Showing posts with label talisman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label talisman. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Renault Talisman Estate

Now, let's introduce to Renault's brand new Talisman Estate, a station wagon derivative of Renault's recently launched Talisman saloon, which replaced both the lackluster Laguna and Latitude saloons, and available exclusively for left-hand drive European markets and South Korea. Unlike the saloon, the estate will not be offered in Asia (even South Korea) because it will be offered exclusively in left-hand drive European markets.

2016 Renault Talisman Estate

At first glance, the estate version looks broadly similar to the saloon equivalent. It's got Renault's new signature design first seen in last year's Espace, the questionable interior with the tall touchscreen on the dashboard, and the choice of engines, but because this is the estate version, it offers a much larger boot space fit enough for your next recreational trip. It offers 572dm3 of load space up to the parcel shelf and a maximum load length of 1,116mm with the seats present but with the rear seats folded, it's now up to 2,010mm, suitable enough to become a company car for logistical purposes.

Also on the estate, it comes with integrated ventilation and new Cover Carving Technology, which frees up more space, including more than three centimeters of extra knee room for rear passengers. 

If you opt in to a more luxurious Initiale Paris model, the Talisman Estate offers premium features that is too close to call it first-class such as full-grain Napa leather upholstery, improved soundproofing thanks to laminated side windows, and a seat cushion length that can be adjusted by up to 60mm.

Just like the saloon version, the Talisman Estate comes with the Multi-Sense feature which allows the driver to switch through four different modes (Neutral, Eco, Comfort, and Sport) and a Personal mode where the driver can customize how it affects the lighting, the speedo, the engine sound, the climate control, the seats, the steering, the powertrain, or the suspension. Under the bonnet, customers can still get a 1.6 TCe petrol, a 1.5 dCi diesel, or a 1.6 dCi diesel with different configurations and can be fitted with either a 6-speed manual, 6-speed EDC, or a 7-speed EDC.

For added safety, the Talisman Estate comes with Active Emergency Braking System, Safe Distance Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic High Low Beam, Adaptive Cruise Control, and a feature that allows this car to park by itself.

The estate version of the Renault Talisman starts at 29,100 Euros and it's somewhat more affordable than Peugeot's 508 SW or Volkswagen's Passat Variant. To evaluate this wagon, the Talisman Estate is a much sportier take in the station wagon genre in Europe and with luxurious features and added practicality, this wagon is too succulent for a forbidden fruit for English-speaking Europeans because this estate's all "je ne parle pas l'anglais". Sorry.

Available colors: Gris Cassiopee, Blanc Nacre, Rouge Carmin, Blue Cosmos, Beige Dune, Brun Vison, Noir Etoile, Gris Platine, and Blanc Glacier.

Photo: Renault

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Renault-Samsung SM6 vs. GM Korea Chevrolet All New Malibu

Two luxury midsize saloons sourced from the West, one from France and the other from the United States, have finally made it into South Korean territories but adjusted for South Korean specifications. First and foremost, let's meet the South Korean version of the recently-released Renault Talisman saloon, the first-ever Renault Samsung SM6.

2016 Renault Samsung SM6
2016 Renault Samsung SM6 interior

Well, what do we have here is a midsize luxury saloon that got the South Korean folks from Renault noticed when they heard that their French parents launched the new Talisman saloon, the first to incorporate Renault's new design language applied in the new Megane, new Espace, and the upcoming Koleos crossover. Of course, China does had a Renault Talisman, but only in the SM7. Because the new Talisman is made to be the direct replacement to the aging Laguna and the less-successful Latitude flagship, which was sourced from Korea as an SM5, there's a one-sided theory that their new SM6 will replace both the SM5 and the SM7 at the same pace but while the two aging saloons are still in Renault-Samsung's lineup for now, we'll have to wait for Renault's South Korea subsidy to reach their verdict.

Anyway, the first-ever SM6 looks broadly similar to the Talisman at so many angles. You can expect the new Renault design implanted all over the outer details and so is the questionable interior with the touch screen implanted on the dashboard to warn speedo boys "you can't replace me, suckers!" Yep, today's modern cars feature irreplaceable stuff so no speedo boy can remove it with their bare hands. In partial terms of comfort, the new SM6 is German saloon quality despite being a French car with a South Korean passport booked in. You can really tell just how premium those seats are when you lay your butts on it and it's not surprisingly half bad to feel just how "luxurious" the interior is. Rest assured, they done it to make it as luxurious as the Germans.

One feature you will notice is the Multi-Sense feature which allows the driver to switch through four different modes (Neutral, Eco, Comfort, and Sport) and each mode affects different stuff around the car in terms of driving, comfort, tech, and so on. There's a Personal mode where the driver can customize the settings of his or her liking. You can change how it affects the lighting, the speedo, the engine sound, the climate control, the seats, the steering, the powertrain, or the suspension. Sounds fancy but complicating if you mess it up.

Under the hood, the SM6 offers a choice of a 1.6 TCe engine, a 2.0 GDe engine, or a 2.0 LPe DONUT (for rental use). The 1.6 TCe engine develops 190PS of power and 26.5kg.m of torque while delivering a claimed combined fuel economy of 12.8km/L while the 2.0 GDe engine produces 150PS of power and 20.6kg.m of torque with 12.3km/L of claimed combined fuel economy. Both of these engines come with a 7-speed EDC gearbox as well as auto start-stop system which allows its engine to shut off when stopped at a set of lights and then starts again when you set off.

For safety, the SM6 comes with Active Emergency Braking System, Safe Distance Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic High Low Beam, Adaptive Cruise Control, and a feature that allows this car to park by itself.

