This video of the Renault Latitude gives us the full going-over of the new, and very large, flagship sedan for the company that was presented at the Moscow International Motor Show. The Latitude is planned to be sold in 50 markets, standing with Russia and other ‘emerging’ markets. It measures 4.88 x 1.83 x 1.48 metres and is available initially with two petrol engines: a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre with 139 hp and 191 Nm of torque, and the more powerful 2.5-litre V6 with 177 hp and 233 Nm.

Those engines, while limited, are impressive but won’t be available on the European-spec Latitude which will instead have either four or six-cylinder units previously used on the Renault Laguna. They will likely be available with both manual and automatic six-speed transmission and the car itself should get a touch-up in the luxury department.

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You’d think with the 2010 Paris Motor Show not far away French car manufacturers would be busy polishing their vehicles for their local show, but an interesting press release yesterday afternoon showed that Peugeot is still sensible enough to realise the importance of the Russian car market, while Renault has also been busying itself with the presentation of its Latitude model.

The Paris show starts on October 2nd and while the Moscow International Motor Show is underway right now, starting on the 25th and finishing on the 29th of August, French car companies have shown that this market may be just as important as their local one. Peugeot is debuting two new models and three concept cars at the show, starting with its Peugeot 3008 crossover model.

The demo 3008 Hybrid4 is also present at the show, while the Peugeot RCZ is introducing the new brand image and design direction of the company to the Russian public. The Peugeot 308, assembled at the Russian plant in Kaluga, is also present at the Peugeot stand at the Moscow motor show.

Continue reading: Peugeot and Renault pay attention to the Russian car market

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With the news that Peugeot was replacing two of its models - the 607 and the 407 - with one car, the new Peugeot 508, it was an indication that things had changed in France. As Automotive News reports, all of sudden, we understood that French car manufacturers had given up the fight to compete with Germany’s big guns in the large, luxury sedan segment.

The announcement of the Peugeot 508 has come among other news of French sedans. Renault canned its embarrassing Vel Satis model and is focusing on its new Renault Latitude. So far, it’s a nice looking car but not only is it not a big luxury sedan, it’s also destined first for Russia and other emerging markets before making its way back home to Europe.

The Citroen C6 is also on its way out with no replacement planned. As Automotive News’ Luca Ciferri says:

Continue reading: No French revolution: patriotism sacrificed for business sense in large French sedans

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Despite having what’s slated to be a European debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Renault Latitude may never actually make it to market on its home turf. While always intended as Renault’s flagship sedan for markets other than Europe, it looks like the French car manufacturer is getting cold feet over the Latitude’s Korean origins.

The Latitude is based on the Samsung SM5, but as our colleagues at Autosblog.fr point out, the irony is that the SM5 was itself originally based on the Laguna. So far the Latitude has been praised for its elegant design, and while conservative, there’s nothing to indicate that the Korean influence is a negative one, unless purely based on European prejudice towards Asian cars.

The reason behind the reluctance to plunge into a European debut for the Latitude could also be the modest sales of the Vel Satis - the model it replaces. Despite this, it seems that there is a market demand for a big, luxury, Renault sedan, if only based on nostalgia. For more on Renault’s Latitude dilemma, see the guys at TopGear and Autosblog.fr, and we’ll have more in coming months.

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While the new Renault Safrane was originally earmarked to replace the Vel Satis, it seems that job is already being done by the new Renault Latitude. The Safrane does, however, still have a role in the Renault line-up, and looks like it will in fact, replace the Renault Laguna. In the same way the Peugeot 508 will substitute both the 407 and 607, the Renault Safrane was set to combine the Vel Satis and the Laguna in one.

It now looks like the Latitude will form the luxury part of the Renault sedan line-up, and will be placed slightly above the Safrane, which will probably be a more family-friendly economical model. The Safrane will have the same platform as the Laguna, also shared with the Samsung SM5 and now the Latitude as well.

It seems the Safrane will originally be produced in South Korea before production moves to France at a later date. Given the new Daimler deal, the Safrane could also sport a couple of four and six-cylinder engines from Mercedes, which would be something appealing to see also on the new Latitude. Safrane spy shots are over on Automarket for you to take a look.

Source | Automarket

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The Renault Latitude will be Renault’s biggest and most luxurious sedan, designed to replace the Vel Satis model. The Latitude has a smooth, sedan style with plenty of interior features to make it worthy of the luxury label, and will debut at this year’s Moscow motor show, before its European debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

The Latitude will measure 4.89 metres and will evoke the Renault 25, another large and successful car for the company. The interior will include features such as air ionizers and perfume diffusers, three-zone climate control and a Bose audio system. It’s likely to have a 2.0-litre diesel engine option and a V6 petrol engine, although we’ll have to wait for further details before confirming the full engine range.

The Moscow launch marks the Latitude’s debut for Asia, Africa, Russia, Turkey, the Gulf, Australia and Mexico, where the car will appear on the market from this autumn. The Paris show debut should reveal the Latitude’s European interior options, with a market launch date of early 2011. It should be positioned above the Laguna in the Renault line-up.

Renault Latitude first pics

Source | es.autoblog.com and Autocar

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