Renault gears up for UK 100% electric test drive tour
Proving that hitting the road for a high-profile tour of the UK isn’t just the preserve of high-profile music acts this summer, Renault has confirmed a series of UK roadshow dates for ‘It’s time to switch’ marketing campaign to promote its range of electric vehicles.
Generating positive Va Va Voom energy around the country, ‘Renault’s Z.E. Tour 2012’ launches this month. First stop on the 15 weekend tour that plugs into city centres and visitor attraction venues, including London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast, is Newcastle’s Centre for Life on 8 June.
The Renault Z.E. tour will showcase the exciting range of zero emission in use vehicles – Fluence Z.E., Twizy and Kangoo Van Z.E – and has been specifically designed to promote awareness of the various benefits of electric motoring.
The key aims of the gruelling schedule will be to leave visitors “educated, motivated and enthusiastic” towards the French brand’s unique range of 100% electric vehicles. Commenting on its latest marketing initiative, Andy Heiron, UK Head of Electric Vehicles Programme, said, “We’re the only manufacturer offering such a wide range of electric vehicles to appeal to different types of retail and business buyers. Our current three-model range has already been attracting a lot of interest, especially the unique Twizy. The proof of the pudding though is trying them out. We’re confident that after experiencing the refined and responsive driving experience of a purely electric vehicle, combined with the financial and environmental benefits of switching to an electric vehicle, potential buyers will be smitten.”
Each select event on the ‘Renault’s Z.E. Tour’, which runs until the end of October, lasts for three days, covering a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and is held within close proximity to a Renault Z.E. dealer and a good vehicle charging network.
At the heart of each event will be a central purpose-built geodesic dome alongside a Twizy agility course. The dome will be the welcome point for all visitors who engage in the activities, including the Twizy demonstrations and on-road test-drives.
Within the dome, touch screen pods will provide visitors with information relating to battery range, charging times, pricing and the latest Plugged-in Places infrastructure, as well as giving them the opportunity to explore the recently launched Zoe and be one of the first to order this electric stunner.
The Twizy agility course will clearly demonstrate just how easy and fun it is to manoeuvre this two-seater electric urban compact through tight spaces, twisty chicanes and around hairpin bends. During the accompanied test drives, professional instructors will explain vehicle characteristics such as regenerative braking, the availability of full torque from a standing start and the overall efficiency of the chosen model.
The running costs savings will also be explained using a ‘Reward Your Alter Eco’ challenge iPad app. After answering four simple questions, the app calculates the savings that could be achieved by visitors if they chose to switch to a Renault Z.E. over their current vehicle.
All challenge entries will then be entered into a prize draw and guests are able to choose how they would reward their ‘alter eco’ if successful in the draw at the end of the tour.
The Renault Fluence Z.E. is a five-seat family saloon car, Twizy is the first-ever fully electric urban compact two-seater, while the Kangoo Van Z.E., the current International Van of the Year, is Renault’s answer to those business customers looking for lower overheads from their light commercial vehicle fleet while reinforcing their green credentials.
Full details on the ‘Renault Z.E Tour 2012’ can be found at renault.co.uk/ze-tour.
