It seems that automakers can’t have enough SUVs in their lineup to keep their customers satisfied. According to the latest reports, Renault is planning yet another high-riding model, this time focusing on the compact segment. The yet-unnamed SUV is expected to arrive later this year, filling the gap between the soon-to-be facelifted Captur and the Austral. The goal of the new offering is to compete against the likes of the Toyota C-HR and the Honda HR-V. In terms of footprint, it could measure around 4,400 mm long, which is slightly more than the 4,329 mm of the Captur, but less than the 4,510 mm of the Austral.
Earlier reports from French automotive
media suggested that Renault is working on a longer version of the Captur with
a stretched body, resulting in more space for the rear passengers and their
luggage. Still, it is not clear if the new SUV will share body panels with the
slightly smaller Captur, or feature a unique design. Note that Renault has a
similar strategy with the Austral and the Espace siblings, making us wonder if
this could be replicated in smaller segments. According to Autocar, the new
model will likely share the CMF-B underpinnings with the Clio, the Captur, and
the Arkana, allowing it to be priced from around £ 25,000 (€ 29,181 / US$ 31,770).
Furthermore, the platform’s proven compatibility with hybrid and plug-in hybrid
powertrains is important for the compact SUV segment – especially in Europe,
where the majority of automakers offer more than one electrified options for
their models.
Speaking about their strategy, Bruno
Vanel, Renault’s product performance boss, said: “We were a lot focused on the
B-segment (sub-compact)- maybe a little bit too much – whereas the European
market is at least as much focused on the C-segment (compact).” Vanel added
that Renault will now balance its focus a little bit more between those
segments. A new offering in this space would contribute to the brand’s push for
higher margins. As for the automaker’s market positioning, Vanel said that
Renault doesn’t want to become a premium brand, but prefers sitting “at the top
of what you call the mainstream”.
If the rumors about a 2024 reveal are
true, then our spy photographers should start spotting camouflaged prototypes
of the Fench compact SUV out in the wild, revealing the extent of visual
differentiation with the Captur. The latter is also up for a mid-lifecycle
update in 2024, adopting the latest styling language, introduced last year by
the Rafale and the Scenic E-Tech.
