Paul-Henri Matha, DVN COO
When I left Renault five years ago, I had not worked at all on the new Renault models I just saw for the first time at IAA. It was a 100-per-cent surprise for me, and a really nice job on the lamps! On the Scenic, we can find (another) instance of small low beam and high beam reflectors, like in the Renault Megane.
The new Scenic E-Tech EV shown above has new signature headlamps introducing the latest revision in Renault’s brand identity. Light patterns merge into the headlamps at the top of the grille, creating a spectacular high-tech effect. A welcome sequence greets on approach. LED Adaptive Vision technology is available on some versions; it adapts the beam pattern to suit the driving conditions. The turn indicators are sequential. At the rear, the high-tech lights are arranged as two road corners merging off into the forward distance. Microöptic technology brings them to life when activated, and they appear to float when switched off.
I made an Interview with Renault lighting expert Francois Bedu during IAA in Munich this month.
Paul-Henri Matha: Can you talk a bit about these lamps?
Francois Bedu: These headlamps are carryover of Megane E-Tech electric. We have just changed some decorative parts inside and styling integration on the vehicle gives the impression of something fully new especially with the embellisher placed below the headlamp.
DVN: Bumper lamp seems to be the new signature for Renault vehicles, after the new Clio facelift. We can see a 2K lens and very well integrated seamless DRL. Could you explain us a bit more the concept?
F.B.: The new signature seen on latest revealed vehicles (Clio, Rafale and Scenic E-Tech electric) is inspired by Vasarely logo designed in the ’70s as the new Renault logo. It was very sharp and geometric, composed of thick and thin lines. This old logo is part of the actual inspiration. To realise such design, a 2K outer lens is mandatory. Concerning optical design, different possibilities can be used: reflectors with inner lens to avoid hot spot or multiple light guides with inner lens to hide the optics.
DVN: About the Rafale (blue car shown below): headlamp technology is different. We recognise the Valeo ultra-thin lens module presented at ISAL 2022 if I am correct. I suppose also you have matrix technology on the car. Am I right?
F.B.: Yes, this is the 15mm height ultra-thin lens modules from Valeo which have been chosen for this application. Obviously, this vehicle will be equipped with LED Matrix Vision.
DVN: For rear lamps we see again the µoptics on flat blade already seen on the Austral and Megane E-Tech. Can you talk more about the concept evolution?
F.B.: On the Austral and Megane E-Tech electric, these µoptics were used on 2 blades to create a moirage effect. For the Rafale, there is only one blade. Microöptics are installed in combination of ‘ice cubes’. Here again, we are playing with thick and thin lit elements, same as the front.
DVN: On both the Scenic E-Tech and Rafale, It seems that we recognise some standard modules in the bumper and for the CHMSL, but not in the exact same shape. Is it a standard module? And could you explain your strategy about standardisation? Renault has always been a key player when we talk about this strategy.
F.B.: For CHMSL, there is a strict strategy of standardisation which gives to Renault the possibility to integrate the part on different vehicles. Thus, the Scenic E-Tech electric, Megane E-Tech electric, Austral, Espace, and Clio have the same part. The Rafale is different as it is an interior CHMSL. For reverse and fog, standardisation has been also decided but only at LED module level. Two possible sourcings of modules are used and housing and lens are redesigned for integration if necessary.
DVN: On both cars we do not see any front fog lamps. Do you cancel them, or have you developed another solution for bad weather conditions?
F.B.: With the large front combination lamp installed in bumper, there is no more space to implement front fog lamps. To compensate this, a specific All-Weather mode has been developed in the AFS. This mode can be manually activated with the lighting switch. This function is available in LED Adaptive Vision (or in LED Matrix Vision) of the Megane E-Tech electric, Austral, Espace, Scenic E-Tech electric.
