PARIS — Renault’s new flagship mannequin would be the Rafale, a midsize coupe-style SUV with a hybrid drivetrain that produces as much as 300 hp with all-wheel drive.
The Rafale, which was revealed Sunday on the Paris air present north of the town, takes its title from a record-breaking 1930’s airplane constructed by the aviation firm Caudron-Renault. It replaces the Talisman midsize sedan and station wagon as Renault’s top-of-the vary automobile.
It’s the third new mannequin from Renault on the CMF-C/D platform up to now yr, beginning with the Austral compact SUV and in addition together with the seven-seat Espace midsize SUV.
The Rafale rides on the identical wheelbase because the Espace, giving it distinctive inside room, particularly for rear-seat passengers, Renault says. Though it’s a coupe, the Rafale’s rear seat headroom is almost the identical because the boxier Espace’s due to the lengthy wheelbase, Renault says. The Rafale, at 4710 mm lengthy, is marginally shorter than the Espace, at 4722 mm.
Nevertheless, the Rafale’s monitor is 40 mm wider than the Espace to reinforce its sportier traits.
Renault says the Rafale is the primary automobile to make use of the visible language of design chief Gilles Vidal, former head of Peugeot design. Its raised fastback physique has sharper creases than the Espace or Austral, and broad “shoulders” recommend energy, Renault says.
It would attain the market in spring 2024. Just like the Austral and Espace, will probably be in-built Palencia, Spain. Renault didn’t give pricing, however trim ranges will embody a top-range Esprit Alpine.
The Rafale’s drivetrain options essentially the most {powerful} model of Renault’s E-Tech hybrid system. The bottom front-wheel drive mannequin produces 200 hp from a 1.2 liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with 130 hp mixed with 50 kilowatt electrical drive motor and a smaller 25 kw starter/generator. Each electrical motors are hooked up to the clutchless gearbox.
That drivetrain, which is a full hybrid, can be obtainable within the Austral and Espace. As a result of it makes use of a small gasoline engine and huge (2 kilowatt-hour) battery, CO2 emissions are very low, at 105 grams of CO2 per km. Renault says gas consumption is 4.7 liters per 100 km.
Debuting on the Rafale is an all-wheel-drive 300 hp model – the most-powerful E-Tech hybrid providing – which provides one other motor to the rear axle. Will probably be a plug-in hybrid fairly than a traditional hybrid. Renault says that it’s “within the pipeline” however didn’t give a date for its launch.
Each fashions can have the most recent model of Renault’s 4Control four-wheel steering system, which turns the rear wheels in the identical course because the entrance at low speeds to assist manoeuvrability, and the wrong way at excessive speeds to assist stability. Turning radius is 10.4 meters, the identical as a small automobile, Renault says.
In designating the Rafale as its flagship, Renault is specializing in facilities for passengers in addition to the motive force. A brand new panoramic glass roof is 1.5 meters lengthy by 1.2 meters extensive and may darken to offer solar safety in seconds, Renault says. Its 4 settings – together with the power to darken solely a part of it — might be voice-controlled by Google Assistant. The glass roof additionally provides 30 mm of headroom for rear seat passengers.
Entrance seats are upholstered in 61 % recycled Alcantara, a market first, Renault says. Pulsing lights are embedded within the headrest, with their coloration matching the ambient inside lighting.
The Rafale will likely be competing within the midsize SUV phase, which accounted for simply 4.6 % of the market within the first quarter, in keeping with figures from Dataforce.
It was led by the Skoda Kodiaq, with 21,408 gross sales within the first quarter, in keeping with Dataforce. Full-electric automobiles are quickly gaining traction within the phase, with the Volkswagen ID4 in second place at 17,027 gross sales. Different EVs within the high 10 embody the Skoda Enyaq iV, the Hyundai Ionic 5 and the Kia EV6.
Renault’s present midsize SUV, the Koleos, has struggled to make an impression since its launch in 2017. Renault bought simply 1,040 examples within the first quarter. Manufacturing of the Talisman halted final yr.
The Rafale and Espace will give Renault two entrants within the phase; the new-generation Nissan X-Path additionally rides on the identical platform.
Though the phase is small, compact and midsize SUVs have comparatively excessive revenue margins. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has centered on launching compact and midsize automobiles since he took over in July 2020, looking for to scale back Renault’s historic dependence of shifting excessive volumes of less-profitable small automobiles.