Renault has made a number of changes to both car and sales strategy for this month’s launch of the Logan in Brazil.
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Changes to meet the tastes of the Brazilian buyer, and improve the car’s looks, include a new front grille, a discreet lip on the boot (trunk) lid edge, body-colour bumpers, attractive optional light alloy wheels (or well-designed full hubcaps) and two reversing lights (one in Europe as the other slot is used for the mandatory rear fog lamp).
Inside, the dashboard has a grained surface, door trim panels are updated and the steering wheel is the same as the Mégane II’s. There is ample rear legroom (the driver is not bothered by rear seat occupant’s knees touching his seat back) and Renault is highlighting the space for five passengers and sizeable 510-litre boot.
A sound decision was to keep the retail price a little higher than it could have been but include a full, three-year, 100,000 kilometre (60,000 miles) warranty. Pre-paid fixed servicing costs are also offered – the factory asking the equivalent of $0.50 a day to cover the cost of the first three annual services.
The Logan is competitively priced here and may turn into a headache for competitors, although Renault’s own Clio notchback could take the first punch. The Logan family is due to grow with a hatchback variant early in 2008 (after a Frankfurt show debut; Brazil has rejected the MCV/van version already on sale in some markets) followed by a third, undisclosed, version, likely to be a sport utility.
Fernando Calmon
