Tuesday 20th October 2009

Renaultsport Interview: Last Call For Questions

Pose your questions for Renaultsport Technical Director Stephen Marvin

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Stephen Marvin - in the hot seat

PistonHeads has a chance to interview Renaultsport technical director Stephen Marvin at the Megane 250 launch this week, so if you have a question you'd like posed on your behalf - now's your chance!

Have a look at the thread below to see which questions are already out there, and feel free to add your own. The thread will be closed at midnight, so don't miss this opportunity to ask a question. Replies will be published as soon as possible on the site.

 

[Chris-R]

PH has been promised some time with Renaultsport's technical director Stephen Marvin at the Megane 250 launch next week.

We had some great questions from PHers for an interview with GT-R chief Mizuno san recently, and I'm hoping we'll get similar access with Mr Marvin as he's a good egg - and a Brit!

Not sure if he'll agree to talking on video yet, but if you want to post any questions for him in this thread we'll do our best to get you the answers one way or another.

Oh, and I'm only asking him sensible stuff..!

[10 Pence Short]

Is it true that Renault introduced the 'Revoknuckle' concept on the Renaultsport cars before Ford used it on the Focus RS?

[10 Pence Short]

Do EU emmission regulations mean future RenaultSport cars are going to have to adopt turbocharging for the foreseeable future?

Are there any plans for a diesel RenaultSport model?

[10 Pence Short]

How have Renault viewed Honda's apparent dilution of the 'Type-R' brand and has that taught them anything in relation to the future direction of the RenaultSport models?

[CampDavid]

Will there be another caged R26r special kind of effort? Any chance of a 180bhp Twingo?

[10 Pence Short]

Do Renault have any intention of entering cars in the new, cheaper WRC format in the foreseeable future?

[10 Pence Short]

Why is Fernando Alonso such a bell end?

[LHD]

Will the Alpine brand make a re-apperance in the near future?

[LHD]

Why have Renaultsport continued with the NA engine in the Clio when other manufacurers have gone down the smaller turbo route?

Will the RS models continue to be built in Dieppe?

[patmahe]

Where do you see Renaultsport in 5 and 10 years time? What drivetrains will you be running N/A, Turbo, hybrid. Will you employ lightweight materials and if so what type of weight reduction would you expect in the Twingo or equivalent by 2019? And what impact are these measures likely to have on the cost of your vehicles to consumers.

[Park'O]

Chris-R said:

PH has been promised some time with Renaultsport's technical director Stephen Marvin at the Megane 250 launch next week.

We had some great questions from PHers for an interview with GT-R chief Mizuno san recently, and I'm hoping we'll get similar access with Mr Marvin as he's a good egg - and a Brit!

Not sure if he'll agree to talking on video yet, but if you want to post any questions for him in this thread we'll do our best to get you the answers one way or another.

Oh, and I'm only asking him sensible stuff..!

Please could you ask Mr Marvin, why is it..everytime Renault build a new Clio it gets heavier? yes they keep notching the power up (i think its up to 200hp now) but the kerb weight rises! So really performance wise, there getting no where! In fact, there getting lardy on turn in & slower from A-B! Why fix somthing when its not broken! just ask Porche or Lotus.

[Tycho]

Can we have a new Clio V6 but with about 300BHP this time?

[10 Pence Short]

Park'O said:

Chris-R said:

PH has been promised some time with Renaultsport's technical director Stephen Marvin at the Megane 250 launch next week.

We had some great questions from PHers for an interview with GT-R chief Mizuno san recently, and I'm hoping we'll get similar access with Mr Marvin as he's a good egg - and a Brit!

Not sure if he'll agree to talking on video yet, but if you want to post any questions for him in this thread we'll do our best to get you the answers one way or another.

Oh, and I'm only asking him sensible stuff..!

Please could you ask Mr Marvin, why is it..everytime Renault build a new Clio it gets heavier? yes they keep notching the power up (i think its up to 200hp now) but the kerb weight rises! So really performance wise, there getting no where! In fact, there getting lardy on turn in & slower from A-B! Why fix somthing when its not broken! just ask Porche or Lotus.

Generally the dimensions increase with new models (which is why new superminis are now bigger than the ranges above them were a few years ago). Despite lighter materials, that gain in size has to equal a gain in weight, as the cost of the lightweight materials necessary to mitigate the size increase would be prohibitively expensive.

If the market stopped demanding each new model be bigger than its predecessor, the weight should be able to stay relative or even reduce whilst the cost stay the same in real terms.

[Mutt]

Will there be an R28 version of the latest Clio / Megane / Twingo that is buy-one-get-one-free so you can stuff one into a wall if someone won't move over for you on a track day?

[Garlick]

Bump for those that may have missed it

[snotrag]

- How does an Organisation like Renaultsport view the 'afermarket' industry? Is it something that mainstreamn manufactures must consider, or at least be aware of? With the current trend towards Turbocharging, and modern engine manaagment, it seems theres barely a hit-hatch available on the 2nd hand market that hasnt had some form of tinkering.

Is it still something that manufacturers will ignore in a 'if you do it your car will definitely blow up, all bets are off, dont even think about bringing it back to us' type way...

Or - are you becoming more 'accepting' of it?

Perhaps you could offer 'factory tuning' in the future - variable servicing and warranties depending on what engine maps you run?

[pilchardthecat]

Can you make something with RWD now please? or does the transmission tunnel impinge upon the baguette capacity of the vehicle too much?

[neelyp]

Why can't you get xenon headlights on the Clio 200?

[nonuts]

Does RenaultSport agree with MMGW?

Or more seriously:

Does RenaultSport feel testing around tracks such as the Nurburgring ring and the times they produce actually have any benefit on the cars in the real world? If so do RenaultSport set out to be best in class?

What are the RenaultSport priorities when starting on designing a new car such as the Megane 250? Comfort, Grip, Balance, economy etc.

[VXRTOM]

neelyp said:

Why can't you get xenon headlights on the Clio 200?

I thought these were standard on the normal 200? but not on the cup?