The information was first reported by Automotive News (subscription required), based on comments made by Renault CFO Dominique Thormann.
Initiale Paris won’t be a standalone brand, but rather a premium trim level for regular Renault models. The strategy is similar to one instigated by Citroën for its DS brand, which started off as a sub-brand of Citroën and only recently become a standalone brand. It’s a strategy also being attempted by Ford in Europe, which recently launched the Vignale luxury sub-brand.
“We’ve been rebuilding a more premium feel in a certain number of limited vehicles, approaching it on technologies and in segments that we control and can understand,” Thormann said. "You’ll get a good example of that in the Paris show in October."
The Initiale Paris concept car shown last year is thought to be a preview of Renault’s next Espace MPV and shows how a regular model can feature a number of premium touches. Renault has previously confirmed that its first Initiale Paris-badged car will hit showrooms in markets where the French brand is sold in 2015.
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