The Renault Austral made its public debut on the Paris Motor Present because the successor of the Kadjar, however the French firm can also be engaged on one other variant of the SUV set to not directly change the Espace. A prototype of the “Grand Austral” was caught by our spy photographers in Germany, giving us a greater view of its stretched physique.

Minivans should not as widespread as they was once, with patrons exhibiting their clear choice for SUVs. Thus, Renault is planning on increasing its SUV vary to cowl the wants of bigger households. The pictured mannequin will serve that function, with a seven-seater cabin and a bigger boot than the common five-seater Austral. Rival automaker Peugeot is following an analogous technique with the 3008 and 5008.

Learn: 2022 Renault Austral SUV Makes Paris Debut As Kadjar Substitute

The prototype appears like it’s sharing the entrance finish with the Austral, together with the LED headlights, bumper, bonnet, entrance fenders, and entrance doorways. From the B-pillar backwards it sports activities a redesigned physique, with a much less inclined roofline, an extended wheelbase, and a stretched rear overhang. The tail is extra vertical than within the sportier Austral, though the LED taillights look like very related, as do the pronounced rear shoulders and the windowline.

We don’t have photographs from contained in the cabin, however we count on the SUV to share the dashboard with the five-seater model, together with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, and 9.3-inch head-up show. The distinction would be the two additional seats on the again that can be capable of fold creating a large cargo house. Thoughts you, the boot within the five-seater Austral can maintain as much as 500 liters (17.7 cubic ft).

The stretched Austral will most probably be a FWD-only SUV providing, fitted with the electrified powertrains of the common mannequin. These embrace a mild-hybrid 1.3-liter with a 12V system, a more moderen mild-hybrid 1.2-liter with a 48V system, and a correct self-charging hybrid with the E-Tech badge that can produce as much as 197 hp (147 kW / 200 PS) within the flagship trim.

The SUV may undertake both the Grand Austral or the Austral Espace nameplates based on completely different sources. In any case, when it arrives in 2023 or 2024 will probably be the second seven-seater providing in Renault’s vary moreover the upcoming long-wheelbase variant of the LCV-based Kangoo. Rivals within the D-SUV phase will embrace the likes of the Peugeot 5008, Skoda Kodiaq, VW Tiguan Allspace, Seat Tarraco, Nissan X-Path, and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Image credit score: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops