for even the biggest-framed passengers. The rear bench in Grand Modus provides three permanent seats which make it ideally suited for new uses such as holidays or a weekend away with friends. The extensive work on the padding of the rear bench seats has ensured that they afford support and comfort whatever the driving conditions and occupants� height. The benchseat is mounted on a
slide rail that travels through 150mm to increase either luggage space or rear passenger
comfort with leg room of between 209 and 70mm. The 60:40 split, fold-flat bench is intuitively easy to use. The two pull-handles are located under the seat and easy to reach. You can slide the seat or fold down its back with one hand whether you are in the cabin or the boot.

A brightly-lit cabin and excellent visibility

Grand Modus and New Modus are outstandingly bright and airy with a glazed area that is almost as extensive as that of a higher range MPV. Grand Modus boasts up to 4.812m2 (unenamelled, with panoramic sunroof) and New Modus 4.738m2. The very forward windscreen affords driver and passengers a view that dominates the road, while the outside A-pillars and elimination of blind spots help seeing and being seen. With its 1,878m2 of clear, unenamelled glazed area the panoramic sunroof emphasizes the occupants� sense of interior space. This feature is optional on both vehicles and comprises two flush-fit panels: the front one slides open, the back one is fixed in place. It is controlled by a one-touch rotator switch with anti-pinch as standard. In addition to its
ajar position, the sunroof -which travels through 500mm - can be set to one-third, two-thirds and wide-open positions.

A host of stowage spaces for all occupants

Grand Modus features new stowage:

- Aviation-style overhead central stowage system (new): Close by and easy to reach for the driver, this stowage space comprises two compartments which open at different angles � 80� at the front, 60� at the rear � to make it easier for all occupants to access. The front compartment has a capacity of 2.8 litres, the rear one three litres. A built-in mechanism stops objects from falling out in the event of emergency braking.

- Two aviation-style fold-down tables incorporated into the back of the front seats (new): This system is practical for rear passengers, who can use it on long journeys to hold glasses, plastic cups, cans, etc.

- Two drawers beneath the driver�s and front passenger�s seats are ideally designed for heavy items.

- Driver�s glasses cubby.

- A flap built-in to the front passenger�s seat which is useful for storing items like a handbag while keeping it close by.

- Two under-floor lockers.

- Dashboard stowage

- An 11-litre glove compartment.

- A cubby and cup-holder at the base of the central console, which is ideal for cell phones and smart cards.

- A small tray between the two front seats.

- Front-door bins that can hold a 1.5-litre bottle.

- Map pockets in the backs of the driver�s and front passenger�s seats.

- A loose-change tray next to the gear lever (new): Grand Modus has a fully carpeted boot and boasts numerous practical fittings and functional features:

- Tie-down hooks and retention nets that prevent items from being knocked over or rolling about in the boot (Stowage Pack)

- A net pocket on the back of the rear bench seat (Stowage Pack)

- A strap that lashes down bottles and jerry cans for easy transportation.

- Three hooks for shopping bags (two in the New Modus).

As practical as ever, Grand Modus and New Modus have an ignition key that folds flat. A legacy from the first Modus, the cycle-rack known as V�lofix is still available. It is easy to fit and remove. V�lofix slides smoothly into sheaths screwed into the rear longerons.

A range of accessories further enhances the cleverly designed stowages and functional features:

- Stowage in the centre armrest (capacity: 1.5 litres).

- A retention net made up of three sections mounted vertically in the boot ensures that luggage remains upright (available for both vehicles).

- A boot tray that protects the boot carpet from staining (available for both vehicles).

- A Modus luggage set, comprising a wheeled suitcase (55x38x20cm), a sling bag (39x30x10cm) and a weekend travel bag (50x44x20cm). Two Modus luggage sets makes optimal use of the boot space in Grand Modus whatever the position of the rear benchseat.

