[Referring to Indian food] "It's not very good quality meat so that's why it has that powerful sauce on it, and that's what this is; poor quality meat, very powerful sauce on the top. It's a sort of Renault Jalfrezi."
- Jeremy Clarkson on the Vel Satis
The Renault Vel Satis was a French executive car built by the Renault from 2002 to 2009, with the RHD export market for the UK closing four years prior. It succeeded the much more traditional-looking Safrane, and was intended to bring style to an otherwise-conservative market segment.
Appearances[]
- Series 1, Episode 6 (twice - a different example appeared in the studio segments)
- Unaired Pilot Episode 1 (although, no screenshots can be found)
Series 1, Episode 6[]
The Vel Satis which appeared in the studio segments.
Following the lightweight Honda NSX-R setting a lap around the Top Gear test track, with The Stig sliding it on the wet surface, hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond begin talking about fashion duo Trinny and Susannah, stating that they wouldn't much care for the Honda, and would much rather have something like the Vel Satis.
As he walks around the car, stating that it's supposed to be Renault's rival for the BMW 5-Series, Clarkson admits he finds the styling "cool" in spite of its unconventionality, and as the car was aimed towards businessmen, he thought it would be a good idea to take it to the "epicentre of the executive hotel", Swindon.