Just a year after its update in Europe, the Logan, sold as a Renault here in Brazil, has been substantially restyled.
All body panels have been changed and the interior trim updated and improved.
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Introduced here in 2007, the medium car sized but compact car priced saloon has been losing sales momentum despite a significant effort to secure fleet and service industry business.
Due to attractive new models, the compact saloon segment has gained more buyers with segment share rising from 14% to 17% between 2011 and 2013.
For the relaunch, Renault has focused on adding features new to the model line and the segment: automatic air conditioning, cruise control and speed limiter, stitch-free seat upholstery in the top models (a world first, the automaker claims), gas struts to hold the bonnet [hood] open (with extra sound deadening on top versions) plus (a relatively cheap option) a multimedia system with tactile response, seven inch touch screen and navigation.
The car’s styling is not perhaps, class leading but has evolved considerably due to a more sharply raked windscreen and reshaped doors which help improve aerodynamics to a Cd of 0.34 from 0.37).
Around 72% of parts are new and the only dimension change is a 6cm/2.4in boost in overall length.
Attractive retail prices are now well established as a Logan ‘trademark’: the new line goes for BRL28,990/US$12,600 to BRL44,250/$19,200.
Renault Brazil plans to reach 8% market share by 2016 (currently almost 7%). Nine new models are in the pipeline, a combination of imports, new locally made models and restyling of the current line.
Besides the new Sandero, due to next March as just-auto has learned, the Captur compact SUV, Duster, Clio Mk IV, Twingo subcompact, Megane hatchback and saloon (Fluence), Kangoo and a Duster-derived double cab pick up truck are in the plan.
