Latest news with #Renault
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renault shares crash 17% after the automaker's profit warning
Renault shares plummeted 17% after cutting its annual guidance. The morning slump was the steepest one-day drop since the start of the pandemic. The company appointed Duncan Minto as interim CEO after Luca de Meo's departure. Renault shares crashed as much as 17% after the French automaker cut its guidance for the year. Late Tuesday, the company lowered its operating margin guidance for 2025 from at least 7% to 6.5%. On Wednesday, Renault's stock on the Euronext Paris exchange was down 16.3% at 34.79 euros at 10:00 a.m. local time, marking its steepest one-day drop since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Renault attributed the revised forecast to "the deterioration of the automotive market trends with an increasing commercial pressure" from competitors and a slowdown in the retail segment. The company is also aiming for a free cash flow between 1 billion to 1.5 billion euros, down from at least 2 billion euros previously. Analysts at Jefferies wrote in a Tuesday note that Renault's revised guidance may imply "greater underlying deterioration," since the automaker's previous targets had already accounted for stricter emissions compliance costs. However, the European Union is easing compliance rules for carbon dioxide emissions. Renault is heavily reliant on Europe, and the company's comments "tie in with signs of weakening European demand," wrote the analysts. Renault could continue to face market pressure beyond June, wrote Rella Suskin, an analyst at Morningstar, on Wednesday. "Most of the European carmakers have released a new lineup of affordable electric vehicles, increasing competition," Suskin wrote. Although the historic French carmaker's reliance on Europe means it is largely insulated from the US tariffs on imported vehicles that have shaken many of its rivals, Renault faces growing competition in Europe from a wave of Chinese automakers. Tesla rivals BYD, Xpeng, and Chery are all expanding rapidly in Europe. Last month, BYD began selling the Dolphin Surf, the European version of its ultra-cheap Seagull electric city car, which competes with the Renault 5 and sells for 23,000 euros ($26,000) in Europe. Separately, Renault announced the appointment of Duncan Minto as interim CEO, following the resignation of Luca de Meo last month. De Meo joined luxury group Kering. Renault is expected to report half-year earnings on July 31. The company's shares are down more than 25% this year. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Auto Express
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Alpine's big plan for a super-SUV to rival the Porsche Cayenne
Alpine is in the middle of a significant electric car expansion after launching the A290 hot hatch and the new A390 SUV. Soon to arrive will be five other models, growing the brand's EV line-up up to seven cars by 2030, and one of those will be a flagship SUV. Advertisement - Article continues below Speaking to Auto Express at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Antony Villain, head of design for Alpine, said, 'We need something for the D and E segment', strongly suggesting a new flagship SUV will be introduced to sit above the recently revealed A390 SUV. We already know that joining Alpine's new Renault 5-based A290 and the A390 next year will be an all-electric A110; a convertible variant is coming in 2027, plus a four-seat electric sports car called the A310. One of the final two cars to come before the end of the decade will be a large SUV to fill the void above the A390. It could potentially be badged A590 to align with the brand's '90' badge for its non-sportscar models. The A590 would be either a D or E-segment SUV, as Villain said, giving Alpine a competitor for the likes of the BMW iX, Lotus Eletre and the upcoming Porsche Cayenne EV. While any official teasers remain a long way off, Alpine has said it'll commit to having a familiar design language throughout its EVs – a set of quad headlights arranged in a 'V', a curved rear window, and a rounded side profile. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below While Alpine is aiming to keep its future line-up desirable with the cars' performance and looks, ergonomics is also an important consideration for the brand. The Alpine A110, partly by virtue of being launched back in 2017, has plenty of physical buttons inside for climate functions and regularly used features – although the newer A290 hot hatch and A390 SUV have deviated from this approach with larger screens. Villain pointed out that Alpine drivers 'want to focus on driving and you don't want screens everywhere'. He also added 'buttons are important for Alpine' and said that its cars will have 'lots of physical buttons'. As with any Alpine model, the driving experience – even for a large SUV – will be important. The A390 SUV sits on the Renault Group's AmpR Medium platform, which has the capacity to underpin cars with up to seven seats, according to Renault. In the A390, there are three electric motors – one at the front and two at the rear – and the 464bhp total combines with active torque vectoring to promote 'agility and driving pleasure'. We expect to see similar technology on Alpine's future EVs, including the A590. Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go… Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Long Term Review: Three Months With The Renault Austral E-Tech