Ecological, economical, high-performance

Grand Modus and New Modus are supremely multifunctional. Both are based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance�s shared B-platform. In their element in the city and on the open road, both offer a wide range of sober, environmentally minded powerplants that can also deliver performance. In addition to low CO2, emission levels, New Modus family powerplants (with the exception of the 110hp 1.6 16V) comply with the requirements necessary for the Renault eco� appellation.

A grand tourer pedigree and supremely manoeuvrable

State-of-the-art adjustable power steering comes as standard in Grand Modus and New Modus. Its settings enhance steering precision and manoeuvrability in urban environments. New Modus has a turning circle of just 9.9 metres between kerbs (and up to 10.4 metres depending on engine and tyres), while for Grand Modus it is 10.2m (and up to 10.7 metres). Their chassis are legacies from the original Modus and combine steering precision with a powerful capacity to absorb vibration and noise. Renault�s engineers tuned the Grand Modus dampers differently to those of New Modus.

The front suspension uses MacPherson geometry with a rectangular lower arm which decouples lateral and longitudinal forces. It is fixed on an isolated subframe which also contributes to comfort by filtering out vibration. The rear suspension is a programmed deflection torsion beam system plus coil springs. The flexible cross-beam profile incorporates a 21mm anti-roll bar for optimum control of body roll. The vertical dampers and long suspension travel ensure rigorously precise yet comfortable handling. Grand Modus has dampers that have been configured to carry a greater weight while maintaining an excellent balance between travelling comfort and roadholding performance.

Powerplant packages to meet multiple needs

The extensive range of engines and gearboxes underlines the performance qualities and
versatility of both Grand and New Modus. Depending on country, four 16-valve petrol engine packages are on offer: the 75hp and 80hp (55kW and 57.5kW) 1.2 16V, the 100hp (74 kW) TCE (98hp/72kW) 1.4 16v and the 110hp (82kW) 1.6 16V. Each of these comes with an electronic throttle linkage and motorized throttle valve for precision control of the fuel feed. They also all meet Euro4 pollution standards and incorporate on-board diagnostic systems which monitor the performance of the anti-pollution systems in real time. When the two vehicles come to market, they will also be available with a choice of three Euro4-compliant diesel engine packages: a 1.5 dCi that develops 70hp (50kW), 85hp (63kW) and 105hp (78kW).

Petrol engine range

- 75/80hp (55kW/57.5 kW) 1.2 16V

With a capacity of 1,149cc, the 1.2 16V engine (D4F) delivers 75hp (55kW) at 5,500rpm and 105Nm (11mkg) of torque at 4,250rpm (80hp/57kW and 108Nm/11mkg respectively when driven through a robotized gearbox).

- 100hp (74kW) TCE

The new Modus family is powered by a 1.2 16V turbocharged petrol engine that develops 100hp, known as the TCE (for Turbo Control Efficiency). It combines the fuel consumption of a 1.2-litre engine with the power of a 1.4 and the torque of a 1.6 powerplant. Its low inertia turbocharger has a lag time that has been reduced to a minimum by downsizing turbine and compressor. The 100hp (74kW) power output and peak torque of 145Nm are obtained at 5,500rpm and 3,000rpm respectively. The combination of a downsized engine coupled with a low inertia turbocharger yields sprightly performance even at very low revs.

- 98hp (72kW) 1.4 16V

The 1.4 16V engine (K4J) is available in certain countries. With its 1,390cc capacity, it develops 98hp (72kW) at 5,700rpm and records peak torque of 127Nm (13mkg) at 4,250rpm.

- 110hp (82 kW) 1.6 16V

The 1.6 16V engine (K4M) develops 110hp (82kW) at 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 151Nm (15.8mkg) at 4,250rpm. This 1,598cc powerplant has variable inlet valve timing and is available with the four-speed automatic proactive gearbox (DP0).

