20 years of Renault Vel Satis
King of France
Renault Vel Satis
© press-inform – the press office
The times when the French were still creating real luxury models are long gone. Not only Peugeot and Citroen have long since left the Nobel League, but Renault too. The last and so far most spectacular attempt was the Renault Vel Satis 20 years ago.
The Renault Vel Satis was hardly less spectacular than the Avantime from the same company, which was presented almost at the same time. Both models failed because of their overly polarizing design, but there was also a lack of technology from time to time. As if the Vel Satis with its vertical xenon lights hadn’t already looked unusual enough from the front – many potential customers just felt cold on the sidelines and rear. Wild edges and bold cuts – the body of the Vel Satis had nothing of what the international competition in the luxury class offered with their luxury sedans. The large and especially high passenger cell in the interior created a pleasant atmosphere on long journeys thanks to the 2.84 meter long wheelbase, but the short stubby tail with the pulpit-like tailgate was anything but suitable for the masses. With these proportions, hardly a customer of the well-known luxury and premium manufacturers could be brought over to Renault – also because the six-cylinder engines lagged behind the competition not only in terms of performance. The German sales slogan – “Status rethinking” – didn’t help either.
The strong point of the 4.86 meter long Renault Vel Satis was not the spectacular exterior, but the luxurious and homely interior. The seats in the front were more of a lounger lounge chair than ordinary automobile seating. On the armchairs it was all too wonderful to travel without any noteworthy side support. You could safely do without the side support, because the Vel Satis is not just a casual cruiser, but rather a cool sedan chair, without any sporting ambitions. However, there was enough power to get relaxed from A as the goal of his dreams. In addition to the crumple-soft armchairs, there was plenty of space, three-zone automatic air conditioning, a navigation system, heated leather seats and keyless entry with a chip card, which was by no means a matter of course when the vehicle premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2001. The direct and smooth steering was typically French and the development effort for the patented Trigon rear axle for maximum travel comfort was great.
Unfortunately, the travel comfort in the rear was not as opulent as on the armchairs in the first row. Apart from a few specially individualized luxury models in France, there was no single seat system in the rear and no seat adjustment or heating. In the front, the occupants looked not only at an expansive cockpit with loveless round clocks, digital display and navigation screen, but also at chic wooden paneling and a wide center console, on which the operating satellite for navigation, on-board computer or sound system was ergonomically far in the back.
As early as 1998, the Vel Satis concept as a coupé with the same spectacular proportions had drawn attention to the later luxury sedan. Here, however, there were only two gigantic doors and a mighty panorama roof that stretched far over the front seats. The customer of the later series model had the choice between various gasoline and diesel engines between 139 and 241 hp. The diesel engines, which were available with 2.0, 2.2 and 3.0 liters, were particularly popular. The two four-cylinder with 139, 150 and 173 hp were hardly more sluggish than the only 177/181 hp three-liter V6 diesel. The front-wheel drive had a maximum torque of 400 Nm and managed 212 km / h. The standard consumption was 8.7 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. With the gasoline engines, Francophile customers could warm up to a 170 hp four-cylinder or a significantly more befitting V6 gasoline engine with 177 kW / 241 hp, which was linked to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the 3.0 dCi already had six gear stages. Between the beginning of 2011 and the end of 2009, just 61,822 vehicles of the French luxury sedan were sold. Renault then swore by the upper class and withdrew into the volume segments.
Anyone looking for a Renault Vel Satis today does not have too much choice in the national market. Unsurprisingly, things look better on the home market of France. You can’t avoid the top version with the 3.5 liter V6 engine and the luxury equipment Initiale should also be included. Even well-maintained vehicles with a complete package and less than 125,000 kilometers cost barely 5,000 euros. However, the Renault Vel Satis repeatedly had to struggle with electrical and electronic problems. Therefore, one should look at the numerous indicator lights just as carefully as the service booklet and the interior. Then you can feel like the King of France for little money – at least almost.