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The theme around which the Renault Kangoo Compact Concept is built leaves you in no doubt whatsoever – it’s roller skating. The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show saw this model presented to the world targeting the young, sporty, active youngster.
The whole look is expressive of its youth – Brushed Aluminum co-exists with Fireball Orange in a unique and eye-catching color theme. Inside, the dual color tone is carried on but the colors are Skate Blue leather with a mesh fabric in techno-look Aluminum Grey 3D and highlighted with splashes of Tonic Orange.
Well if we tell you now that the Kangoo Concept is a joint creation with the company Rollerblade, you’ll see the connection! The speedometer comes with a speed limiter with a blue zone which shows you the speed of a person on skates so it has a 0 to 80 kph.
Let’s start with the interiors. It’s all built with smooth curves, much like the world of skates. The dashboard has transparent silicon material and all the navigational controls are right in the center and this includes the compass and the navigation screen.
The steering wheel too is built to be slip-proof and the fuel, liquid and water gauges are all in bright fluorescent orange. The bench at the back turns a neat 180 degrees so you’re facing the back and the tailgate has two sets of rollerblades. The whole of the inside is bright and full of light thanks to its wide windscreen, glass roof and windows.
The Kangoo has a 3-door body and is less than four meters in length. The look is bright and rugged and it’s got an all-terrain feel about it. The wheels are very chunky – 19” with 255/50 R19 tires - and are made of aluminum with five spokes which are translucent blue.
The headlights as well as the indicator lights are all LEDs. The rear portion of the roof is removable and so is great for a wind-in-your-hair kind of young feeling. This together with the rear screen can be folded away in seconds being electrically-controlled and this is a unique feature in this car.
The 1.5 dCi 105 engine complies with Euro IV standards and it comes with a particulate filter. The 2200 rpm generates 240Nm of torque and its 105hp Powertrain makes it great for those long and winding open roads. The 4WD transmission adds to the great driving experience.
All in all, it exudes a warm, young sporty feeling. Will we be seeing many on the roads? It all depends how much it appeals to this young target group.