Renault Scénic - Optional Extra

Optional Extra bonus video about the Renault Scénic.

Link to my other channel - Big Car:

#littlecar

[Colaholiker]

Rumor has it that the Juke was actually designed by a designer's child and the original draft had the word "Joke" on it. Some product manager saw this, took it for real and misread the name... the rest is history.

[ramiroini]

I really enjoyed this video, not only cause LeQuement was so nice to tell the story from his point of view, but it also made me feel so pride to see the render of a colegue I admire so much as Gustavo Fosco. I had the chance to have an interview with both of them when I was younger and it was a joy.
And, to be honest, the authenticity that was showed by the french in the 90´s have totally eclipsed italian design studios as institutions. So cheers for them

Big hug from Buenos Aires!

[frosch]

Please ask Patrick about the Laguna, i love the design of them.

[charliemansonUK]

I enjoy these just as much...or maybe even more than the main ones.
The finding out how you get to your conclusions/opinions is truly interesting.
Thanks
Charlie 🇬🇧

[anthonygray]

I love it when you get designers and engineers to discuss the how and why the vehicles turned out as they did. Sometimes for cost, sometimes for engineering issues, sometimes because of the dreaded “focus group” input.

As for my own opinion on design, I think it depends on the market. Kathy and I just pre-ordered our Cadillac Lyriq because of the excellent design. I think the most striking to come out of them since the 1967 Eldorado. It’s forward looking and edgy but not cartoonish. My favorite recent car is the DB9, especially the later ones. That car is perfect from every angle, inside and out. Something lost I think in the later DB11.

I’m not a fan of the immense grills now adorning BMWs. They need to tone that down a bit, as Audi did when their front ends got a bit heavy. Of course there is the Lexus spindle which makes me I’ll.

Great episodes!! Keep them coming!

[Hvitserk]

A great program series with the Renault Scenic. Of all the interesting details on the Renault Scenic, I like the basic one the best, namely the large window surfaces. This is missing from today's crossovers. A very good example and which also emphasizes your point that in terms of design there are great similarities between today's crossovers and the older MPVs are the second generation Peugeot 3008 and Citroën C4 Picasso II (now discontinued). They are even built on the same platform. However, the Peugot 3008 feels cramped compared to the C4 Picasso II and much of the reason for this is the high shoulder line and thus small window surfaces. It is therefore pleasing that VW, with the fairly new electric ID3, saw the point of large window surfaces to provide air and light into the cabin and thus a sense of space.

[MaximilianvonPinneberg]

So right, the 90s were a great period of IPD influenced car design. So many cars were refreshing, ingenious and had character. Cars now are largely balance sheets facilitating Finance agreements. Perhaps it will swing back the other way.

[mrjsv]

90's Renaults are indeed beautiful and stylish cars, Megane and Laguna especially, I like them.
Maybe one reason for cars today being so similar might be, because all kinds of safety and other regulations have become tighter than in the 90's, giving only a narrow path for car design?
For example popup headlights are gone, low and sleek front end designs are gone, all cars have pretty high nose, and the grilles are pretty much 90 degree angle to the bonnet, in straight down position like the edge of a brick, which may not be the most aerodynamic solution :D

[jeffr]

Andy, I've said for years that the only difference in 90% of the vehicles is the grill and tail lights. Yes, they are all made well, but to your point, they are boring. I remember in the 80s we would go to the State Fair of Texas and make a bee-line for the automobile building. We could sit in the new models, see what's new and creative...and dream. Now, we don't bother. even the interiors have been reduced to the lowest common denominator: everything is either black, grey, tan. (yawn).

[muds]

Another great video about an influential car. The one bit that slightly grinds, is you insistence to use the word “Chassis” when it should be floor pan. The Scenic, like many cars then and now, are of a monocoque design, and not a body on chassis.

[jamesengland]

I've watched the formal; now to sit for the casual extra.

[ZL..ChUpAcUpS]

I liked the start off blooper 😂 and been watching you since you started I love your video just wish there were more but I no you have to to resurch but my god I just can't get enough of them hope you are well 😊👋✌️

[MrDuncl]

That blooper at the start made me laugh. Back to the Scenic, ever since its launch I had assumed the name referred to the ample windows. Should the Nissan Joke or even worse the Toyota HR-V have been called the Noview. On that subject a colleague had a Vectra C but commented that his three children loved going on the bus because they could see so much out of the windows. The only car I can think of that made a effort in that area of design recently was the rather niche BMW I3.

[RobG]

Megane (without the é) means "glasses" in Japanese. When I was learning Japanese at the university, our teacher told us that Renault named the car like that because it looked like it had glasses on (first generation). I wonder whether there is some truth to that. Was the Mégane even sold in Japan?

[apathynoir]

It would help car markets stand out but being different does not sell unfortuntale. that's why I love quirky and off beat cars like Renault.

[Miika]

Thanks for yet another great video!

However, I disagree with your "all modern cars look alike" statement. At least to me it feels like design has come back, and that the cars differ more now than they did in the 90's and early 2000's. The Peugeot's look great, Toyota has finally found some courage, Tesla is unique...

Keep up the good work! 👍

[ZL..ChUpAcUpS]

The new labo looks cool like the old contash

[timm.e.n.]

Until we can make (or grow?) soft, fungus body panels I think the future of car design lies in the interior space, and I was inspired watching these wonderful videos

I had never thought to much of the Mégane Scenic - it was too new when I was a child and I was more into my 2CV’s, older Citroen’s in general and Peugeot, Opel, bit of Ford on the side (R.I.P McRae)

Rambling aside car makers need to get into experimenting with interiors more, this duo of videos are case in point!

Remember all the special editions of the 90’s? Something like that but with less denim/American football themed interiors and more psychedelic carpets for the kids would be a nice, cost effective start

[anthonyward]

We are lucky enough to own a original Scenic had it since new it’s over 20 years old and a second car now but no other car that we have owned comes anywhere close to its practicality 5 seats to two seats, low loading height with no lip opening rear window great for dog shows I can wheel my portable wood chipper straight in no chance with my Volvo XC 60 it will be a sad moment when we have to say goodbye

[MadNumForce]

Being French, I still see lots of first generation Scenic in the streets, and the design aged very well I find, and at first glance you can tell it's a car designed to combine form and function. I don't believe it's just nostalagia to say car design peaked in the 90's and early 2000's; these were cars designed by people with a vision and a keen sense of engineering and practicality, verging on Gesamtkunstwerk. They were statements that made sense.

What strikes me beyond the blandness and uniformity of cars currently produced (and the hypocrisy of making 2 tons electric SUV) is that window surface has been shrinked to an all time low. I mean even in the 1930's and 40's car had more window surface than they have now. It's intrinsically unsafe, and I don't understand why this trend is allowed to exist.

By the way, talking about cars with a vision, have your heard of Lormauto? It's a French company that's planning on retrofitting Twingos of the first generation are EV, with a 16kWh battery so that it can be recharged on any domestic outlet, either at home or at work. The 100km+ range is more than enough to fulfill 95% of the actual use of cars, especially since it can be recharged anywhere there's electricity. They won't be sold, but rented long term so upgrades, maintenance and repairs are entirely dealt with by Lormauto. The idea is also that the manufacturer can invest in long lasting and high quality equipments and parts, which is expensive, without having to worry about the reception of the price tag by the final user, since it's not sold at all. The renting price, all inclusive with maintenance, tyres, etc, is expected to be 200€/month, which should be lowered to 100€/month with government subsidies for energetic transition.