Diesel engine range

- 70hp (50kW) / 85hp (63kW) / 105hp (78kW) 1.5 dCi

The three versions of the 1.5 dCi (K9K) are identical to those that power the first-generation Modus. Widely acclaimed for their fuel efficiency and for the quality of their acoustic performance, these 1,461cc engines operate with a second-generation fuel injection system. Three power outputs are available � 70hp (50kW) at 4,000rpm, 85hp (63kW) at 3,750rpm and 105hp (78kW) at 4,000rpm. In terms of torque, the 70hp engine delivers 160Nm (16.3mkg), the 85hp engine 200Nm (20.4mkg), and the 105hp 240Nm (24.5mkg) making the 1.5 dCi particularly responsive at low engine speeds.

All three packages boast very low fuel consumption, while the 85 and 105hp versions come with a
periodic regeneration particulate filter integrated into the exhaust line that operates in all driving conditions, even when the vehicle is at a standstill with the engine idling. The 1.5 dCi 85 (with particulate filter) and the 105hp engine (with or without particulate filter) is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the 85hp 1.5 dCi can also be ordered with five-speed robotized transmission.

Best-in-class CO2 emission levels

The 85hp 1.5 dCi Grand Modus boasts CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, while the 80hp 1.2 16V robotized gearbox version produces 134g of CO2 per kilometre. These figures make Grand Modus the CO2 emission leader in the B-segment MPV category, irrespective of whether they are powered by diesel or petrol engines.

Grand Modus has a 51-litre fuel tank which gives it a greater range than New Modus, the tank of which holds two litres less.

To qualify for the Renault eco� appellation, vehicles must comply with the following criteria:

- They must either emit less than 140g of CO2 per km or else run on biofuels.
- They must be manufactured in ISO 14001-certified factories.
- They must be 95% end-of-life reusable and contain at least 5% of plastics sourced from recycling.

With the exception of the 110hp 1.6 16V engine, all Grand Modus and New Modus powerplants comply with the requirements necessary for the Renault eco� appellation. All are designed to ensure that 95% of their mass will have a second life. Fairings and dashboards are made from recycled plastics, which account for 7% of all plastics used in both vehicles. Indeed, Renault received accolades in 2005 for its eco-engineered Modus dashboard which uses 4.5kg of recycled plastic.

Regarding noise levels, Grand Modus and New Modus benefit from the progress achieved on the original Modus. Noise reduction is factored into the design stage by digitizing and computing vibration and acoustics. Both vehicles have cut noise levels by 50% to 71dBA � 3dBA lower than stipulated by European regulations.

Lower running costs and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty

Grand Modus and New Modus make life easy for their owners thanks to their long servicing intervals. Oil changes are every 30,000km for petrol engines and every 20,000km for diesels (the 100hp TCE requires oil changes every 20,000km and benefits from the oil control system). Spark plugs should be replaced every 120,000km, air filters every 60,000 and diesel oil filters every 40,000km. All engines boast low fuel consumption which is further enhanced by the electric power steering which produces a gain of between 0.2 and 0.3litres per 100km depending on drive cycle. In order to reduce repair costs - and therefore insurance costs - both vehicles have protective features specially designed for mild impacts and RCAR1 damage assessment tests, which helps keep insurance premiums down. The use of tempered aluminium for the front cross-member and polypropylene for the rear beam absorbs practically all the energy generated by impacts at low speed.

*Tests used by insurance companies to assess the reparability of a vehicles. Tests consist of two real front and rear collisions at 15kph.

A safety pedigree

The first-generation Modus was the first city car to secure the top five-star safety rating in tests run by the independent road safety body EuroNCAP in August 2004. Developed on the same platform, Grand Modus and New Modus are packed with Renault�s expertise. Their running gear ensures excellent levels of active safety and both vehicles are equipped with Renault�s third-generation System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3). To further increase comfort and safety they propose
numerous best-in-class technological solutions: a tyre pressure monitoring system, additional cornering lights and cruise control.