The Austral's hybrid powertrain is very accomplished The past three or so years have marked a significant turnaround for Renault. The familiar French brand has emerged from dull, budget-friendly shadows and become a trendy, highly relevant manufacturer. Everyone has seen (and swooned over) the new Renault 5 and the company is deftly striking the right balance between staying true to its heritage while forging a new path for its future. Following the pandemic, Renault completely overhauled its lineup, introducing a range of new models. Spreading its expertise across hatchbacks, SUVs, electric and hybrid models, its cars now reflect a modern, more premium approach than ever before. After replacing the Renault Kadjar in 2022, the Renault Austral is the most traditional family SUV-style pick of the range. Competing with the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson, Kid Sportage and Ford Kuga, it sits in a highly competitive market. Even as the pre-facelift version, the Austral is stylish To really get to know the Austral, Renault has lent me a techno esprit Alpine for six months, specified to £38,395 ($51,620). Although Renault has recently facelifted the Austral, this is the pre-facelift version. Typically, I only spend a few hours with a car at an international or home market launch or, at most, a week with it once it's been publicly unveiled. Driving the car over an extended period gives a much better insight into the realities of living with it. After three months of driving the Austral, here's the verdict so far. First Impressions Of The Renault Austral Renault is now competing with more premium manufacturers Admittedly, I drove a Renault Austral at a launch event last year and it didn't leave much of an impression. Since Renault has updated its models, the interior feel across all its SUVs is very similar, so the Austral didn't necessarily stand out. With new names for each of its SUV models, I struggled to distinguish between them when I was less familiar with the brand. However, having had an Austral on the driveway these past months, I've started to get a feel for where it's positioned in relation to other family SUVs. The techno esprit Alpine version I'm testing is the mid specification option, above techno and below iconic esprit Alpine. Regardless of trim, all versions come with the same 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine combined with a hybrid system to offer 200 hp. Unlike some of its rivals, there's no manual version or plug-in hybrid option. For most drivers, manual cars are more of an annoyance than a preference, especially in an SUV and unless you have access to charging, a plug-in hybrid isn't always the best option. In 2022, the Austral replaced the Kadjar So far, I've been impressed with its fuel economy. Over a variety of different long and short journeys, totalling more than 1500 miles, on average, the car is consistently achieving between 58 to 59mpg. With just a 55-liter tank, it's also very affordable to fill up considering it can cover over 600 miles before it needs refuelling. The fuel gauge is constantly reassessing based on your driving style, so most of the time it ends up going further than you anticipate. What Tech Does The Renault Austral Have? The tech-forward interior is super easy to use For reference, my typical daily driver when I'm not driving a press car is a 2009 Volkswagen Polo. I love it but the extent of my Polo's tech features include an FM radio and heated wing mirrors, one of which no longer works. Stepping into the Renault Austral, the digital driver's display and central iPad-like screen are the focal points. It also comes with a head-up display which is very useful. Instead of developing its own native system from scratch, Renault uses a Google operating system. Most of the time, I connect my phone using wired or wireless Android Auto. After the phone has been connected once, as long as you've got your bluetooth enabled, it pairs up quickly. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay makes the car feel like an extension of your usual media experience One of my favourite features is that the Android Auto system integrates with the driver's display and head-up display. Basic directions show on the head-up display and a map comes up on the screen in front of the steering wheel, so you rarely need to glance at the central screen for navigation. To comply with new legislation, the vehicle's safety systems like speed limit warnings and lane keeping functionality activate every time you turn the car on. Unless you're on a particularly long journey with lots of changing speed limits, its alerts don't feel too invasive. Unlike other cars that start making sounds the second you exceed a speed limit, the Austral gives you a few moments to slow down before it gives you a warning. The family SUV is well equipped to deal with passengers and luggage Clearly someone at Renault had their thinking hat on when the company decided how to integrate its safety features. On the right hand side of the steering wheel, the My Safety button can be configured with your preferred safety settings. Just two taps of the button can disable things like speed limit warnings. This is infinitely easier than models from other manufacturers that have you searching through digital touchscreen menus to find out how to toggle something off every time you get in the car. Keyless entry is often a bug bear for me seeing as most of the time it never seems to work and it can be a theft