MG Announces that Arnold Clark is returning to the brand to push sales throughout Scotland.

MG Motor UK has achieved a major step forward in its dealer development strategy, following the appointment of Arnold Clark to its growing network in Scotland. 

As the most profitable UK dealer group, ranked second in terms of car volumes and number of outlets, Arnold Clark represents a significant expansion for the resurgent British car brand. 

The award-winning dealer group will use its Rutherglen site, near Glasgow, as a central location for MG sales, retailing the MG3 supermini and all-new MG GS models.

With more than 60 years’ experience in automotive retail, Arnold Clark now represents 24 manufacturers and operates 200 branches across the UK. The deal with MG is further evidence of the manufacturer’s re-emergence as a serious player in the competitive volume car market. Latest statistics from the Society of Motoring Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirms that in September, the company’s UK sales topped the 1,000 mark; signalling its best ever performance since 2009.

With a long-established reputation for top quality customer service and an excellent aftersales package, Arnold Clark will retail MG’s growing model range from its showroom in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.

Gavin McKenzie, MG Franchise Manager at Arnold Clark, commented: “We’re really excited about taking on the MG franchise in Scotland. This will give drivers the chance to enjoy this great brand, which is seeing a welcomed resurgence in the market. From the MG3 supermini to the family-friendly MG GS SUV, we can’t wait to display the latest models in our showroom.”

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, added: “As one of the UK’s leading car retailers, we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Arnold Clark to our national dealer network.

“Our partnership with Arnold Clark, who are one of the biggest and most well- managed dealer groups in the country, is a significant move for MG, as it provides a strong retail platform for future growth and shows the MG brand and product range can attract even the largest retailers.”

The last ever third generation Megane Sport Cup-S has been produced and is for sale in Scotland.

• Last ever third generation Renault Sport Mégane now on sale at Arnold Clark Renault Dundee
• Final model of iconic hot hatch rolled off Palencia production line on 6^th July
• Final car is a Renault Sport Mégane 275 Cup-S is finished in Liquid Yellow with numerous desirable optional extras
• Over 30,000 third generation Renault Sport Méganes produced

The last ever produced third generation Renault Mégane Renault Sport has rolled off the production line in Palencia, Spain and is now on sale in the UK at Arnold Clark Renault Dundee.

The final Mégane Renault Sport is a right-hand-drive 275 Cup-S finished in Renault Sport’s trademark Liquid Yellow metallic paint and receives options such as, 19-inch Speedline alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and Öhlins Road&Track adjustable dampers. 

To the inside, this piece of Renault Sport history gets an Alcantara steering wheel, gear lever and hand brake, Recaro Seats, Handsfree keycard, Renault Sport Monitor V2 on-board performance tracking and R-Link multimedia system including satellite navigation.

This is in addition to the standard Cup-S specification such as the uprated Cup chassis and PerfoHub double-axis front suspension. The Cup Chassis Pack with mechanical limited-slip differential, red Brembo four-pot brake calipers, firmer springs and dampers and a stiffer anti-roll bar all make it ideal for circuit use. Inside, the 275 Cup-S is fitted with a Renault Sport analogue rev counter and speedometer, drilled aluminium pedals and the three-mode Renaultsport Dynamic Management system.

The 275 Cup-S is powered by the same 2.0-litre, 275hp turbocharged petrol engine as the limited-edition 275 Trophy-R which, in June 2014, shattered the lap record for a front-wheel-drive production car around the 13-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife with a time of 7 minutes 54.36 seconds. Acceleration from 0-62mph is attainable in 6.0 seconds and the top speed is 158mph.

David Munton, Arnold Clark Renault Franchise Manager, said: “It’s great to have the final third generation Mégane Renault Sport to ever be produced in our showroom – it looks sensational in Liquid Yellow and the optional Öhlins dampers and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres are sure to be thrilling to drive on road or on track. As a long-time Renault Dealer, we know first-hand that Renault Sport fans are passionate about the brand, so we doubt this special Mégane Renault Sport 275 Cup-S will stay in the showroom for very long.”

Jeremy Townsend, Communications Director, Renault UK said: “The Mégane Renault Sport has proved popular with critics and owners alike since launch for its focused nature and involving driving experience. The UK is one of the biggest markets in the world for Renault Sport models so it’s fitting that the last ever third generation Mégane Renault Sport should end up here.”

