Renault Master
The Renault Master is a large van produced by the French manufacturer Renault since 1980, now in its fourth generation. It replaced the earlier Renault Super Goélette light trucks. It is also sold as the Nissan Interstar. Opel and Vauxhall have sold versions of the second and third series vans as the Opel Movano in Continental Europe and Vauxhall Movano in the United Kingdom. All four generations have been designed and manufactured by Renault, irrespective of the brand. Renault Trucks markets it as the Renault Trucks Master.
Over its lifetime, several different body styles have been available, from the standard van to bigger models with an increased load area, height, and longer wheelbases with an LWB prefix. Panel vans and crew vans are very common, but pickups are also available. Heavier duty models of the Master were also sold by Renault Trucks as the B series, later as the Messenger and the Mascott.
First generation (1980–1997)
The original Renault Master was launched in September 1980. Originally launched with the Fiat-Sofim diesel engine, and from 1984 also with the power unit. In rare cases the Master was sold with a 2.0 L or 2.2 L Renault petrol engine.In 1990, a marginally larger version of the Sofim diesel replaced the earlier version.
They competed with a number of other manufacturer's products, and completed Renault's commercial range, after the Dodge 50 Series, which was latterly being built as the Renault 50 Series, after Renault's acquisition of the Dodge production facilities in the United Kingdom.
The smaller Renault Trafic was also launched in 1980, resulting in a large range of light commercial vehicles.
The Master was distinctively styled with the sliding door design and unusual round door handles, similar to those of the Fiat Ritmo/Strada. The van was manufactured at Renault's then new SoVAB Batilly plant in northeastern France.
Renault B series / Messenger
An alternative heavier duty version which appeared almost identical, was sold by Renault Trucks as the Renault B70 to B120. It first appeared as the B70 and as the B80 in the end of 1982. It was a light truck with a Renault Master I body on a separate chassis, with rear wheel drive and rear dual wheels.The B series was offered with a range of alternative body options. As the Master both carried manufacturer's plates from Renault's automobile division, RVI's production numbers appeared to plummet as the SG2 and SG3 were gradually replaced. It was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1990, gradually replacing the previous Chrysler Europe-developed Dodge/Renault 50 series.
It was thus decided in 1982 to transfer the new, heavier B series range to RVI. More powerful versions were gradually added, incorporating turbochargers and intercooling.
Although a 4x4 version of the B90 took part in the Paris Dakar Rally in 1987, the "civilian" version of the B90 4x4 truck was unveiled in 1990 only, and was sold until 1999. In 1993, the B series had a grille change and was renamed Messenger. It was replaced by the Renault Mascott.
Second generation (1997–2010)
The second generation Renault Master, which arrived in November 1997, was more conventional in appearance and, though primarily developed by Renault, was available from 1998 as the almost identical Opel Movano, and from Renault's closely related partner Nissan, from whom it was available as the Nissan Interstar from 2003.This arrangement mirrors the collaboration between these companies on the Master's smaller counterpart, the Renault Trafic; within the industry, similar platform sharing arrangements existed between Fiat and Peugeot/Citroën, and also between Volkswagen and Mercedes.
The second generation of the Renault Master and the second generation of the Iveco Daily share many panels and some components of the cab, including the doors due to an agreement between Iveco and Renault stipulated in July 1994.
The agreement provided for the production and sharing of common components for a total of 120 thousand pieces a year produced in the various factories of Brescia, Suzzara, Valladolid and Batilly.
The Master used the Renault S-Type engine in S9U and S8W/S9W versions, the G-Type engine and the Nissan YD engine. Displacements available included 2.2, 2.5, and 2.8 litres with a range of power outputs. In certain markets it was also available with the Renault F-Type engine in the F9Q versions, the 1.9 liters engine, both dti and dci with power range between 80 respectively 82 hp.
The van received a mid life major facelift in the end of 2003, with the headlight area being heavily restyled, resulting in the front end somewhat resembling the smaller Trafic. Like its predecessor, the van was available in a number of sizes and configurations, and was a popular base for conversion to ambulance bodywork.