Safe, predictable handling

Roadholding, the cornerstone of active safety, is a strong point of Grand Modus and New Modus, both of which were built on the Renault-Nissan Alliance�s shared B platform. Body roll has been mastered. The 21mm diameter anti-roll bars lend Grand Modus and New Modus neutral, predictable handling by minimizing body-roll. The generously dimensioned braking system affords bite and power that are constant even when the brakes are repeatedly applied. Front and rear brake disks are both very wide and thick: 260mm wide at the front and 240mm at the rear (for the 85 and 100hp 1.5 dCi), and 22mm thick at the front and 8mm at the rear. In keeping with the original Modus, Grand Modus and New Modus both boast Bosch 8.0 ABS with electronic brake distribution and emergency brake assist as standard. They also feature ESP with optional understeer control. When pulling away at the wheel of Grand or New Modus, the ASR traction control system switches on using the ESP inhibit switch. This function kicks in automatically each
time the engine is turned on or the speed of the vehicle exceeds 50kph. Finally, the engine torque overrun regulation function (MSR) avoids any risk of the driven wheels locking by controlling the engine torque when the accelerator is released or slow down on a low-grip surface.

Numerous technologies serving safety

To ensure safety and comfort Grand Modus and New Modus boast a comprehensive range of other features which are either standard or optional depending on equipment level.

The rear parking proximity sensor facilitates parking, particularly in towns and cities (City
Pack, with electric door mirrors). The practical cruise control and speed limiter control is mounted on the central console next to the parking brake. A dashboard display informs the driver when the cruise control and speed limiter function is activated.

Grand Modus and New Modus feature additional cornering lights, a legacy from the original Modus. A dedicated computer and a lamp fixed at 40� built into the headlamp unit gradually activate the cornering lights as the vehicles goes into a bend to widen the driver�s field of vision. This function is deactivated in reverse gear.

Grand Modus and New Modus come with a tyre pressure monitoring system which warns the driver of inappropriate pressure in any tyre or tyres. The system can detect slow punctures and mismatches between a vehicle�s speed and its tyre pressure. A light sensor automatically activates headlamps when it grows dark, while a rain sensor turns on the windscreen wipers and adjusts their speed according to rainfall. The flat-blade wipers sweep clear a wide area of the windscreen in order to provide a clearer vision.

Optimal protection for all passengers

The passive safety features that Grand Modus and New Modus boast are all inherited from the first Modus. Their body structures are designed to resist impacts, absorb energy and make the cabin into a survival cell which protects occupants from intruding mechanical parts.

In addition to the programmed deformation structure, the front end components (engine, gearbox, battery, gearbox, and accessories) are designed to fold into each other in the event of impact. The steering column retracts, while the brake pedal floors to reduce the danger of damage to the legs, and padding protects the shins and ankles of the front passenger and driver.

Grand Modus and New Modus boast rigid central pillars with programmed articulation that lessens the effects of side impact. The way in which the central pillar deforms helps to protect occupants by holding them against the padding built into the door panels and restricting any injury caused by the intrusion of parts into the cabin.

Restraint systems are designed to round off the work on the cars� structure and optimize the protection of all occupants wherever they are sitting and whatever the type of impact. Grand Modus and New Modus are both equipped with Renault�s third-generation System for Restraint and Protection (SRP3). It includes up to six airbags, of which four are for side impacts (two lateral chest airbags built into the front seats and two curtain airbags to protect the head of front and rear passengers) and dual-volume adaptive front airbags.

The front seatbelts also offer double pretensioners and load limiters set to 400daN to protect the chest. An audio alarm and a pictogram on the instrument panel remind the driver to fasten his or her seatbelt. Short, upright seatbelt anchor points and an anti-submarining system built into the front seats and under the rear bench (fitted with special humps) combat the phenomenon of submarining. Finally, Grand Modus and New Modus incorporate as standard front- or rear-facing three-point Isofix child seat anchorage points for the rear seats. When a child seat is positioned in the front seat, the front passenger airbag, lateral thorax airbag and side pyrotechnic pretensioner can all be deactivated thanks to a switch on the side of the dashboard. A warning light on the dashboard denotes shows where they have been inhibited.

