Renault has unveiled the Limo, a Chinese-built electric sedan developed solely for taxi and ride-hailing services, but will it come to Singapore?

Photos: Renault

PARIS, FRANCE

Renault, through its Mobilize mobility services unit, has unveiled the Limo, a Chinese-built electric sedan developed solely for use by taxi and ride-hailing services. The car will be unveiled at the Munich Motor Show on 8 September, and is expected to hit the roads in the second half of 2022, and will wear the Mobilize logo.

Local Renault distributor Wearnes Automotive is looking at the possibility of bringing in the Limo to Singapore, but states that a decision won’t be made for ‘quite a while’. If introduced here, the Limo could possibly be rolled out to private hire firms here like Grab and GoJek, or even to some local taxi companies. Renault has previously supplied its Latitude mid-size sedan to a number of taxi firms here, but the model has now been phased out.

The electric-powered Limo will offer 450km of range on a full charge, and its 60kWh battery will be able to recoup 250km of range with just a 40 minute charge at a fast charging station, which Renault says is more than enough to cover the average daily usage for a ride hailing or taxi service. The Limo is powered by a 150hp electric motor that allows it to go from 0-100km/h in 9.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 140km/h.

The dimensions of the Limo reflect its status as a car specifically designed for passenger service, with its short overhangs and long 2570mm wheelbase that maximises interior room. The rear bench seat is designed to accommodate three passengers, who will each have their own USB port, separate ventilation controls and reading lights, while the rear floor is also flat for better legroom, and the upholstery is designed to be easy to clean.

Up front, the digital instrument panel is joined with the 12.3-inch central screen (a la Mercedes-Benz), and the infotainment system will be able to accommodate smartphone mirroring so that drivers will be able to use their own preferred navigation or company apps.

The Limo will also come with an extensive list of safety and advanced driver assistance features, including eight airbags, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, pedestrian collision warning and rear cross traffic alert.

The Limo was jointly developed between Renault and its Chinese joint venture partner Jiangling Motors, and is the first product to result from that collaboration which was announced in 2015. The car will be introduced in China first, where it will be known as the EZoom Yi, before being rolled out in Europe subsequently.

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