Renault makes some pretty sporty models. The Trafic
may not usually rank among them. But this one at least looks the part. It’s
called the Formula Edition. This one’s surfaced in Australia, looking pretty sweet.
It features a front bumper, rear light surrounds,
and door rail, all painted to match the bodywork. The 17-inch alloys are
painted black with yellow hubs, the grille inserts and fog lamp surrounds are
painted yellow, the badge on the nose in black, and it has special side
stripes. For the 2018 model, LED daytime running lights are integrated into the
front bumper.
Inside it’s upholstered in dark Java cloth, with
gloss-black and chrome trim. And it comes with a heated driver’s seat, seven-inch navigation screen,
special floor mats, and more.
Buyers can choose between short- and long-wheelbase
versions, in either Storm Grey or Jet Black paint. Only 125 examples will be
offered Down Under, where pricing starts at AUD 41,990 for the short-wheelbase
model, or AUD 43,490 for the longer one (US$ 31-32k in equivalent US funds).
Both versions come powered by a 1.6-liter twin-turbo
diesel generating 140 hp and 340 Nm of
torque. So it might not lap the Albert Park circuit quite as fast as the Renault RS18 after which it’s
styled. But then it can haul a bit more than the single-seater.
