Radical Renaults under-achieving in UK showrooms

Renault's radical Avantime and Vel Satis are struggling to make an impact, with sales running at less than half the French importer's original sales targets.

From the launches, respectively in May and the end of August, just 139 Avantime coupes left showrooms with 305 Vel Satis registered.

Renault UK managing director Philippe Talou-Derible had forecast that the Avantime would generate 1000 customers in its first 12 months and the Vel Satis gaining 2000 new owners.

But the company now admits: “We would have hoped the Avantime would do better in the UK, but we maintain the cars, particularly Vel Satis, will work. We are not giving up yet.”