For the facelifted Master, the 2.8-litre engine option was replaced in some markets with the 3.0-litre ZD3 engine derived from the Nissan ZD30 engine, variants ZD3 200 or 202 for transverse mount front wheel drive arrangements and variants; 600, 604, 606 or 608 for rear wheel drive arrangements. The grille was redesigned in 2007 on Renault-badged models.
Renault Mascott
marketed a heavy duty 3.0 L diesel version of the Master with rear-wheel drive and sold it as the Mascott. Other names for this version are: Master Propulsion, and Master Pro.It retained the name Master in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia, Master LDT in Belgium, Master Maxi in Poland, and Master Propulsion in Spain, France, Italy, and Réunion. Available in Europe between 1999 and 2013, it was positioned between the Master and the larger Renault Midlum.
It was available in two states of tune, either or with five and six speeds respectively.
Third generation (2010–2024)
A new generation of the Renault Master was introduced in the summer of 2010, again including the rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Movano and Nissan NV400. It is the first time that either the Opel/Vauxhall or Nissan has been available with single/twin rear wheel drive.The M-type 2.3-litre four cylinder diesel engine is shared by all four marques, and is available in three states of tune, from to. Renault Trucks discontinued the Mascott and sold the third generation Master in chassis cab format only, with payloads of up to 2.5 tonnes.
In the United Kingdom, the Movano is available in a large range of height, length and weight configurations, and capable of transporting up to. In April 2014, the front grille was facelifted on the Renault Master and Renault Trucks Master Red but the facelift did not apply to the Opel/Vauxhall and Nissan versions. On 18 April 2016, Renault announced starting producing an off-road version of the Renault Master, with a four-wheel drive layout.
In South Korea, FF Layout Master L1H1 and L2H2 panel van were launched on 15 October 2018. They are imported from France. The first Master in South Korean market will be diesel with manual gearbox. Short version trim's price are 29,000,000won, Long body van's price are 31,000,000won. Renault Korea possibly consider the competitors as the Hyundai Starex and Hyundai H350.
In September 2019, a facelifted model was introduced for the 2020 model year.
In Summer 2021, the Opel/Vauxhall Movano was discontinued due to the partnership of Opel/Vauxhall with Groupe PSA, now known as Stellantis, and replaced with a new Movano, based on the Fiat Ducato.
In 2022, the Nissan version reverted to using the Interstar name.
In Spring 2022, the short models were discontinued for Renault's Master III, Renault Trucks' Master III Red and Nissan's Interstar II.
In Summer 2022, the closed-transport low-roof variants were discontinued for Renault's Master III, Renault Trucks' Master III Red and Nissan's Interstar II.
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Master Z.E. and E-Tech
The Master Z.E. was introduced in 2018 as a battery electric vehicle with a 33 kWh lithium-ion battery and the "R75" electric traction motor from the contemporaneous Zoe and Kangoo Z.E., providing a driving range of under the WLTP cycle. Maximum torque output is. The battery capacity was increased to 52 kWh in spring 2022, extending the range to . In the UK, the newer variant with larger range now is marketed as the Master E-Tech instead. It will go on sale in the Australian market in 2024.The battery can be recharged at 7.4 kW ; the newer 52 kWh variant adds the ability to use a DC charger, but is limited to 22 kW.
The electric variants did not apply to the Opel/Vauxhall and Nissan models.
Master Van H2-Tech
At the 2022 Paris Motor Show, HYVIA presented a production version of the Master Van H2-Tech, which runs on hydrogen.Safety
Fourth generation (XDD; 2024)
The fourth generation Master was unveiled on November 21, 2023, at the Solutrans Motor Show in Lyon. It is available with internal combustion, electric, or hydrogen powertrains.It was named International Van of the Year 2025 on September 16, 2023, making it the fifth van from the French manufacturer to win the award.
A new generation of the Nissan Interstar, derived from this utility vehicle, was unveiled in February 2024.