Renault Trafic Generation Car Review and Specs | Renault Trafic Generation Car Wallpaper Pictures Pics

Developed in partnership with the French coachbuilder Gruau, Trafic Generation rounds out the Trafic passenger vehicle range. Able to accommodate up to seven occupants, this new version is aimed at customers seeking a comfortable, versatile vehicle for daily use, holidays or leisure. Its highly adaptable interior and extensive range of features allow it to be transformed into a "living room" with a sliding table. Occupants can even spend the night in the vehicle, thanks to its bench seat/couchette for three people. Trafic Generation is available with a choice of one petrol and three diesel engines, including the recent 99kW (135hp) 16 v 2.5 dCi.
Since it was launched in late 2001, Trafic has become a benchmark in its market. Carrying over the fundamental features of the standard vehicle, Trafic Generation completes the range of Trafic passenger versions, which already include the Combi" and the "Passenger". With this new version, Renault is setting out to conquer the leisure vehicle segment; Trafic Generation is expected to account for around 5% of European Trafic sales from 2004.

Trafic Generation can adapt to all needs and all demands. While its travelling comfort features are aimed at families seeking MPV comfort, its adaptability will attract buyerslooking for a vehicle which they can use in their regular or occasional leisure activities: sports, short getaways, camping, etc.

An original Trafic-inspired design

The latest member of the Trafic family, Trafic Generation inherits Trafic's modern and daring design. The front and lower rear bumpers are body-coloured in the style of a passenger car. As an option, this feature can be extended to the side protection mouldings and rear lamp surrounds. As standard, the vehicle is equipped with new "crystal" type indicators and repeaters, which inaugurate a new image for Trafic passenger vehicle versions. A further design highlight comes with ally wheels, as standard fitting in some countries and on option in others.

The special interior treatment confirms Trafic Generation’s positioning as a passenger vehicle. The upholstery, available in two colours (Fun and Confort), matches the seat frames and the side panels. One interior finish feature adapted to the use of such a vehicle is an easily maintained anti-slip covering extending over the entire floor. The removable, height-adjustable luggage compartment cover is another feature derived from passenger car design.

Extra adaptability

Trafic Generation boasts a truly adaptable interior. Individual driver and front passenger seats can be swivelled round from the conventional front-facing position to face the first row of back seats, forming a "living room" seating arrangement. For meals and picnics with family or friends, there’s a wall-mounted table that unfolds conveniently using an original hinge system. The second row of rear seats consists of an innovative bench arrangement that can easily seat three people. The headrests fold away and the seat back folds down to form a three-place couchette configuration. An ingenious system using double foam mouldings (one for the seat cushion and another, thicker, one for the couchette), the bench provides optimum comfort in both configurations, providing highly convenient mobile-home functionality for holidays.

Luggage volume can be adapted to changing needs, by sliding the retractable bench seat to the required position on its four rails and folding down the seats in the first rear row in one of two positions. The parallel, equidistant rails for the back row of seats form an original system accommodating a number of alternative layouts; individual seats (available on option in some countries) can be installed in side positions behind the front passenger or driver seats, or in a central position between the two front seats. The lightweight seats are easy to handle and remove (when loading bulky objects, for example). In its optimum configuration, Trafic Generation can easily accommodate up to seven people and their luggage.

Ingenious storage arrangements

As with the rest of the Trafic range, this new version confirms Renault’s expertise in travelling comfort. All free space is transformed into storage space, in the front and rear door panels, behind the wall-mounted table, in the seat backs (with map pockets) and, for the seats in the first back row, tables with cup-holders – or again beneath the rear bench seat, notably with the inclusion of a ski-hatch. The rear bench cushion also conceals a large locker with a volume of around 60 litres, for storing a duvet and pillows, for example.

The dashboard houses a cooled, illuminated glovebox that can take two 1.5-litre bottles, plus a spectacle-holder, cup-holders, a removable ashtray and several storage cubbies. The luggage compartment includes storage space in its side walls. For safer loading, there are tie-down rings and an optional a luggage retention net. Altogether, more than 10 storage spaces are provided in the rear of the vehicle.

As in Trafic Passenger, the Trafic Generation cabin has been the object of special care to combine spaciousness with functionality. To improve ergonomics, the steering wheel is adjustable for reach and the controls are easily accessible to the driver. Movement between the front seats towards the rear of the cabin is made easier by positioning the gear lever in the dashboard.

