Facebook Competition Winner gets to Meet Rihanna and win a Clio

The greatest exploit of marketing is convincing people that it does exist. As Madonna sang once upon a time, we are living in a material world, so marketing execs are always trying to discover new ways to promote their products –and keep their high-end salaries and bonuses intact.

When it comes to cars, things get tricky: the target group isn’t always clearly defined like in other products. That’s because, even though automobiles are considered more of a male hobby, both men and women buy and use them.

Moreover, traditional means of advertising no longer attract the new generation. Social media is where it’s at. And Renault UK agrees launching a Facebook competition in which it calls users to take a test drive and win a £11,000 Clio and a chance to meet Renault-sponsored pop artist Rihanna.

Va Va Voom, indeed. Or will they also change their slogan to “Cheers (Drink to That)”? Nah, the seventh single's title from Rihanna's latest album would not bond well with the “don’t drink and drive” campaign…

Renault UK’s Facebook Competition Winner gets to Meet Rihanna and win a Clio

The greatest exploit of marketing is convincing people that it does exist. As Madonna sang once upon a time, we are living in a material world, so marketing execs are always trying to discover new ways to promote their products –and keep their high-end salaries and bonuses intact.

When it comes to cars, things get tricky: the target group isn’t always clearly defined like in other products. That’s because, even though automobiles are considered more of a male hobby, both men and women buy and use them.

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Renault brand’s sales are down 35 percent dealers are offering discounts as high as 45 percent

The Renault brand’s sales are down 35 percent since May 1 in France and this has forced local dealers to offer hefty discounts to customers on certain models, a French radio station reported. According to the BFM radio station quoted by Reuters, dealers are offering discounts as high as 45 percent on some versions of the Clio supermini. For instance, certain dealers are selling the Clio for €7,990 ($11,400), even though the factory sticker is €14,100 ($20,120).

Renault admitted that the French car market remained on a downward trend, but refused to comment the report according to which its sales were down 35 percent. "We cannot communicate on May data before early June...The market for May in France seems down," a Renault spokesman said. He added that decreasing sales were partly due to the end of a car scrappage scheme.

France's successful car incentive program was terminated in December 2010, but drivers who bought cars as part of the program could register them until the end of March.

Renault was one of the hardest hit carmakers in Europe in April recording a 13 percent drop in sales compared to last year with 105,799 units. In the same month, car sales in France declined by 11 percent, according to ACEA, the European automakers association.

Europe's car market shrank for the third consecutive year, falling to 13.8 million vehicles in 2010 from 16 million in 2007, the last year in which it recorded a sales growth.

PHOTO GALLERY

Paris Show: Renault ZOE Preview Teases 2012 Production EV and Hints at Next Clio

One or two sizes up from the quirky little Twizy is where Renault's ZOE Preview sits. Following in the vain of last year's ZOE Z.E. coupe, the ZOE Preview is a more realistic look at the production version that will be available in 2012 wearing Renault's newest face. Not only that, but it may just be previewing (ZING!) the next Clio as well.

Similar in size to the Clio, this little electric econobox gets some high-end passenger comfort tech that may or may not show up in the production model (Renault claims 90% of what you see here is what you'll get). To get occupants comfortable, the ZOE has a humidity-regulating climate control system with an integrated toxicity sensor and scent diffuser.

Oh, there's more, don't worry. It also provides "light therapy", which is being co-developed with Philips (apparently a "world-renowned light therapy specialist").

The concept seen here is 4.1 meters long and rides on 19-inch wheels. For production, dimensions are going to be similar, but those wheels? Probably not showing up. Power comes from an 80-horsepower / 60 kW electric motor that makes 222 Nm / 164 lb-ft of torque.

A charge will take from 6 to 8 hours and can be done (primarily) two different ways: either with a Wall Box that you connect to your home's outlet, or by optional EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). Renault recommends going with the wall box for the sake of convenience. Also possible, should an infrastructure appear sometime soon, is what the company calls a "Fast Charge"; this gives the car a 37-mile emergency run after only ten minutes of charging.

Israelis and Danes may also have the opportunity for Quickdrop batteries, meaning there will be stations that will change out your used-up battery in a matter of minutes.

By Phil Alex

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