Renault T Evolution

[Tony Phan]

RenaultTrucks is upgrading its T, T High, C and K ranges in 2021, bringing major improvements in terms of driving comfort, on-board comfort, safety and productivity. This is the most important evolution since the total renewal of the manufacturer's ranges in 2013.

In 2021, Renault Trucks is changing the exterior design of its vehicles, adopting a more assertive style, particularly in terms of the headlights, which have been reduced in size in order to increase the painted surface of the lower body section. A new honeycomb grille completes the more modern, sleek design of the 2021 Renault Trucks.

The vehicles are fitted with a new three-axis adjustable steering column. This enables drivers to adopt the driving position that suits them best, tailored to their morphology, mission requirements or personal preferences.

The column is adjusted using a single foot control to set both the position and the tilt of the steering wheel. Adjustment with both hands on the wheel and instant locking ensures both precision and safety. In addition, the Neman on the column has been replaced by a start button.

As an HGV driver spends an average of nine hours a day behind the wheel, the seats need to remain comfortable throughout the life of the vehicle and be suited to each driver. Renault Trucks has therefore redesigned its range of seats and now offers a modular range for complete flexibility in terms of settings, choice of combinations and options. The manufacturer has also introduced new textiles, designed to withstand the many climbs in and out of the cab every day. A leather version is also available as an option.

Renault Trucks has added a tablet and smartphone holder, positioned within easy reach of the driver, providing access to several devices simultaneously and charging them via two USB-C sockets. A new A4 document storage drawer has also been added.

A truck is not only a driver's work tool, it is also where they rest and sleep. The quality of the bed is therefore crucial. For the driver's well-being and increased longevity of the equipment, Renault Trucks has increased the thickness of the mattress of the "Serenity" bunk by 13% and doubled the number of springs, providing optimal support thanks to a better distribution of body weight. A washable memory foam mattress topper can be added as an option. The mattress is separate from the base, allowing for the use of fitted sheets.

The new Renault Trucks T, T High and C are fitted with LED lights as standard. As it is closer to natural light, LED light gives drivers a better perception of contrasts and colours. This significantly improves night-time visibility and therefore safety. Another advantage of LED technology is its reliability and longevity. The life of an LED source is up to thirty times longer than that of a conventional bulb.

For the optimal safety of drivers, their loads and road users, a number of options are also available, including a mechanical anti-intrusion device (safety door-lock), cameras and presence sensors, as well as vision doors providing excellent visibility of pedestrians and cyclists.

Secondly, the vehicles have been fitted with new technology to further reduce fuel consumption. These include a new version of the Optivision predictive cruise control system and an optimised cruise control system with two selectable driving modes. 'Eco on' is the default mode and optimises fuel consumption by adjusting acceleration, gear shifting, cruise control and deceleration, whereas "Eco off" allows drivers to change the driving mode. An indicator gives drivers real-time information about their driving style; the greater the number of leaves, the more economical the driving.

This new technology is part of the "Excellence Predict" maintenance offer, which enables the manufacturer to act before a malfunction occurs and thus give its customers greater peace of mind by guaranteeing continuous vehicle availability.

In addition, experts in the Renault Trucks network are able to carry out pre-diagnosis, functionality updates and remote adjustments on vehicles. This reduces the number of visits to the workshop and optimises appointments.

Depending on usage and mileage, oil change intervals for vehicles fitted with 13-litre Euro VI engines can be extended to 150,000 km or 18 months, resulting in lower contracted maintenance costs (labour and parts), optimised maintenance schedules with fewer service stops and additional fuel savings.

Although touch screens are now almost ubiquitous in vehicles, they have not escaped the meteoric rise of digital technology. Size, orientation, ergonomics, design: they are constantly being reinvented, with designers guided not only by technological advances but also by the needs of users. The aim is to meet these needs and anticipate trends to create the right type of screen at the right time. That's why the evolution of touchscreens in the passenger compartment is, above all, a story in motion.

Renault started developing touch screens around 2007, during the Clio IV design phase. At first, it was hard to convince the management to go tactile! Hence the redundancy with wheel control for a long time.

Before a complete switch to touchscreens, the joystick that had previously been used to control the non-touchscreen central screens was improved in the same year with a multi-directional axis to facilitate navigation in the R-Link multimedia interface. This new feature was offered on Scenic XMOD and the erange, while a handrest was developed on Espace IV for easier use of the joystick and therefore the screen.

Like smartphones, touchscreens in vehicles have become more responsive over the years, correlated with an increase in the power of the processors and memory running the multimedia systems. The ecosystem has also progressed, with advanced functions such as smartphone connectivity and virtual assistants. Embedded applications have also multiplied, for an enriched and more personalized experience.

In terms of form, 2014 marks a major change, at odds with the automotive standards of the time: the fifth-generation Renault Espace is equipped with a vertical - rather than horizontal touchscreen, again with the aim of offering users an experience like smartphone use. Thanks to connectivity, this screen provides access to weather forecasts, real-time traffic information and local search.

Stphane Maiore takes us back to the first tests: In 2010, we taped an IPad to the dashboard to see what a vertical format could do. We were the first to bring out screens in this format with such an orientation."

At the same time, designers were already thinking about the next move, given the speed at which digital trends were evolving. The two unavoidable trends of the time were the arrival of a second screen on the dashboard, facing the driver, and a demand for better, safer ergonomics.

OpenR Link, its operating system, is the fruit of this philosophy. By simplifying menus and screen navigation, it reduces the number of operations, offering instant access to essential functions. A major advance in automotive interior ergonomics, freeing the user from superfluous constraints.

Marc Pinel reveals that, faced with the dilemma between the in-car system and their favorite mobile applications, many of the panel's test customers still preferred the comfort of their smartphone strapped to the dashboard. For OpenR, the solution was obvious: integrate these familiar applications into the car's ecosystem, offering a driving experience closer to our smartphones, and above all, imbued with confidence.

The upside-down double L-shaped OpenR screen, a symbol of innovation today, is not necessarily suited to all needs and vehicles. On the latest Renault 5 E-Tech electric, the on-board display and multimedia screen are positioned horizontally.

The future of our cockpits lies in a perpetual quest for innovation, adaptation, and safety, in the service of an ever more ergonomic, fluid, and intuitive driving experience. A critical analysis of our current concepts prompts us to look to the future with lucidity: perhaps one day, concealing screens will become necessary to reconcile accessibility and discretion.

It was first teased on a blog post back on January 2016.[1] According to an official livestream by SCS Software in December 20, 2018,[2] it was mostly finished at the time, but approving the model took a lot of time because there are several owners and right-holders involved. It was added to the game on September 26, 2019 during the 1.35 update.[3]

On March 23, 2021, Renault announced an "evolution" to the T model, and authorized a rendering in Euro Truck Simulator 2 prior to the new model's real-life release.[4] The T Evolution series was released on April 6, 2021 during the 1.40 update and it was an update to the Renault T.[5] It is the first time in the history of Euro Truck Simulator 2 to make a partnership with a manufacturer to be added to the game before its real-life release.

This improved version of the fifth generation Clio supermini probably won't return this model line to its old position as one of Europe's favourites but it still merits careful consideration against better known class favourites in this base TCe 90 form. Tougher segment competition has forced Renault to up its game, particularly in terms of cabin technology, fit and finish. There's greater practicality, extra safety and media technology and a sharper look. Plenty to like then.

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