Renault unveils Rafale SUV coupe with the option of hybrid power

French car-maker Renault has added another coupe-like SUV to its line-up in Europe. For now, it’s not planned for Australia.

French car-maker Renault has unveiled a coupe-shaped SUV called the Rafale, the twin under the skin to the company’s Austral family SUV sold in Europe which, for now, is not planned for Australia.

Compared to the Austral on which it is based, the Rafale is approximately 200mm longer and 10mm lower than its counterpart.

The company claims the suspension has a sportier feel, and notes flagship variants will come with four-wheel-steering and 20-inch alloy wheels.

Renault says the Rafale has preserved some headroom for back seat passengers despite the tapered roofline.

The front-end showcases Renault’s updated logo and a new lighting design layout.

Premium versions of the Renault Rafale are available with cork or slate panels as extra-cost options.

Renault says the Rafale will initially be available with two hybrid options. The first is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder hybrid petrol engine paired with two electric motors that power the front wheels. The second electric motor serves as an integrated starter-generator, starting the petrol engine and collecting energy for the 2kWh battery. The power output is estimated to be about 145kW.

In the future, Renault says it plans to introduce a more powerful variant of the Rafale with all-wheel drive, delivering a claimed output of 217kW. This version is said to feature an electric-driven rear axle and is expected to be a plug-in hybrid, providing an extended electric driving range.

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