Renault Symbol

Renault Symbol

Manufacturer	Renault
Production	1999–present
Class	Subcompact
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Related	Renault Clio II

The Renault Symbol, or Thalia in some markets, is a sedan car produced by the French automobile manufacturer Renault.^[1] The first generation was introduced as the saloon version of the second generation Renault Clio, but was marketed only in those countries where the hatchback didn't sell too well,^[2] while not being available in Western Europe.^[3] The second generation has a different design than the third generation of the Clio and is built on the platform of the first generation car. Its key markets are Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Maghreb, and most notably countries like Turkey, Brazil, Romania, Russia, Algeria, Colombia and Tunisia. It is also available in the Gulf states.^[4]

First generation (1999–2008)

First generation

Also called	Renault Clio Classic Renault Clio Sedan Renault Clio Symbol Renault Thalia Nissan Platina
Production	1999–2008 2002–2010 (as Nissan Platina)[5]
Assembly	Bursa, Turkey Cordoba, Argentina[6] Curitiba, Brazil[7] Envigado, Colombia[8] Moscow, Russia[9] Aguascalientes, Mexico[10]
Engine	1.0 L I4 16V Hi-Flex 1.2 L I4 16V 1.4 L I4 1.4 L I4 16V 1.6 L I4 16V 1.6 L I4 16V CNG 1.6 L I4 16V Hi-Flex 1.5 L I4 dCi 1.9 L I4 D
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,473 mm (97.4 in)
Length	4,150 mm (163.4 in) (1999–02) 4,171 mm (164.2 in) (2002–08)
Width	1,639 mm (64.5 in)
Height	1,437 mm (56.6 in)
Curb weight	910–1,090 kg (2,000–2,400 lb)

The first generation was launched in late 1999 as the saloon version of the Clio II.^[11] It was released with different names depending of the market: Clio Symbol,^[12] Thalia,^[13] Clio Sedan,^[14] Clio 4 Puertas,^[15] Symbol,^[16] or Clio Classic.^[17] Originally, the car was intended for sale in developing countries, but due to demand, it was later made available in countries where saloons were traditionally preferred over hatchbacks, most notably in Eastern Europe. In some Latin American markets, like Chile and Mexico,^[18] it was offered as Nissan Platina, with slight changes at the front of the car to make it resemble the Nissan Altima. It is longer by 38 cm to the hatchback and adds a larger boot of 510 litres (18 cu ft).^[19]

The main production site of the model had been the Oyak-Renault plant in Bursa, Turkey, where production started in 1999. Worldwide, it was also built since 2000 in Argentina at the plant in Santa Isabel, Córdoba, in Brazil at the Ayrton Senna complex in Sao José dos Pinhais, near Curitiba, and since 2001 in Colombia by SOFASA.^[4] In 2002, it began assembly in Mexico, rebadged as Nissan Platina, at the Nissan Mexicana plant in Aguascalientes.^[10] For a short time, between the end of 2002 and 2004, it was also assembled in Russia by Avtoframos.^[20]

At the beginning it was available with only two engine options in Europe: a 1.4 liter 8-valve (75 hp; 56kW) and a 1.4 liter 16-valve (98 hp; 73 kW), both of them with multi-point fuel injection.^[21] In Argentina it was manufactured with a 1.6 liter 16-valve petrol (100 hp; 74kW) engine and a 1.9 liter diesel (65 hp; non-turbo),^[22] in Colombia with the 1.4 liter 8-valve,^[23] and in Brazil either with the 1.6 liter 16-valve or with a 1.0 16-valve petrol (70 hp; 52 kW).^[24] Initial trim designations were RN (RNA) and RT (RTE), but later they received names of their own: Authentique, Expression, Dynamique, Alizé, Privilège etc.

It was facelifted in March 2002,^[25] gaining the new front end of the hatchback Clio, black moldings on the bumpers, slightly revised interior (electric window buttons moved from the central console onto the doors, the steering wheel got a new design) and improved safety levels. New engines were also added: a 1.2 liter engine (75 hp; 54 kW), a 1.5 liter dCi (75 hp; 56 kW) and the 1.6 liter 16-valve petrol (107 hp; 80 kW) in Europe, which was only available with the Dynamique trim level. Throughout the following years, two other versions of the 1.5 dCi engine were included in the range: one of 70 hp (51.5 kW) and one of 80 hp (58.9 kW).^[26] An automatic transmission version was added, but for with the 1.4 16-valve versions.^[27]

