The Renault-Nissan Alliance is deepening its ties with Daimler and the Mercedes-Benz brand.
The two groups, which have already moved ahead with a multitude of joint projects such as the upcoming Renault-based Mercedes Citan van, the production of Mercedes engines at Nissan’s Tennessee plant, and the development of a common platform for the Smart and Renault Twingo, added another task to their list.
Speaking to journalists in a briefing at the company’s headquarters in Paris, Renault-Nissan CEO Carols Ghosn revealed that the French automaker is in the early stages of developing a new luxury model based on a Mercedes-Benz platform.
“At least one vehicle on a Daimler platform will help us,” said Ghosn, according to a report from Bloomberg News. “The intention is to say that the exchanges with Daimler are not in one direction. It’s not just Daimler coming and making its little cars, its engines at Renault.”
Renault Group chief operating officer Carlos Tavares elaborated further saying that the French company has plans for three luxury models, including a new generation of the Espace full-size minivan in 2014. The Mercedes-Benz-based model will be the third luxury vehicle for Renault.
“It is about using their platform and designing a Renault upper body to extend to it what I might call the French touch,” said Tavares.
Ghosn added that the production for the Mercedes-based luxury Renault would be “concentrated” in France.
Renault hasn’t had any luck with its executive models which have included the 20/30 built from 1975 to 1984, the 25 sold from 1983 to 1992, the Safrane manufactured from 1992 to 2000, and more recently, the ill-fated and much criticized for its oddball looks, Renault Vel Satis (2001-2009).
PHOTO GALLERY
– 2009 RENAULT VEL SATIS 
