Renault Pro+ is to presen.t the all-electric New Kangoo Z.E. on 13 January at the 2017 European Motor Show

• Renault Pro+ is to present the all-electric New Kangoo Z.E. on 13 January at the 2017 European Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium.
• Renault Pro+ will equip the latest Kangoo Z.E. with a new motor and battery package that will increase the model’s driving range by more than 50 per cent, from 106 miles (170km) to 168 miles (270km) NEDC. That is equivalent to 124 miles (200km) in real world driving conditions.
• The New Kangoo Z.E. will offer the longest available driving range in the small van market. 

The Kangoo Van Z.E. is a completely practical solution for environmentally-conscious business customers who have praised the driving enjoyment it delivers, as well as its carrying capacity and competitive operating costs.

This announcement to increase the range on Kangoo Z.E. follows on from Renault recently launching at the 2016 Paris Motor Show the New Renault ZOE available with a new Z.E.40 battery that increases its NEDC driving range to 250 miles (186 miles in real world driving conditions) – the longest of any mainstream electric car.

Renault is Europe’s leading manufacturer of both all-electric LCVs and passenger cars.

More information about the New Kangoo Z.E. will be provided on 13 January 2017.

Italian Consumer group to sue FIAT and VW for false fuel consumption figures, and about time too !!!!!!!!

An Italian consumer group is inviting car buyers to join a class action lawsuit against Fiat and Volkswagen over allegations that the companies exaggerated the fuel-saving credentials of their vehicles.

After conducting tests on Fiat's Panda 1.2 and Volkswagen's Golf 1.6 TDI models, Altroconsumo said on Tuesday the two models were between 18 percent and 50 percent less fuel efficient than stated by the two manufacturers in their marketing and sales material.

The consumer group is asking Fiat to pay compensation of 247 euros ($320) to each buyer of the Panda model and 509 euros to owners of the Golf model tested, based on what it estimates to be additional fuel costs for an average annual distance driven of 15,000km (9,320 miles).

"Consumers buying supposedly efficient cars are misled too often," Monique Goyens, director general of the European Consumer Organization, of which Altroconsumo is a member, said in a statement.

"The deplorable side-effect of this practice is that drivers might disregard fuel consumption information altogether."

Altroconsumo alleged that Fiat and Volkswagen were using loopholes such as over-inflating tires or reducing the vehicle weight, giving significantly lower consumption figures than realized in real-life driving situations.

Officials at Fiat and Volkswagen both said they were unable to comment immediately.

Altroconsumo said the class action will go ahead regardless of how many people join and expects to deposit the papers with an Italian court within weeks.

EU regulators are already preparing draft legislation that will require a vehicle's fuel consumption performance to be tested on roads rather than in laboratories.

REPORT HERE