�110 million invested in the production of Grand Modus and New Modus at Valladolid

Modus was first marketed in September 2004. Up to October 2007, 395,000 units had been sold. These figures have contributed to maintaining Renault's rank amongst the B-segment leaders with a 10.1% share of the European market. Produced exclusively at Spain�s Valladolid plant, Grand Modus and New Modus required a total outlay of �110 million. They will come to market on December 21, 2007, in Italy, then across the rest of Western Europe between January and
February 2008.

Grand Modus, a newcomer to Renault's small car family

Renault enjoys a towering presence on the small car market. Alongside Clio, the 395,000 Modus units sold between 2004 and October 2007 helped to keep Renault amongst Europe�s top producers with a B-segment market share of 10.1% up to the end of Septembre 2007.

Three years after it first rolled off the production line, Modus has been extensively restyled and the range has been enriched with the arrival of newcomer Grand Modus. Fifty million euros were required to develop these two new models thanks to the extensive carry-over of existing parts and equipment which enabled costs to be controlled. Sixty per cent of Modus parts have been reused on Grand Modus and over 70% on New Modus. Furthermore, Clio Estate and Grand Modus share the same new rear suspension, while Grand Modus has a fuel tank that is derived from Modus and Clio III. Finally, the parallel development of both vehicles on the B platform shared by the Renault-Nissan Alliance gave rise to numerous synergies between different engineering teams at Renault's Technocentre.

Modus ushers in new quality standards from 2004

On its launch in 2004, Modus broke new ground in the realm of quality, with Clio III following in its wake in 2005. In 2007, a widely acknowledged, independent market survey put Modus in the top three vehicles in its category for product quality. Customer satisfaction further endorsed this rating. This was the fruit of a policy dating back several years which involved the 2003 implementation of the Renault Quality Plan followed by the Renault Excellence Plan in 2005. Renault pledged to offer its customers product and service quality that were among the best on the market. That aim is, in fact, the first pledge in Renault's Commitment 2009 plan which is emphasized by the will to see New Laguna rank amongst the top-three cars in terms of product and service quality. The progress achieved and the processes engineered for New Laguna have been extended, with the same exacting standards of quality, to the entire range worldwide.

New Modus and Grand Modus have enjoyed the full benefit of this innovative expertise. To meet manufacturing quality standards, Valladolid � like all the group�s production plants � has implemented the Renault Production System (SPR). It is based on standardized work processes and routine quality management as part of the bid to maintain uniform standards that can be reproduced. Modus was the first project to fully deploy SPR�s tools and methods from its inception. In order to maintain the plant�s excellent standards of quality and productivity, special effort was focused on training Valladolid�s 2,710 employees.

Strip and build training for Grand Modus

A total of 594 employees at Valladolid received training in stripping and building Grand Modus. This training took place in two phases. The first phase was static and based on a scale model, while the second was life-size and took place on the production line. The aim was to assemble a complete vehicle, take it apart, then reassemble it. With this Nissan-imported practice, operators have already been trained to a sufficiently high standard when the proving prototype arrives on the production line.

Modus exclusively made in Valladolid

Together with the Flins facility in France, Bursa in Turkey, and Novo Mesto in Slovenia, the Spanish plant at Valladolid specialises in the production of small cars. It has been made the exclusive producer of Grand Modus and New Modus. The decision flows logically from 2004 (when the making of Modus ushered in SPR) and has enabled the site to diversify its output, as it already makes Clio III.

When Valladolid began producing Modus in 2004, it was the first car to use the B platform shared by the Renault-Nissan Alliance on which the two new vehicles have been developed. In this way the cost of adapting Valladolid has been limited to �60 million � a major step towards to profitability pledge of the Renault Commitment 2009.

Valladolid is strongly committed to meeting the objectives of the Renault group�s environmental policy. It has secured ISO 14001 certification and sharply reduced its water consumption and effluent discharges into the environment between 1999 and 2006.

To that end, it used a wide mix of solutions, ranging from improved water collection systems to the recycling of chemical dips. Grand Modus � one of the 26 vehicles cited in Renault's Commitment 2009 plan � and New Modus are intended chiefly for European markets. They will be released from
December 21, 2007, first of all in Italy, then across the rest of Western Europe between January and February 2008.