The second-generation Renault Captur has rather big
shoes to fill, as the current model has been steadily finishing in the top
spots of its segment in Europe for a few years now. Renault continues the development
work on the Captur replacement, which will share the same updated CMF-B
platform with the recently revealed new Clio and therefore expected to benefit
from its better packaging.
Renault will take advantage of that last part in
order to fit a plug-in hybrid powertrain that reportedly features a 9.8kWh
battery pack, enabling the new Captur to drive on electric power alone for
around 50 km. A mild-hybrid diesel option is also reportedly on the
cards. The rest of the engine range will include a
1.0-liter turbo petrol offered with two different outputs, as well as a
1.5-liter diesel option. The new 1.3-liter petrol unit that was jointly
developed between Renault-Nissan and Daimler is also expected to be added in
the range.
The exterior styling will borrow cues from the Clio
as well, adopting cleaner lines for a more premium appearance. Inside you’ll
get the same tech features with the French supermini model, meaning a digital
instrument cluster, a bigger infotainment screen (up to a portrait-oriented
9.3-inch display), softer-to-the-touch materials and plenty of clever solutions
that take advantage of the taller body.
Driver assistance systems will play a major role in
the new Captur, with semi-autonomous technology to be offered for the first
time in an SUV of this size. With the new Clio set to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show,
Renault is expected to reveal the new Captur sometime during this summer and
start selling it towards the end of the year.