Having first gone on sale in the UK in 2009 as the Mégane Renault Sport 250, the third generation Mégane’s power has been boosted twice – to 265bhp in 2012 and finally up to 275bhp in 2015. From the 250 to the hardcore 275 Trophy-R to the latest 275 Cup-S , over 30,000 of the third generation Mégane Renault Sport have found homes in over 30 different countries across Europe, Australasia and the Pacific.

History of the Renault Sport Mégane

2003	Mégane Renault Sport 225 debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
2004	Mégane Renault Sport 225 goes on sale in UK.
2005	Mégane Renault Sport 225 Trophy unveiled at Geneva Motor Show.
2005	Mégane Renault Sport 225 Cup launched – includes mechanical updates from Mégane Renault Sport 225 Trophy.
2005	Mégane Renault Sport 225 ‘Renault F1 Team’ launched to celebrate Renault F1 and Fernando Alonso’s constructor and driver’s world championship wins at the end of 2005.
2006	Mégane Renault Sport 230 ‘F1 Team R26’ launched to commemorate Renault F1 and Fernando Alonso winning back-to-back constructor and driver’s world championships in the ‘R26’ F1 car. The engine received a 5bhp boost to take it to 230hp.
2007	Mégane Renault Sport dCi 175 launched at Geneva Motor Show – the first ever diesel Renault Sport.
2008	Mégane Renault Sport R26.R launched by setting a new Nürburgring Nordschleife record for a front-wheel drive production car of 8 minutes 17 seconds. The ‘.R’ stood for radicale, French for extreme. The car was 123kg lighter than a 230 F1 Team R26.
2009	Third generation Mégane Renault Sport 250 makes its dynamic debut at the Monaco Grand Prix, launched in the UK later that year with two different chassis – Sport for everyday driving and Cup for more track-focussed thrills.
2011	Mégane Renault Sport 265 Trophy launched – Renault’s fastest road car yet, going from 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds. Renault beats its own front-wheel drive Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record with a time of 8:07.97.
2012	Mégane Renault Sport 265 launched.
2013	Mégane Renault Sport Red Bull Racing RB8 unveiled to celebrate Red Bull’s three F1 constructors’ championships with Renault as their engine supplier. 30 units came to the UK.
2014	Mégane Renault Sport 275 Trophy-R unveiled – an extreme car aimed at trackday enthusiasts. Renault once again beat their own Nürburgring Nordschleife FWD lap record with a time of 7:54:36. 30 examples were made for the UK.
2015	Mégane Renault Sport’s power increased from 265bhp to 275bhp with the introduction of the 275 Nav and 275 Cup-S to the UK, priced from £23,935.
2016	The final third generation Mégane Renault Sport rolls off the production line in Palencia. The 275 Cup-S is destined for the UK market.

The fourth generation All-New Mégane went on sale in the UK this summer with the range topped by a GT 205 Nav version that has been engineered by Renault Sport – complete with 4Control four-wheel-steering, EDC transmission and all-in-one sports seats. An announcement on a fourth generation Mégane Renault Sport will be made in the future.   

The full specification of the vehicle for sale is:

Renault Mégane Renault Sport 275 Cup-S	£23,935
Liquid Yellow Renault i.d. metallic paint	£1,300
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres	£1,000
19" STEEV Speedline gloss black / red rim alloy wheels	£1,000
Alcantara finish (steering wheel, gear lever and hand brake)	£300
Öhlins adjustable Road&Track dampers	£2,000
Recaro Seats with Carbon Grey leather upholstery	£1,300
Handsfree keycard	£250
Carminat TomTom® LIVE 3-year subscription	£150
R-LINK Multimedia system including 7-inch touchscreen	£400
Renault Sport Monitor V2 on board performance tracking	£295
Total On-The-Road Manufacturer Recommended Retail Price	£31,930

The UK's Biggest Renault/Dacia dealership has been opened in Renfrewshire, by Arnold Clark.

• Arnold Clark Hillington is the biggest Renault and Dacia dealership in the UK
• State-of-the-art dealership covers 15,823 sq ft and includes a 23-car showroom and a new and used car display of 400 vehicles
• Opening strengthens 40-year partnership and enhances Renault Group UK’s GO5+ plan for sustainable growth
• Arnold Clark now has 20 Renault dealerships nationwide
• New franchise adjoins Arnold Clark’s purpose-built, 90,000 sq ft brand new headquarters

Arnold Clark, Europe’s largest independently owned automotive retail group, has opened the biggest dealership in the entire Renault Group UK dealer network.