risk. Nevertheless, I've never had as seamless an experience with the Austral's keyless entry. When you approach the car with the key in a bag or pocket, it opens every time, even when you approach from the trunk and want to load luggage first. If all the doors are closed, when you walk away it locks itself and the wing mirrors fold in automatically. The distance feels right too, so you're still close enough to hear the car lock when you walk a few paces away. What Is It Like To Drive The Renault Austral? Most modern cars have annoying safety features but the Austral makes it easy to turn them on and off ... More as you wish For a family SUV, 200 hp might not sound like a lot but the Austral feels far more enthusiastic than I expected. This is thanks to its hybrid system which gives you additional power at slow speeds. It helps to give an extra boost off the line and can take over to run the vehicle on electric only for short periods of time. Sometimes, the engine doesn't even need to start up when you turn the car on for the first time. Its hybrid system smooths out power delivery for the most part. I found that when speed is kept at around 33 to 35mph, the seven-speed gearbox is indecisive and tends to stick to a lower gear which can make the engine a bit noisy. Once the gear change initiates, it calms down again and no other gear changes feel noticeable after that. From every angle there's something to like Since it's not a plug-in hybrid, the battery recharges using the engine and regenerative braking. Behind the steering wheel, there's two flappy paddles to control the level of regeneration. It's barely noticeable as the car flips between the engine and e-motors and the battery always seems to have enough power when you need it. What's Next? A powered tailgate makes it easy to load items into the trunk Now it's summer time, I've got a few longer trips planned with the Austral. A couple of family holidays will see the back seats get some good use along with the trunk. It handles the weekly shop with ease, so I'm interested to see how it handles luggage for a road trip. This will also give me a chance to do some more fuel economy testing and work out how many miles I'm averaging from a single tank of fuel. Although I'm very attached to my Polo, life with the Austral so far has been a significant jump up in technology and ease of use. Three months in, I'm very tempted.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic heads to Washington for showdown talks as fears grow over US President Donald Trump's tariffs
European Union trade chief Maros Sefcovic will hold showdown talks in Washington DC as fears mount over fresh tariffs announced by United States President Donald Trump. President Trump has threatened to introduce new 30 per cent tariffs on the EU unless the 27-member bloc can reach a trade agreement with the US by August 1. European leaders have condemned the move, saying it would all but end normal trade relations between two of the world's largest markets. On Wednesday, local time, the EU confirmed Mr Sefcovic would head to Washington in order to discuss the threat with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and trade representative Jamieson Greer. Should the talks fail, the EU has drawn up retaliatory measures worth €72 billion ($128 billion). In a list distributed to member nations on Tuesday, the bloc said it would target a range of US products, including Boeing BA.N aircraft, bourbon whiskey and cars. It also covers chemicals, medical devices, electrical and precision equipment as well as agriculture and food products - a range of fruits and vegetables, along with wine, beer and spirits. The list pre-dated President Trump's latest effort to ramp up pressure on the EU and was originally formulated in response to earlier US duties on cars and car parts, as well as a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all imports. It is possible the bloc may seek to add further measures should it fail to reach an agreement with the US before the additional tariffs come into force. Speaking at a press conference alongside his French counterpart, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warned "possible countermeasures must continue to be prepared" even as he insisted Europe hoped to negotiate a solution. "Trump's tariffs have only losers," he said. "Our hand remains extended, but we will not go along with everything, possible countermeasures must continue to be prepared." Existing US measures, as well as market turmoil sparked by President Trump's chaotic approach to trade, have already hit European businesses hard. Many companies are expected to report a 0.7 per cent drop in earnings and a three pre cent fall in revenue in the upcoming earnings season covering the second quarter, their weakest in more than a year. Shares in European carmakers, who have been struggling to adjust to 25 per cent tariffs imposed by the US earlier this year, fell on Tuesday after Renault issued a profit warning to investors. There are increasing concerns over the health of the car making industry in Europe, with some analysts warning failures could be on the horizon. For his part, President Trump has remained unphased by the possibility of a trade war with the EU. The President has maintained tariffs are necessary to address trade deficits and to prevent the US being taken advantage of. He has also claimed measures targeting carmakers will help revitalise domestic manufacturing, an argument disputed by most economists. With Reuters.
