The Renault Scenic is going lifestyle with the butched-up Conquest, a faux-4x4 model pitched at outdoor enthusiasts and cyclists.For a £700 premium over a Dynamique-spec Scenic, the Conquest features 20mm higher ground clearance, longer travel suspension and an under-body skid plate to go with the body cladding, revised front and rear bumpers and tweaked interior.Both the electronic stability programme and traction control systems are also re-programmed to work better in slippery, off-road conditions.Despite the Conquest’s off-road look, it won’t be available with four-wheel drive, that role being taken-up by next year’s soft-roader Renault 4x4, a version of the new Nissan X-Trail. The Conquest is also exclusive to the standard Scenic model and it won’t be offered on the seven-seat Grand Scenic bodystyle.Available for order now are two Conquest models, the £19,135 dCi 130 diesel and £17,945 2.0 VVT 136 petrol, each mated to a six-speed manual transmission. No auto option will be offered.Two cheaper, lower-power engines are due for launch in September. Although details of these engines aren’t released now, they are likely to be the 1.5dCi diesel and 1.6 petrol.A major appeal of the Conquest will be its upgraded styling and more commanding driving position, although a new body colour, as seen in these press pics, and ironically called Cayenne Orange, might boost sales, too.There are also cabin tweaks. Stitching in the upholstery and steering wheel is in orange, and there are orange graphics in the interior. Rubber mats protect the front carpets.For cyclists and outdoors fans fancying a bolt-on bike rack or roof box, the Conquest comes with standard chrome roof rails.Options include a cycling pack accessory kit, with cross-bars, single rack and a mud-proof boot liner that allows dirty bikes to be chucked into the cabin without wrecking the carpets.A slight drawback with all this beefed –up styling is extra weight. Although Renault does’t have an exact figure yet, it looks as if the fuel economy and CO2 tailpipe emissions are unchanged. The 1.9dCi rates 47mpg and 159g/km and the 2.0 16V 35.3mpg.
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