The new front end was adopted in South America from 2003. In Brazil two engines were adapted to run with flexible-fuel: the 1.0 liter 16-valve (76 hp on petrol, 77 hp on alcohol) and the 1.6 liter 16-valve (110 hp on petrol, 115 hp on alcohol);^[28] while in Argentina a CNG version was introduced towards the end of the year.^[29]

The Nissan Platina was available only with the 1.6 liter 16-valve petrol engine (110 hp; 82 kW). It had four trim levels, baptized Grado Q, Grado K, Grado K plus and Grado A, the same as the top cards in a playing deck.^[30] From the 2008 model year, they changed to Custom, Emotion, Premium and Premium A.^[31] It was sold with either with a manual gearbox or with an automatic one with overdrive system.

In the first half of 2005, minor changes were done to the Renault models. These included clear tail lights and side repeaters, a slightly modified grille and some of the display units passing form analogue to digital.

In the beginning of 2006, an improved version of the sedan was offered in Argentina and Brazil, and from fall in Europe.^[32] At the exterior, it now had body colored bumpers, without moldings and regardless of the trim level. The shape of the grille was revised and the boot got a new handle with the Renault logo integrated, similar to the one used on Laguna, as well as the new styling of the Renault word. Four new colors were made available and two distinctive new rim designs. For the European model and the Platina,^[33] the interior was upgraded to the one used in the facelifted Clio II, with very minor parts commonality with Megane II, as well as new standard and optional equipment, such as automatic air conditioning and a CD player.^[34]

This model was offered in three equipment levels: Authentique, Expression and Dynamique. Expression included driver airbag, air conditioning, trip computer, electric mirrors, electric front windows, CD-player and height adjustable steering wheel. Dynamique added passenger airbag, ABS, rear electric windows, body colored door handles and alloy rims, although the ABS and passenger airbag were optionals that could be added to the lower levels too. Automatic air conditioning was available as an extra feature.^[34]

It scored 12 points out of 16 in a frontal crash test conducted by the Russian magazine Autoreview in 2002, which was considered equivalent to the result scored by the hatchback version in the Euro NCAP testing.^[35] Over 600,000 units were sold worldwide since the release of this model.^[36]

Gallery

• 

  Rear view of Renault Thalia (1999–2002)

• 

  Facelifted Renault Symbol (2002–2004)

• 

  Rear view of Renault Symbol (2002–2004)

• 

  Rear view of Renault Symbol (2007–2008)

• 

  Nissan Platina in Mexico

• 

  Rear view of Nissan Platina

Second generation (2008–present)

Second generation

Also called	Renault Thalia
Production	2008–present
Assembly	Bursa, Turkey Santa Isabel, Argentina
Platform	First generation
Engine	1.2 L I4 16V 1.4 L I4 1.4 L I4 16V 1.6 L I4 1.6 L I4 Hi-Flex 1.6 L I4 16V 1.6 L I4 16V Hi-Flex 1.5 L I4 dCi
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2,473 mm (97.4 in)
Length	4,261 mm (167.8 in)
Width	1,639 mm (64.5 in)
Height	1,439 mm (56.7 in)
Curb weight	904–1,045 kg (1,990–2,300 lb)

The second generation uses the running gear of the previous generation car and has a different design than the third generation Clio, although an estate version has been developed from the hatchback in 2007. The Clio name was dropped in favor to just Symbol, or Thalia in those markets where this name was used on the previous generation. It was revealed for the first time in August 2008 at the Moscow International Motor Show and went on sale between September and November. The second generation car is longer than the previous by 7 cm (2.8 in) and has a boot capacity of 506 litres (17.9 cu ft).^[37]

The new Symbol was designed jointly by Renault's engineering teams in France, Turkey and Romania, for countries in the Eastern and Central Europe, Russia, Turkey, North Africa and as well the Gulf States. The place of manufacture is the Oyak-Renault plant in Bursa, Turkey, and from 2009 it is also built in Santa Isabel, Argentina for the South American market.^[38] Development of the project, codenamed L35, took 26 months.^[37][39]

It is available in three equipment levels: Authentique, Expression and Privilège. Features included by Authentique are driver airbag, rev-counter or body-colored front and rear bumpers. Expression adds hydraulic power steering, trip computer, electric front windows, height adjustable steering wheel and front seats, folding rear bench seat, rear headrests and body-colored mirrors and electric central locking with remote control. Privilège adds electric mirrors, leather-trimmed steering wheel, foglamps, rear electric windows and radio-CD player with MP3 playback.^[37]

