FRANKFURT - Renaults, New Talisman débuts at Frankfurt, AND WHY IS IT NOT COMING TO THE UK.

• Sleek style mated to huge practicality
• 4Control, active damping and Multi-Sense technology add to driver enjoyment
• Almost 1,700 litres of space in an easy-to-load cargo area
• Class-leading passenger space and comfort
• Comprehensive range of advanced driver aids
• R-Link 2 and BOSE Surround Sound keep occupants fully connected, informed  and entertained
• Three highly efficient diesel engines and two petrol units
• On sale in mainland Europe in the first half of 2016

Hot on the heels of the new D-segment Talisman saloon, Renault today reveals details of the stylish and capacious estate version which is set to go on sale in mainland Europe in the first half of 2016. Both models will make their public debuts on the company’s stand at the IAA in Frankfurt, which opens this week. The Talisman Estate competes in a sector of the European market where 54 per cent of sales are taken by estate models.

The Talisman Estate maintains all the style and panache of the saloon, but supplements this with a vast load area with a maximum capacity of almost 1,700 litres. A low sill and wide opening plus ‘Easy Estate’ seats which can be folded in an instant via two boot-mounted levers make loading simple, convenient and quick. A powered tailgate operated by the movement of a foot beneath the rear bumper ensures that owners do not need to put down their packages to gain access to the car. 

To prove that the Talisman Estate is not just a carry-all car, it comes with a raft of features designed to deliver driving enjoyment and enhance the safety, comfort and convenience of all on board. It is available with a choice of five highly-efficient TCe petrol and dCi diesel engines; offers 4Control, four-wheel steering, active damping and Multi-Sense technologies; and provides the highest levels of connectivity, infotainment and driver assistance through the R-Link 2 multimedia tablet, BOSE Surround Sound and electronic accident avoidance features.     

Doing it in style: racy lines disguise a vast load area

The Talisman Estate has exactly the same dimensions as the saloon, with a length of 4.86m, a width of 1.87m and a height of 1.46m. The wheelbase is 2.81m. This ensures that it has the same dynamic proportions, sleek profile and high waistline as the saloon.

The front end sports the new Renault identity, with an upright diamond logo prominent against a chrome grille. Renault’s new visual signature is seen in the C-shaped daytime running lights which extend down to the bumper. The lamps are the last word in lighting technology, with 100% Pure Vision LED dipped and main beam headlights for higher-end versions.

Seen from the side, the Talisman Estate’s waistline rises slightly over the wheel arches to add a dynamic feel to the rear profile. Polished aluminium roof bars accentuate the sweeping roofline that is extended by a long lip spoiler. The C-pillar and chrome-bordered side windows contribute to the impression of sleekness. The slope of the rear window adds a dynamic touch without detracting from boot space.

The wheels offer a choice of alloy rims from 16- to 19-inches and fit snugly within their sculpted arches. The rear lights benefit from 3D-effect Edge Light technology. They are permanently switched on and endow the Talisman Estate with a distinctive lighting signature.

Access to the boot is straightforward, thanks to a sill height of 571mm, an opening 1,074mm wide and, like the saloon, a powered tailgate. The Easy Estate feature allows the 60:40-split rear bench to be folded in an instant via two levers in the boot. Hands-free opening is made possible by a powered tailgate, which is activated by waving a foot underneath the rear bumper. It is complemented by hands-free closing.

The Talisman Estate has 572 litres of load space up to the parcel shelf and a maximum load length of 1,116mm. With the rear seats folded, that increases to 2,010mm, and a volume of almost 1,700 litres.

Class-leading interior space

The Talisman Estate has 30mm of extra headroom (a total of 886mm) for rear passengers compared to the saloon, increasing the comfort and well-being of occupants. As with the saloon, passenger space is class-leading.

Front headroom amounts to 902mm, front elbow room is a generous 1,512mm, rear knee room is 262mm and there is more than 25 litres of stowage space in the cabin.

