Social Landlord RCT Homes Steers Its Fleet Towards Renault

PARIS – November 25, 2010: Staff at Wales’ largest social landlord, RCT Homes, plumped for the new range of Renault vans when they were invited to choose which manufacturer should deliver their latest fleet.

The organisation ordered 51 New Master vans in a combination of different versions for their maintenance staff who travel all over Wales, looking after homes on more than 60 housing estates and in 27 sheltered housing schemes.

RCT Homes is a community mutual organisation, which is a new way of running housing. Five tenants sit on the RCT Homes Board and tenants play a key role in scrutinising new policies and procedures and in overseeing RCT Homes’ major decisions.

One member from each of the organisation’s trade team was involved with the selection of the interior of the vans to ensure that the models that were leased would be practical and suit the teams on the road. The teams travelled to Shropshire as part of the project and everyone had the chance to test drive the new vans.

After rigorously testing various demo vans, the drivers were asked to complete a survey sheet, with Renault being a clear winner across the board.

Andrew Rigby, Housing Maintenance Unit Plasterer, said: “By involving us in the decision making process it has meant that the boys are happy that the new vans are equipped to our personal trades. This will be of great benefit to our day-to-day work.”

Darren Payne, Renault UK’s Director of Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operations said, “When it comes to choosing a fleet, there’s no one better to make the decision than the very people who will be driving these vans every day.

“We’re delighted that RCT Homes selected New Master which has recently received fulsome praise from the Press and business customers alike thanks to its more spacious interiors, outstanding fuel efficiency and excellent build quality.”

Twingo Gordini 100 can also be ordered with features previously unavailable on GT, including polished alloys with blue inserts and leather upholstery, to be precise, leather-faced Gordini seats with blue detailing. Other options include climate control, metallic paint and electric panoramic sunroof with sunblind. The Gordini stripes on the bonnet, roof and tailgate are a no-cost removable option.

Under the bonnet of the latest version is the responsive 1.2 TCe petrol engine, pushing out 100hp at 5,500 rpm, with a top speed of 117 mph. Meanwhile, beneath the chic Gordini TCe 100 body, lies the GT chassis with stiffer shock absorbers and bushes, and recalibrated sports steering.

With its sporty styling and dynamic on-road performance, you could be forgiven for thinking that its environmental credentials would inevitably suffer. But, you would be wrong. With CO2 emissions of 132 grams per kilometre, the Gordini TCe 100 qualifies for the Renault eco² signature, as well as offering impressive combined fuel economy of 49.5 mpg. Crucially for a car of its ilk, and especially its appeal to younger buyers, its insurance group is likely to be competitive when it is formally announced soon.

Thirty years on from its heyday, the Gordini name, not to mention its inimitable look, still holds a special place in many people’s hearts. Today, its timeless French style means that nine out of every ten customers chooses the blue livery, while only one per cent of buyers order a Gordini without stripes. Overall, the Gordini line-up has enabled Renault to extend its reach to a younger, more style-conscious audience, with Twingo Renaultsport's market share up by five percentage points in the thirty to forty age group.

The Gordini name has also attracted a sizeable cult following. Its fan community on Facebook has over 28,000 fans, while the Gordini iPhone® application has been downloaded more than 115,000 times. Interestingly, the Facebook community's profile differs from that of the conventional Renaultsport models, in that it has twice as many female followers and is on average 15 years younger.

Twingo Gordini 100 will be available to order from January 2011, priced £11,395. All of the latest Renault news is available at www.renault.co.uk, Renault TV on Sky Guide 883 and Freesat 651, or by following on twitter @renault_uk.