In terms of safety, the new Symbol offers driver airbag, passenger airbag, two lateral airbags (depending on version), anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), anti-intrusion strengthening in front and rear doors, height-adjustable front seatbelts, power steering and rear parking sensors.^[37]

The Turkish Police uses Renault Symbol cars.^[40]

Engines

According to Renault, the engines used on this model are of the latest generation at the date of release.^{[37][41][42][43]}

Engine	Code	Type	Power	Torque	Top speed	0–100 km/h	Consumption	CO2 emissions
1.2 L (1149 cc)	D4F 728	16-valve I4	75 PS (55 kW)	105 N·m (11 m·kgf)	167 km/h (104 mph)	13.0 s	5.9 l/100 km	140 g/km
1.4 L (1390 cc)	K7J 700	8-valve I4	75 PS (55 kW)	114 N·m (12 m·kgf)	170 km/h (106 mph)	12.5 s	7.1 l/100 km	168 g/km
1.4 L (1390 cc)	K7J 712	16-valve I4	98 PS (72 kW)	127 N·m (13 m·kgf)	185 km/h (115 mph)	11.5 s	7.0 l/100 km	165 g/km
1.4 L (1390 cc)	K7J 713	16-valve I4	98 PS (72 kW)	127 N·m (13 m·kgf)	180 km/h (112 mph)	13.9 s	7.3 l/100 km	174 g/km
1.5 L (1461 cc)	K9K 700	8-valve dCi I4	64 PS (47 kW)	160 N·m (16 m·kgf)	160 km/h (99 mph)	15.2 s	4.7 l/100 km	126 g/km
1.5 L (1461 cc)	K9K 740	8-valve dCi I4	65 PS (48 kW)	160 N·m (16 m·kgf)	160 km/h (99 mph)	16.5 s	4.5 l/100 km	118 g/km
1.5 L (1461 cc)	K9K 718	8-valve dCi I4	84 PS (62 kW)	200 N·m (20 m·kgf)	177 km/h (110 mph)	12.3 s	4.3 l/100 km	116 g/km
1.6 L (1598 cc)	K7M Hi-Flex	8-valve I4	95 PS (70 kW)	138 N·m (14.1 m·kgf)	174 km/h (108 mph)	11.5 s
1.6 L (1598 cc)	K4M 745	16-valve I4	105 PS (77 kW)	148 N·m (15 m·kgf)	185 km/h (115 mph)	11.9 s	7.6 l/100 km	180 g/km
1.6 L (1598 cc)	K4M Hi-Flex	16-valve I4	115 PS (85 kW)	157 N·m (16 m·kgf)