For improved comfort, all seats (derived from those on Espace IV) and the rear bench are fitted with elbow rests. As well as strong sideways support, the front seats offer good lumbar support. In addition, the driver’s seat is height-adjustable, for a high driving position and optimum visibility.

Best-in-class safety

Trafic Generation benefits from all the technology of the Trafic range in terms of active safety, notably the efficient and fade-resistant brake system with four discs (305mm x 28mm at the front, 285mm x 12mm at the rear). This braking system is completed by ABS with EBD as standard. In addition the version will be equipped with ESP and ASR from launch and optionally according to country.

Trafic Generation also provides steering precision and ride comfort close to that of an MPV, notably thanks to its suspension (anti-roll bar with articulated mounting to the spring/damper unit at the front, torsion beam axle with trailing arms, Panhard rod and variable-rate hydraulic dampers at the rear) with specially rated springs.

Designed to provide a high level of occupant protection, it is equipped as standard with driver and passenger airbags, thorax side airbags, three-point safety belts with pretensioners and load limiters for the front seats and the side seats in the third row, and head restraints for all seats. These features can be optionally supplemented with front curtain airbags. The seats are also equipped with Isofix attachments. In the area of vehicle security, the entire Trafic range benefits from special locks which resist all attempts at picking. With the addition of an immobilizer as standard, and the option of deadlocking and an anti-intrusion alarm, Trafic Generation provides peace of mind together with maximum protection of contents.

A complete range of engines and transmissions

Trafic Generation offers a range of powerful and economical engines, comprising one petrol engine and three common-rail diesel engines. With the recent 135hp 2.5 dCi unit, the Trafic Generation engine range is extended upwards. This engine, which appeared in Trafic early in 2003, develops a maximum power of 99kW (135hp) at 3,500rpm and a maximum torque of 310Nm at 1,750rpm, with more than 95% available from 1,500rpm. Economical, with a consumption of only 8.6 litres/100km in the complete cycle, this modern common-rail engine is equipped with pre-catalysts and catalytic converters, allowing Trafic Generation to comply with the Euro 3 emission standard.

In addition to this new diesel engine, Trafic Generation carries over the Trafic engine range, comprising two 1.9 dCi diesels and the 2.0 16V petrol engine.

The first 1.9 dCi version develops 60kW (82hp) at 3,500rpm and a maximum torque of 190Nm from 2,000rpm. The higher performing version of this engine produces 74kW (100hp) at 3,500rpm. Its maximum torque of 240Nm at 2,000rpm – of which more than 80% is available from 1,500rpm – provides it with excellent low-speed flexibility. These versions consume only 7.9 litres/100km in the European combined cycle. Coupled with a fuel tank capacity of 90 litres, the range is close to 1,200 kilometres.

The 2.0 16V petrol engine develops 88kW (120hp) at 4,750rpm and torque of 190Nm at 3,750rpm. It consumes 10.2 litres/100km in the European combined cycle.

Equipped with variable valve timing, this engine is lively and pleasant to drive, with a very linear response at low speeds.

The six-speed manual gearbox is used with the 100hp 1.9 dCi, 2.5 dCi and 2.0 16V engines, to the benefit of ease of driving. It improves response in each intermediate gear, while reducing fuel consumption and noise levels. The 82hp 1.9 dCi engine continues to be teamed with the five-speed manual gearbox.

First-rate acoustic comfort

A major factor in driving and travelling pleasure, acoustics have been closely studied in Trafic Generation. The treatment of body, wind and engine noise was taken into account from the outset, thanks to digital simulation (vibration analysis). The roof trim and the positioning of ribs were developed in this way. An absorbent treatment has been applied around the engine compartment, so as to filter out any mechanical noises.

The attachment points of the suspension to the body were also equipped with filtering elements to ensure acoustic comfort together with optimum suspension
characteristics.

Economical to run

Trafic Generation was designed to provide high reliability and durability. Its low levels of fuel consumption are accompanied by widely spaced maintenance intervals, with an oil change called for only every 30,000km (or two years). The vehicle’s completely galvanized external panels, and the use of wax injection within box sections, allowsthe manufacturer to offer a 12-year corrosion warranty.

A partnership spanning engineering to manufacture

Trafic Generation was developed by the engineering departments of Renault’s Light
Commercial Vehicles Division in Villiers St Frédéric (France) in collaboration with the
French coachbuilder Gruau. It will be built in the Nissan factory in Barcelona (Spain), which already assembles Renault LCVs. The vehicle will then be converted by Gruau in its nearby plant.

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