Renault Laguna II: 20 years ago, the gadget made its debut almost like from James Bond
Electric windows, power steering, air conditioning, rear view camera, GPS ... It is impossible to list all the solutions that have changed the image of a modern car and have revolutionized the everyday life of drivers. Some of them have increased the level of safety, while others have changed the standards of comfort. And the hands-free card simplified the use of the car. It was designed by Renault 20 years ago and made its debut in the Laguna model. Despite the initial troubles, it quickly gained great popularity. Pascaline, Product Manager for Renault Group Product Directorate, tells us the story of the magic card.
Initially treated as a James Bond gadget, the hands-free card was gradually introduced to the offer by car manufacturers around the world. It eventually became standard equipment on many models. Like the tailgate, which was popularized in the early 1960s, this small item, not much larger than a credit card, has become one of Renault's major innovations that have gone down in automotive history.
This innovation was conceived to make life easier for customers, says Pascaline, Product Manager for Product Directorate Renault Group.
Renault Laguna II is the first Hands-free model
It all started in 2001. It was then that Renault launched the Laguna II, a sedan that was destined to become the modern car of the 21st century.
Some time before the model was launched, Bernard Dumondel, product manager responsible for Laguna II, stayed at a hotel in Luxembourg. As he used his room key - and it was a magnetic card - a thought flashed through his mind: why not try to replace it with the same contactless car key card? This is how the concept of a hands-free card was born. Duhamel presented his idea in the form of a prototype to the project director, arousing an enthusiastic response from all of the Group's general management (including Louis Schweitzer himself, then president of Renault). The design was approved and the device reported to the Patent Office.
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The R16 TX was the first French car to feature an electromagnetic central door lock (1973), and the Renault Fuego - the first to have a remote control for locking and unlocking doors (1982). The Laguna II became the first mass-produced car to offer a hands-free card. It was called VSC ("Véhicule Sans Clé" - keyless car).
In the following years, the brand introduced the solution on a large scale in two other models: Espace and Vel Satis. Ultimately, the hands-free card was used in all models in the range: from Clio through Scenica to Megane.
How does the Hands-Free card work?
Behind the minimalistic plastic housing there is a very advanced electronic chip. It is programmed to constantly "communicate" with the car with which it is paired.
As we approach the car, the chip is detected by transceiver modules throughout the car. On request from the car, it emits a radio signal containing an access code. If the code is recognized by the car, the system unlocks the doors. The entire operation takes only 80 milliseconds. That's less than a blink of an eye! When the hands-free cardholder leaves the car, the on-board electronic module sends a signal to the chip at regular intervals to check that the card is still nearby. As soon as the chip stops responding, the on-board electronic module sends a door locked signal.
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Renault's doubts and technical challenges
The idea with the hands-free card was quite a challenge and a lot of risk, says Pascaline. Despite receiving a record five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests, Laguna II was plagued by various types of defects in the first months after its premiere. They also included the first version of the hands-free card. Its signal was easily disturbed by nearby devices, such as fluorescent lamps in parking lots. At that time, this technology was only in its infancy. Despite a very detailed technical specification, based on more than 6,000 customer information about their lifestyle, habits and expectations, Renault did not have time to create representative card prototypes, test all possible scenarios and correct shortcomings.
In the interest of customer satisfaction, the then designers and designers at Renault re-examined the subject in depth again to propose an improved version of the device, Pascaline explains.
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Here are some examples of improvements that were quickly incorporated into the technical premise of the hands-free card. Each of them was a challenge that the designers from Renault managed to successfully deal with:
Twenty years of technological advancements
During the 20 years of its existence, the hands-free card has been systematically improved, both in terms of style and technology.
In 2001, its first version produced by subcontractor Valeo was referred to as the "practical" card. It allowed the user to lock and unlock the car door by pressing a button on its housing or on the door handle. In the standard version it operated as a remote control, while the optional version was additionally equipped with a hands-free function. Inside, on the center console, there was a slot for a hands-free card and a "Start" button for starting the engine.
In 2007, Renault introduced the "magic card". The driver with such a card only had to grab the door handle to unlock all the car's locks. The card slot has been removed from the center console.
In 2015, Renault introduced the Espace V model to the market, equipped with a stylistically modernized version of the hands-free card with better parameters. It was accompanied by a new light and sound welcome sequence.
In 2019, the concept of "hands-free" took on its full meaning. The doors are now unlocked and locked automatically when approaching and moving away from the car.
In 2022, the New Megane E-TECH Electric takes the hands-free card a step further. Thanks to modern antennas, the user is detected when approaching from any direction in a 360 ° field around the car. Approaching the car is accompanied by a welcome sequence, the handles hidden in the body extend and the cover of the charging socket is automatically unlocked.
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What is the future of the hands-free card?
As always, Renault remains at the forefront of technical innovation. In recent years, the brand has sought to facilitate the use of a hands-free card. The electronics inside have been miniaturized. The range has been increased and the battery life has been optimized. When it comes to security, thanks to subsequent updates, the system is now more resistant to hacking attempts.
Nowadays, when a smartphone seems to be an ideal replacement for a hands-free card, the Renault brand has decided to make it an additional tool without giving up the card itself. On the contrary.
In 2021, sales statistics for equipping Renault cars with a hands-free card show that customers are very much attached to this accessory. Almost 2/3 of Renault cars were equipped with them. In the case of some models, such as the ZOE and Espace, this ratio was almost 100%. In other models, such as Scenic, Captur, Kadjar, Talisman, Koleos or Arkana, it exceeded 90%.
Press release: Renault Polska
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