The flagship Hillington franchise adjoins Arnold Clark’s brand-new, 90,000 sq ft Renfrewshire headquarters located on Hillington Industrial Park, and the group’s decision to complement its new home with the UK’s most impressive Renault dealership strengthens its longstanding relationship with Renault Group UK.

Measuring 15,823 sq ft and incorporating a 23-car showroom that features the new Renault Store concept with interactive car configurator and iPad-equipped ‘Brand Bar’, the Hillington dealership will deliver an unprecedented Arnold Clark Renault experience.

Arnold Clark’s previous East Lane Paisley and Pollokshaws Road dealerships are consolidated into the new dealership, offering private and business customers vastly enhanced facilities that are complemented with already established sales and after sales teams. Selling in the region of 1,200 new vehicles a year, the Hillington dealership is also a designated Renaultsport Specialist and Pro+ Specialist – offering high-performance Renault enthusiasts and fleet buyers a level of service that is tailored to their requirements.

Additional customer benefits include an extensive new and used car display of up to 400 vehicles, 11-bay workshop with the latest diagnostic equipment, EV charging points and both static and automated car wash facilities. Once complete, the 11-acre Arnold Clark headquarters will also provide visitors with an onsite café and outdoor seating area.

Arnold Clark has represented Renault for over 40 years – the group choosing the brand as its first foreign car franchise in 1974. The cutting-edge Hillington dealership takes the group’s nationwide Renault dealerships to 20 and reaffirms Arnold Clark’s status as the UK’s biggest privately-owned Renault retail partner.

The opening of the Hillington site comes at a very exciting time for Renault and Arnold Clark. Renault Group UK is enjoying strong growth in vehicle sales and the rapid expansion of its dealer network, the latter a key part of its GO5+ strategy to increase market share and brand opinion, while 2014 was the most successful year for Arnold Clark in the 60 years it has been trading – the group registering a 12.3 per cent increase in turnover.

Arnold Clark has also recently completed a striking rebrand and the build of its headquarters will see it bring its marketing, finance and digital product development divisions under one roof for the first time. The group’s directors will be based at Hillington and the new high-tech HQ will house 500 personnel in a contemporary setting that also pays homage to the group’s heritage.

David Munton, Renault Franchise Director, Arnold Clark, said: “Our history with Renault together with our desire to improve the facilities of our existing franchises in the area made it a logical decision to incorporate a brand new dealership into our Hillington development.

“Our experiences of working with Renault Group have been excellent and we’ve enjoyed a great deal of success with the brand. Its cars are very popular with our customers, the Clio and Megane previously being the best-selling new vehicles in Scotland, and this year alone we expect to sell in the region of 18,000 vehicles across our Renault franchises.”

Munton added: “The Renault Group brands are very important to Arnold Clark and their increasing popularity presents us with the opportunity to establish further dealerships in areas where we can improve our group’s presence.”

Darren Payne, Sales Director, Renault Group UK said: “We’re delighted that such an important investor as Arnold Clark has underlined its confidence in Renault and Dacia by not only establishing a new franchise, but also making it the largest of its kind in the UK and acknowledging its importance by incorporating it into its flagship facility.

“The Hillington franchise is the latest addition to our fast-growing dealer network and its development by one of the country’s top privately-owned automotive retail groups is a clear indication of how appealing our franchise is. We very much look forward to continuing our successful partnership with Arnold Clark and with investors like them onboard, we are in the best possible position to achieve our plans for sustainable growth set out in our GO5+ strategy.”

The latest Renault and Dacia sales figures illustrate the attraction of the brands to Arnold Clark and the ever-expanding list of other high-profile dealer groups who are choosing to represent them. Renault Group UK sales for November YTD – comprising Renault cars, vans and Dacia vehicles – were up 15.8 per cent on the same period in 2014 to 115,176 vehicles, significantly outpacing the UK car and van market, which rose by 7.3 per cent. Renault car sales represented 69,615 vehicles (up 13.8 per cent YTD), Renault van sales were 21,312 (up 33.6 per cent YTD, more than double that of the UK van market growth of 15.7 per cent YTD) and Dacia car sales represented 24,225 vehicles (up 8.3 per cent YTD).