Gallery

• 

  Renault Thalia rear

• 

  Renault Symbol rear

References

1. ^ "Renault Symbol / Thalia". Renault. http://www.renault.com/en/Vehicules/renault/Pages/symbol-thalia.aspx. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
2. ^ "Renault Clio Symbol/Thalia 2000". Autoevolution. http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/renault-clio-symbolthalia-2000.html. Retrieved 2011-05-18. 
3. ^ "Clio Tricorps : une petite familiale robuste" (in French). Renault. Archived from the original on 2005-02-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20050205181509/http://www.renault.com/fr/produits/clio_symbol.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-20. "Clio Tricorps est disponible hors d'Europe occidentale." 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Press release". Renault. 2006-09-04. p. 6. http://www.renault.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Communiqu%C3%A9%20de%20presse/en-EN/Pieces%20jointes/12267_L65_ph4_DP_Ang_diff_complet.pdf#page=6. Retrieved 2011-06-12. 
5. ^ "2010 Registration Document". Renault. 2011-04-18. p. 230. http://www.renault.com/en/Lists/ArchivesDocuments/Renault%20-%202010%20Registration%20Document.pdf#page=232. Retrieved 2011-07-15. "Production of the dual-badged Clio/Platina at Nissan’s Aguascalientes plant in Mexico [...] has been suspended." 
6. ^ "2004 Annual Report Summary". Renault. 2005-03-17. p. 48. http://www.renault.com/en/Lists/ArchivesDocuments/Renault%20-%202004%20Annual%20Report%20Summary.pdf#page=48. Retrieved 2011-05-19. "Thalia/Symbol, the sedan version of Clio, is manufactured in Turkey, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia." 
7. ^ "2006 Registration Document". Renault. 2007-04-24. p. 9. http://www.renault.com/en/Lists/ArchivesDocuments/Renault%20-%202006%20Registration%20Document.pdf#page=9. Retrieved 2011-05-19. "Outside Europe, Clio is also assembled [...] in Mercosur countries in [...] Curitiba in Brazil, Envigado in Colombia (the Clio Symbol sedan)." 
8. ^ "Envigado - Renault-Sofasa". Renault. http://www.renault.com/en/Groupe/developpement-durable/fiches-sites/Pages/envigado.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-07. "Renault-Sofasa produces the [...] Symbol [...] and sells [...] the new Symbol II." 
9. ^ "Moscow - Avtoframos". Renault. http://www.renault.com/en/groupe/developpement-durable/fiches-sites/pages/moscou.aspx. Retrieved 2011-09-29. "Avtoframos is a commercial and industrial company selling the Renault range in Russia. Its plant in Moscow started assembling Clio three-box at the end of 2002." 
10. ^ ^{a b} "Alliance facts and figures". Renault. 2008-09-17. p. 7. http://www.renault.com/en/Lists/ArchivesDocuments/Renault%20-%20Alliance%20facts%20and%20figures%20-%20en%20-%20oct08.pdf#page=7. Retrieved 2011-06-22. "2002/03.4: Production of the Nissan Platina, derived from the Clio sedan, begins at the Nissan Aguascalientes plant in Mexico." 
11. ^ "2000 Annual Report Summary". Renault. 2001-04-24. p. 19. http://www.renault.com/en/Lists/ArchivesDocuments/Renault%20-%202000%20Annual%20Report%20Summary.pdf#page=19. Retrieved 2011-07-29. "Clio Symbol, a three-box model launched in late 1999." 
12. ^ "Clio Symbol" in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. It was marketed as "Symbol" from 2002, after the facelift, in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. In Romania the name "Symbol" was adopted in the first half of 2005. In Turkey and Bulgaria the name was adopted in the fall of 2006, after the second restyling.
13. ^ "Thalia" in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Also in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Latvia and Lithuania.
14. ^ "Clio Sedan" in Brazil and Paraguay.
15. ^ "Clio 4 Puertas" in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
16. ^ "Symbol" in the rest of South America, except Argentina, Brazil , Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
17. ^ "Clio Classic" in Asia (Israel, Syria, Lebanon) and North Africa (Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia).
18. ^ "En Chile el Nissan Platina" (in Spanish). Autocosmos. 2004-01-24. http://www.autocosmos.cl/noticias/8092/en-chile-el-nissan-platina.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-22. 
19. ^ "Rodinný pomocník za rozumnou cenu" (in Czech). Autotesty. 2001-03-30. http://www.autotesty.cz/2001/1Q/auto/thalia.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-30. 
20. ^ "Renault Clio Simbol: Никакой символики" (in Russian). AutoCentre. 2009-01-13. http://www.autocentre.ua/ac/Service/Used-Cars/14117.html. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
21. ^ "Clio Symbol Özelikler" (in Turkish). Renault Türkiye. Archived from the original on 2011-04-17. http://web.archive.org/web/20010417030552/http://www.renault.com.tr/2001/clio_symbol_ozellik.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
22. ^ "Renault : Clio2 : Ficha Técnica" (in Spanish). Rieder & CIA S.A.C.I.. Archived from the original on 2002-03-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20020323200527/http://www.rieder.com.py/renault/clio2_sedan/tecnico.html. 
