Renault Vel Satis

The Renault Vel Satis is a five-door executive hatchback that Renault built from 2001 to 2009 over a single generation, sharing its platform with the Laguna II and Espace IV and built at Sandouville, France. It was launched at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show after a 1998 Paris Motor Show concept, to replace the Safrane, and was noted for unorthodox styling that design chief Patrick Le Quément said was meant to redefine the prestige car on French terms. As Renault's flagship it was the company's first car with adaptive cruise control, and it earned a five star Euro NCAP rating. Renault reportedly spent 550 million euros developing it and predicted 50,000 sales across Europe in the first year, but about 62,000 were made in eight years and sales in Britain were poor. Production ended on 27 August 2009. The name combines velocity and satisfaction.