Auto Express
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Help! I need a small, nimble first car for £7,000
Dear Auto Express, I need a first car that's small, nimble and easy to drive. My budget is £7,000. What can I get that's safe and relatively modern? - Jamie Fern, E-mail Passing your practical driving test is a significant moment for anybody. Once you're torn up your L-plates, the only barrier between you and a new level of freedom is finding your first car. Advertisement - Article continues below Of course, being a newly qualified driver, you'll probably be on the lookout for something which is small enough to help you to gain confidence when navigating narrow streets or tight carparks, while also being cheap to insure and run. Typically, the Citroen C1 has ruled the roost among new drivers. If you aren't drawn by its cute styling, you might be convinced by its dependable three-cylinder engine, which it shares with its Toyota Aygo relative. It's not the most sumptuous city car, but some colourful personalisation options do spice up the cabin. The SEAT Mii is the Spanish brand's twist on the Volkswagen up!, making it by default one of the most complete small cars you can buy. It boasts great build quality, grown-up handling and a surprisingly spacious cabin. The styling might be too conservative for some, though. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The same can't be said for the quirky Renault Twingo. Being rear-engined and rear-wheel drive, the French city car is the reverse of its two competitors here, and this layout gives the Twingo fantastic manoeuvrability in cities. Here's our expert pick for three of the best first cars available for £7,000, together with links to buy them through our Find a Car service… For: Solid build, slick dynamics, roomy Solid build, slick dynamics, roomy Against: Plain design, fiddly parcel shelf Advertisement - Article continues below Stubby dimensions, short overhangs and clean detailing give the SEAT Mii a pleasant if not distinctive look. From behind the wheel, the Mii is hard to beat. It shares a platform with the Volkswagen up! so the handling is crisp and it's surprisingly enjoyable to drive. The ride is supple, too, and wind and tyre noise are well suppressed for this class of car. The most powerful 74bhp version offers solid performance for town driving and the three-cylinder engine feels peppy enough. A 60,000-mile 2019 Mii falls well within budget. None of these models is especially plush inside, but the SEAT gets closest to providing the feel of a bigger class of car. The dashboard layout is user-friendly, the switchgear is sturdy and the hard plastics feel durable rather than terribly cheap. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Mii is also surprisingly spacious, with more accommodating rear seats than the Citroen and a respectable 251-litre boot. Lower-spec SE models are equipped with alloy wheels, electric front windows, air-conditioning and a leather steering wheel as standard. A DAB radio can also be specified, along with a dashboard-mounted navigation system and Bluetooth connectivity. See our used SEAT Mii deals For: Tight turning circle, rear seat space, robust interior Tight turning circle, rear seat space, robust interior Against: Vague steering, small boot Advertisement - Article continues below With its engine over the rear axle and powering the rear wheels, the Twingo's set-up is closer to a Porsche 911 than it is to most other hatches or city cars. The design is unique, with rounded surfaces, tiny overhangs and a sloping glass tailgate. By relocating the engine and freeing up space at the front of the car, the Renault Twingo has a turning circle to rival a London Taxi. There's lots of body roll and the Renault tends to fidget over bumpy roads, but although wind noise builds at higher speeds, it's comfy enough. You can get a 2016 Renault Twingo with 20,000-miles on the clock for under £7,000. Renault added splashes of colour inside the Twingo to lift the ambience, with coloured accents on the steering wheel and air vents. It may not be as well screwed together as the SEAT, but the cabin feels solid and durable on the whole. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Visibility is great, too, and standard equipment includes a DAB radio, Bluetooth and a USB connection. The standard stereo is a six-speaker set-up, but some models also feature a subwoofer for punchier sound. There's plenty of space in the rear, even for four adults, although the rear-engined Twingo has the smallest boot in this company, at a mere 188 litres. Advertisement - Article continues below See our used Renault Twingo deals For: Distinctive looks, easy to drive, affordable Distinctive looks, easy to drive, affordable Against: Cheap interior, tight rear seats Closely related to the Toyota Aygo, the Citroen C1 uses that car's running gear. However, while it does its best to maximise the space inside, and has a glass rear hatch that makes it look more distinctive than the SEAT, the driving experience isn't quite on the same level. Its 1.0-litre three-cylinder motor is shared with the Aygo, and can feel out of its depth on a motorway, because it's short of punch even compared with its rivals here. It's fine around town, though, and the C1 is very easy to drive, with light controls. For £7,000, you can bag a 2018 Citroen C1 that's covered 26,000 miles. Like Renault, Citroen offers a variety of coloured panels and trims to add a dash of personalisation to the cabin of its city car. However, material quality isn't up to the best in the class, and the layout of the controls isn't as intuitive as the SEAT's interior. Still, all versions offered for sale other than the entry-level C1 Touch received a seven-inch touchscreen that's equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the higher-grade models; this is useful because the standard interface isn't particularly slick compared with its rivals'. Unfortunately, while the C1's boot is bigger than the Twingo's, the rear seats are very tight for taller adults to squeeze into. Those approaching six feet tall will be short on head and legroom. See our used Citroen C1 deals Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