23. ^ "Symbol - ficha técnica" (in Spanish). Sofasa S.A.. Archived from the original on 2002-03-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20020328131758/http://www.sofasa.com.co/renault/symbol/sym-ficha.htm. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
24. ^ "Renault Clio Sedan" (in Portuguese). Renault Brazil. Archived from the original on 2001-08-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20010807153155/http://www.renault.com.br/cars/vn_tec_cliosedan.asp. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
25. ^ "Yeni Clio Symbol, yeni tasarımla geliyor" (in Turkish). Otoalsat. 2002-03-15. http://www.otoalsat.com/yenilik/yeni-clio-symbol-yeni-tasarimla-geliyor.html. Retrieved 2011-07-31. 
26. ^ "Renault Symbol I specifications". Carfolio.com. http://www.carfolio.com/search/results/?makematch=c&make=Renault&modelmatch=c&model=Clio%20II%20Symbol&num=10&offset=0. Retrieved 2011-05-07. 
27. ^ "Renault - Autószalon - Thalia" (in Hungarian). Renault. Archived from the original on 2002-12-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20021205042454/http://www.renault.hu/autoszalon/szemely_felsz.php?param=39. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
28. ^ "Renault Clio Sedan" (in Portuguese). Renault Brazil. 2008-06-11. p. 3. http://www.renault.com.br/downloads/meu/catalogos/folheto_cliosedan.pdf#page=3. Retrieved 2011-06-02. 
29. ^ "Renault Clio CNG" (in Spanish). Renault Argentina. Archived from the original on 2003-12-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20031205153013/http://www.renault.com.ar/SecVehiculos/VehiculoHome?varcategory=Clio+GNC. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
30. ^ "Catálogo Nissan Platina" (in Spanish). Nissan Mexicana. Archived from the original on 2003-03-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20030315030330/http://www.nissanplatina.com.mx/platina.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
31. ^ "Nissan Platina" (in Spanish). Nissan Mexicana. Archived from the original on 2007-12-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20071215071925/http://www.nissanplatina.com.mx/index.php. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
32. ^ "Clio 4 Puertas". Renault Argentina. Archived from the original on 2006-02-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20060206192411/http://www.renault.com.ar/opencms/SecVehiculos/Automoviles/Clio4Puertas/index.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
33. ^ "Platina - Nuevo interior" (in Spanish). Nissan Mexicana. Archived from the original on 2006-12-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20061208023953/http://www.nissanplatina.com.mx/catalogo.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-07. 
34. ^ ^{a b} "Renault Clio - Pentru cei alergici" (in Romanian). Autoshow. 2006-08-29. http://www.autoshow.ro/article--x-Prezentari-Renault_Clio_-_Pentru_cei_alergici--2001.html. Retrieved 2011-10-04. 
35. ^ "«Dve bol'shie raznitsy»" (in Russian). Autoreview. No 7, 2002. http://www.autoreview.ru/_archive/section/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=75208&SECTION_ID=2248. Retrieved 2011-07-15. 
36. ^ "Renault lance la berline Symbol" (in French). L'Economiste. 2008-08-22. http://www.leconomiste.com/article/renault-lance-la-berline-symbol. Retrieved 2011-06-02. "depuis son lancement en 2000, la Clio Symbol a été vendue à plus de 600.000 exemplaires dans le monde." 
37. ^ ^{a b c d e} "New Renault Symbol, an elegant three-box saloon with seductive appeal". Renault. 2008-08-26. http://www.renault.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Communiqu%C3%A9%20de%20presse/en-EN/Pieces%20jointes/17545_PR_Reveal_SYMBOL_GB.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-22. 
38. ^ "Renault launches new Renault Symbol in South America". Renault. 2008-12-23. http://www.media.renault.com/download/media/specialfile/8149_1_5.aspx. Retrieved 2011-05-18. "New Renault Symbol will be manufactured for all of South America at the Santa Isabel (Cordoba) plant in Argentina." 
39. ^ "Nouvelle Symbol : fer de lance des pays émergents" (in French). Renault Concepts. 2008-09-15. http://renaultconcepts.online.fr/news/symbol.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-21. 
40. ^ "Renault Clio Symbol "Türk Polis Teşkilatı"" (in Turkish). Flickr. 2009-10-01. http://www.flickr.com/photos/21532948@N04/3997861994/. Retrieved 2010-11-03. 
41. ^ "Renault Symbol II specifications". Carfolio. 2010-11-17. http://www.carfolio.com/search/results/?makematch=c&make=renault&modelmatch=c&model=symbol&y1=2008&num=10&offset=0. Retrieved 2010-11-28. 
42. ^ "Symbol - Manual de utilização" (in Portuguese). Renault Brazil. 2008-10-21. p. 138. http://www.renault.com.br/downloads/meu/catalogos/manual_symbol.pdf#page=138. Retrieved 2011-06-02. 
43. ^ "New Renault Symbol, elegant, versatile and inexpensive to run". Renault. 2008-09-11. http://www.renault.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Communiqu%C3%A9%20de%20presse/en-EN/Pieces%20jointes/17807_SYMBOL_GB_D7813E87.pdf. Retrieved 2011-06-22. 

External links

• Renault Symbol / Thalia official website at Renault.com