The price? It starts from 23,760,000 to 31,900,000 Korean Won. That sounds more accessible to own than the SM5 and the SM7 saloons in the lineup but if you want more that you expect from the SM6 but unsure about its pricing, best to look at this alternative.

2016 GM Korea Chevrolet Malibu
2016 GM Korea Chevrolet Malibu interior

This is the all-new Chevrolet Malibu, the one that came out last year Stateside but this one's Korean-made and it's a well-match for the Asian markets desperate to get their hands on this potent rival to Korean-made saloons such as the Hyundai Sonata and the Kia K5, but since no Asia-Pacific country is heavily interested with the new Malibu, this car will have to make do with the South Koreans.

If I recall from last year, the new Malibu sounds very reasonable when compared against other family midsize saloons in its class, but with all that tech induced in this car, the new Malibu feels like a class apart, well despite the dynamics that doesn't feel like a European saloon. I once said that because it looks more American, chances are too slim for now. Guess what, Asian countries like South Korea and China has one and it's unsure if some other Asia-Pacific countries will get the new one, but in the meantime...

It still looks identical to the one sold in North America as are the features as well as the comfort and conveniences offered. Unlike the North American model, which comes with 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity and as a first, it is available with the choice of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, this South Korean model doesn't have internet connectivity on it and it's only compatible with Apple CarPlay. No questions asked.

Under the hood, the Malibu, like the North American one, still comes with the turbocharged 1.5L ECOTEC engine with Variable Valve Timing and the more powerful and turbocharged 2.0L ECOTEC engine but both of these engines are mated with the GEN III 6-speed automatic gearbox. It's easier said than done because with the 2.0L is focused on performance, thanks to its 253PS of power, the 1.5L model focuses solely on fuel economy thanks to its combined fuel economy of 13km/L, Chevrolet claims but let's hope this fuel consumption doesn't cheat in the eyes of many drivers.

Keep this in mind because South Korea's new Malibu is different from USA's new Malibu, there is no Teen Driver Feature present here despite the new model is offered with seventeen driver aids available by request.

Anyway, wanna know how it cost? It's 23,100,000 to 31,810,000 Korean Won, so it's less expensive to own than the SM6 and it's more powerful as well. Now, you had a choice. If you were a businessman living in South Korea and you have a choice between two interracial luxury midsize saloons sourced from the West but altered for South Korean specifications, which would you pick?

Friday, February 26, 2016

Renault Talisman

Today's luxury saloons in France is becoming a bit weary now and for a company like Renault, they're making drastic measures like replacing both the poorly-sold Laguna and Latitude with an all-new model with a familiar name. Enter the new Renault Talisman.

2016 Renault Talisman

The Talisman name from Renault was derived from two irrelevant vehicles; the first is a concept car circa. 2001 and the second is the Chinese version of the Renault Samsung SM7. For 2016, the Talisman is now used as Renault's flagship saloon that replaces both the Laguna and the Latitude. While it will be marketed exclusively in selected left-hand drive markets in Europe and Asia, there is a very high possibility that it will be selling in South Korea this Spring as the Renault Samsung SM6, although it is unclear if this saloon will replace both the SM5 and the SM7 (where the Talisman name was used for the Chinese market) respectively.

2016 Renault Talisman
2016 Renault Talisman interior

One of the key highlights of the Talisman is the design and thanks to Renault's new design language that incorporates the company's "La vie, avec passion" slogan, the exterior design of the Talisman incorporates a much athletic look for an executive saloon of this size. The front and the side profile looks fantastically gorgeous at all angles but the rear view kinda spoils the premium aesthetic. It's like fiddling a nice well-done brisket with labuyo and dinuguan and that's not first class dinner served at the table.

Just like the recent Espace and the Megane, there goes the new signature interior featuring an irreplaceable touchscreen with no CD players on it, which speedo boys called this dashboard layout a witchcraft because the audio system is very irreplaceable, just like high-end luxury cars whose radios will never be replaced indefinitely. Either way, the comfort really is German saloon quality, an aesthetic similar to Citroen's C5 when they marketed it to be unmistakingly German. Remember, this is a French saloon and the way Renault has done in the making of the Talisman is really great indeed.

2016 Renault Talisman

Now, let's talk about performance and by launch, the Talisman is offered in three different configurations; a 1.6 TCe petrol, a 1.5 dCi diesel, and a 1.6 dCi diesel. The most powerful one is the 1.6 TCe petrol with the 200ps power output which can go 0-100kph in 7.6 seconds and onwards to 237kph, while the most economical in the Talisman range is the 1,5 dCi engine with the combined fuel consumption of around 3.6L/100km. Depending on engine choices, the Talisman can be fitted with either a 6-speed manual, 6-speed EDC, or a 7-speed EDC. In terms of dynamics, the Talisman features  a four-wheel steering system and the Multi-Sense which allows the driver to choose four different settings as well as a customized preference to make driving a bit somewhat individual to each of their own. Whichever the settings implied, the Talisman feels very German again because it delivers the right blend of comfort and sportiness that most German saloons possess.

In terms of safety, the Talisman is offered with available safety tech such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, traffic sign detection, and blind spot alert, among many others.

Should you buy one? The Talisman starts at 27,900 (for the base Life model) up to 40,300 Euros (for the flagship Initiale Paris model), which is somewhat costly to own than the recent VW Passat, but despite the pricing, the Talisman from Renault has the equivalent feeling of German non-luxury saloons in terms of styling, comfort, and performance. There is nothing you can't go wrong about this latest offering from Renault.

Available colors: Gris Cassiopee, Blanc Nacre, Rouge Carmin, Blue Cosmos, Beige Dune, Brun Vison, Noir Etoile, Gris Platine, and Blanc Glacier.

Photo: Renault