Renault Rafale revealed as flagship 200hp hybrid coupé-SUV
Renault has uncovered its new Rafale “daring and dynamic” coupé-SUV, underpinning its plans to “conquer new horizons” and take the brand upstream.
The latest progression in the Renaulution strategic plan, the Rafale arrives in 2024 with a 200hp full hybrid powertrain ahead of a high-performance 4×4 300hp plug-in hybrid version due later.
It’s fittingly been revealed at the Paris Air Show. The Rafale name badge comes from the French word for wind and is also an aeronautical reference, drawing on the carmaker’s history as an aircraft engine manufacturer in the 1930s and taken from its record-breaking racing plane from 1934.
The Rafale sits above the existing Arkana E-Tech full hybrid coupé-SUV and the newly launched Austral SUV, which along with the Megane E-Tech, are being used by the brand to “reconquer” the C-segment. The D-segment is next – and the Rafale is a lynchpin here.
Fabrice Cambolive, CEO, Renault brand, said: “The all-new Renault Rafale is central in the Renaulution, symbolises our move upmarket and shows that we belong in every customer segment. With its captivating coupé SUV design crafted for intense experiences, it provides unprecedented driving pleasure with its hybrid powertrains and a standard-setting chassis brimming with passion and know-how from Renault engineers.”
Delivering a rival to models including the Audi Q5 Sportback and the Citroën C5 X, it’s the first production vehicle entirely designed using the new visual language introduced by new design chief Gilles Vidal, first seen through the Scenic Vision concept car in 2022 and initially applied to the new Clio this year. It’s the brand’s first vehicle to be finished in Alpine Blue and also the first production vehicle to use a new Solarbay darkening panoramic glass roof.
The Rafale is based on the same CMF-CD platform as the Austral SUV, and features the same multi-link rear axle and 4Control Advanced four-wheel-steering system. But it also gains an upgraded Vehicle Motion Control 2 (VMC 2) electronic system governing the rear wheels, plus a wider track, wider wheels and specific spring, shock-absorber and roll-bar settings, ensuring it takes “driving pleasure to ever new heights”.
From launch, it gets the same 200hp E-Tech full hybrid petrol powertrain as the Austral, linked to a clutchless multimode automatic dog box derived from Formula 1 technology. The powertrain combines a 130hp three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors, including a starter generator, able to drive in electric mode 80% of the time in cities and use 40% less fuel than with an equivalent internal-combustion engine, according to Renault. It’s also targeted for best-in-class efficiency figures of 60.1mpg and 105g/km, pending certification. Boot space is up to 647 litres.
The high-performance 300hp E-Tech 4×4 plug-in hybrid will arrive later, gaining an additional electric motor on the rear axle and with a longer electric range.
The cabin gets Renault’s OpenR digital cockpit – introduced in the Megane E-Tech 100% electric and using a 12.3-inch landscape dashboard display backed by a full suite of Google apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant, plus wireless connection to Android Auto or Apple Carplay. The Rafale also gets a 9.3-inch head-up display.
It also features 32 advanced driver assistance systems, divided into three categories: driving, safety and parking. These include a new-generation motorway and traffic assistant capable of Level 2 autonomous driving on all types of roads.
The Renault Rafale will be produced at the Palencia plant in Spain and is due to arrive in Europe in spring 2024. Prices are expected to start at around £40,000.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