The front seats are also best-in-class, with up to 10 possible settings, eight of which are electrically adjustable, and a seat length that can be adjusted fore/aft by up to 60mm.

Seat options include four-way electric lumbar adjustment, a massage function that can be adjusted in its type and intensity through two programmes and five sequences, aviation-style six-way adjustable headrests, heated cushions and backs and a settings memory for up to six people. New features include integrated ventilation for greater comfort in hot weather and new Cover Carving Technology – semi-rigid, strong, lightweight shells incorporated into the front seat backs, freeing up more than 3cm of additional knee room for rear passengers.

The Talisman Estate is available in a choice of five different equipment levels, including the range-topping Initiale Paris trim which offers even greater refinement and comfort, with an exclusive Amethyst Black exterior finish, special full-grain Nappa leather upholstery and improved soundproofing, assisted by laminated side windows.

Technologies to enhance comfort, safety and connectivity

The Renault Talisman Estate, like its saloon counterpart, is the first car in its class to pair 4Control rear-wheel steering with active damping.

Around town, 4Control endows the Talisman Estate with extraordinary agility, while it’s cornering stability and dexterity when evasive action is required put it in a class of its own for driving comfort and ease.

Renault’s Multi-Sense technology allows the driving experience to be personalisedwith a choice of four pre-programmed settings – Comfort, Sport, Neutral and Eco – plus a fully configurable Perso mode. These are selected using either the R-Link 2 multimedia system or the control on the centre console, and influence engine response, the Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automatic transmission’s gearshift pattern, the degree of effort required to turn the steering wheel, the active damping settings and the configuration of the 4Control system.

The Talisman Estate is therefore capable of changing personality in the blink of an eye: a short-cut button enables the driver to switch from the Comfort to Sport mode and back again in just two clicks.

The Talisman Estate has a low centre of gravity and a driving position that is close to the road, ensuring the advantages of the Multi-Sense system can be enjoyed all the more, especially when the dynamic Sport mode is selected. It is almost as though is several cars in one. The in-car ambiance changes to match by varying the colour of the interior lighting (blue, red, sepia, green or purple), the presentation and colour of the dashboard information display and the engine sound.

The Talisman Estate offers Renault’s R-Link 2 connected multimedia tablet, available in either 7-inch landscape or 8.7-inch portrait formats. R-Link 2 oversees the vehicle’s driving aids as well as the navigation, audio and climate control functions. The touchscreen display’s features are complemented by short-cut buttons, a multi-function rotary control on the centre console and additional steering wheel-mounted controls.

The home pages are now configurable, enabling the driver to access the most frequently used functions directly or to personalise the interface.

The Talisman Estate is available with tailor-engineered BOSE Surround Sound, produced by 12 high-performance loudspeakers and a subwoofer. CenterPoint Technology converts the signal from stereo sources into a multi-channel signal to create Surround Sound, while the digital processing of the BOSE signal takes into account the car’s own acoustic properties to generate bespoke equalisation.

The Talisman Estate offers a full suite ofAdvanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to reassure, alert and help drivers whose concentration may have waivered and ensure this does not cause an accident.  It is available with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), an Active Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Safe Distance Warning (SDW), Traffic Sign Recognition with Over Speed Prevention (TSR / OSP) and Blind Spot Warning (BSW). A reversing camera, automatic dipped and main beam headlights (AHL), an electronic handbrake, hands-free parking assist and front, rear and side parking sensors are also available.

And a retractable, colour head-up display delivers speed, navigation instructions and driving aid information directly within the driver’s eye-line to  enhance safety by reducing the amount of time the driver needs to look away from the road.

Five ultra-efficient TCe and dCi engines

The Renault Talisman Estate offers the same range of engines as the saloon. There are ENERGY TCe 150 and 200 petrol units and ENERGY dCi 110, 130 and 160 turbodiesels. EDC dual-clutch automatic transmission is available with the TCe 200 and dCi 130 power units and is standard with the twin turbo dCi 160.