When TC Euro Cars previewed the electric driven Fluence a year ago, TC Euro Cars management confirmed that the petrol driven version will be introduced in a short time soon as a locally assembled version. Now this global Renault is on sale in Malaysia at a selling price that is on par with the Nissan Sylphy but with more space and features.
The Fluence made its world debut at the Istanbul Motor in late 2012 and since then it has been produced (outside of France) in five countries around the globe South Korea, Turkey, Russia, Argentina and India and sold in 84 countries to date.
The Renault Fluence in Malaysia comes with a petrol driven 2.0 16v engine that is co-engineered with Nissan. It produces 143 hp at 6,000 rpm and 195 Nm of torque at 3,700 rpm and is mated to an X-Tronic CVT gearbox with an oil cooler added for easy maintenance.
The Fluence is no small sedan as it is 4,618mm long, 1,813mm wide, 1,485mm high with a wheelbase of 2,702mm. It rides on MacPherson struts sit up front while a torsion beam sits out back, and there are disc brakes on all 4 wheels.
The Fluence is fitted with a long list of equipment as standard. You get auto headlamps and wipers, leather seats, dual-zone auto air-con, rear air vents, keyless entry and start and cruise control. The back seats are split 60:40 and there’s a fold down armrest with two cup holders. A seven-inch touch-screen incorporates Renault R-Link, navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth, MP3, CD, USB and reverse camera display, while music enthusiast will enjoy the six-speaker Arkamys 3D sound system. Safety is class best at 6-airbags, ESP, ASR and rear-seat Isofix.
The estimated price for the Renault Fluence is RM115,000, OTR without insurance. It comes with an industry leading 5-year warranty with unlimited mileage, and standard 2-years’/40,000 km free service.
If your car has to undergo maintenance in the workshop for more than 48 hours, you get a courtesy car. That’s not all, if you book a Fluence from now until the end of June, you get extra 3-years’ free service, giving you a total of 5-years free service.
Available colours are Ultra Silver, Black Metallic, Mars Grey and White Pearl. The arrival of the Fluence in Malaysia marks the start of a Renault charge into the ASEAN region, primarly where the Tan Chong group has a strong automotive presence, Indochina. While the name itself suggests flow and elegance, the Fluence strengthens this image with an extra dose of modernity, dynamism and style. But Fluence also signifies a highly successful sedan with an international calling and we will be seeing more of this sedan in ASEAN nations in coming months.