The design history of the new TCK Range from Renault Trucks

Paul Daintree, Design Director at Renault Trucks, looks back on the development of these new models, which offer greater comfort and productivity.

Several teams from the Renault Trucks Halle du Design, led by Paul Daintree, have been working on the new designs of the T, T High, C and K models since 2018. The new design is customer-oriented and was created and developed in close collaboration with partners and customers.

Close collaboration with customers for user experience optimization

"It is critical for designers to put the end user at the center of their thinking and decision making.", explains Paul Daintree, Design Director at Renault Trucks. "We held collaborative sessions with our customers in the design studio and visited customer truckstops and depots to meet with carriers and drivers to understand their needs and respond accordingly." This direct contact of the design teams with customers, together with information from the dealer network and the expertise of Renault Trucks engineers, has formed the basis for the changes to the vehicles in terms of style and comfort.

A bold and stylish exterior

"The aerodynamic front of the trucks has been redesigned. So that in addition to a more professional appearance, the vehicles also offer the opportunity to better integrate our customers' corporate identity by allowing multiple cab parts in the lower part of the front to be painted in a color of your choice.", adds Paul Daintree. The front lighting has been completely redesigned using LED technology, which not only gives the advantage of better illumination, but it also allows the designers to reduce the height of the headlight unit and fit more lighting functions into a more compact lighting unit. A deflector is fitted over the top of the lamps.

"The front proportions have been completely revised - the truck has more look, more attitude and a view that is instantly recognized."

The grille has also been redesigned for a more modern look. The functional aspect, where the grille can easily be used as a wide anti-slip step for cleaning the windshield or as a seat for a small break, has been retained because of its popularity with drivers.

Finally, the size of the Renault Trucks logo on the grille has been increased. "We have great trucks and we're really proud of this new design, so why not show it off?", said the Renault Trucks Design Director.

A comfortable and practical interior

Inside, the emphasis is on driver comfort. "In terms of driving comfort, a big wish from our customers was for our trucks to have a seating position behind the steering wheel similar to that in a passenger car.", continued Paul Daintree. The new Renault Trucks T, T High, C and K feature a new steering wheel adjustment that is adjustable in three directions, with intuitive foot controls and a keyless start button. This allows the driver to easily and quickly adjust the steering wheel to the desired position for an optimal driving position based on personal preferences. The elimination of the keyed ignition switch allows more free space around the steering column for the legs.

Improvements have also been made to onboard living comfort. "We decided to improve the comfort of the basic bed by increasing the thickness and density of the mattress and doubling the number of springs." A topper has also been added for optimal comfort.

Renault Trucks designers have also provided new and larger storage spaces and added special storage options for phones or tablets, with central USB charging points within easy reach. The new dashboard drawer can now hold A4 documents such as bills of lading with ease. This drawer also offers the possibility of hiding valuables from view.   

Finally, for a perfectly relaxing atmosphere on board, the fabrics and colors have been changed to soften the contrasts and help relax the driver's eyes, which are under great pressure during driving hours. "Despite the fact that our current seats are very much appreciated, we took the opportunity to update the materials. This upholstery is more hard-wearing, which makes it even more resistant to the frequent getting in and out of the cab." A more luxurious combination with leather is also available as an option.

"Like the exterior, we are proud to be Renault Trucks, so our logo has been given a prominent place on the seats.", concludes Paul Daintree.