Renault Austral in disguise
It’s official, the new Renault Austral SUV for Europe and the UK has been revealed. It will replace the Kadjar as its core crossover model with multiple powertrains and a new CMF-CD3 platform. The new Renault Austral shares most of its underpinnings with the new Nissan Qashqai and has an overall length of 4.51 metres which is slightly bigger than the Kadjar.
The Renault Austral could be unveiled late this year and looks set on rivalling the Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan. According to official prototype images, it seems to have taken some design inspiration from the Renault Megane E-Tech hatchback which is not a bad thing as it’s modern and stylish with everything you’d expect from a modern SUV.
Renault Austral To Cover Two Million Kilometres
The Renault Austral is in the final stage of development where the new SUV is set to undertake a series of tests. These ‘Confirmation Runs’ will cover France, Spain, Germany and Romania to confirm the results of the previous checks that the car had undergone. It involves a fleet of around 100 Austral vehicles covering a distance of approximately two million kilometres.
From now until the launch of the Renault Austral, this fleet of test cars and a team of 900 drivers will cover a combined distance of 600,000 km (around 373,000 miles) on the open road while prototypes will do a further 1.4 million kilometres (870,000 miles) on test tracks. Renault confirmed that they conduct intensive trials every time they are about to launch a new model to ensure it meets the most stringent quality and reliability criteria.
“These tests will enable the teams to approve the adjustments made to the new CMF-CD3 platform and driver assistance systems, as well as the sound-proofing and comfort of the suspension system so that future customers can enjoy the best conditions,” Renault said.
Renault Austral Engine Options
The Renault Austral will have a petrol hybrid-only line‑up, a next-gen E-Tech hybrid option and a 1.3 TCe unit with a 12V mild-hybrid solution. It will also be available with a 1.2 TCe unit with a 48V mild-hybrid technology powertrain, which is a first for Renault’s range.
These incredible powertrains make the SUV more performance-driven while helping to reduce CO2 emissions. At this stage, however, there is no confirmation whether the Renault Austral will get the Qashqai’s e-Power hybrid system where a 1.5-litre petrol-powered generator feeds an impressive 140kW electric motor.
Creating A Modular Centre Console
Based on recent images, it looks as if the Renault Austral’s cabin features a new infotainment layout which the engineers have named, “OpenR”. According to the French automaker, it’s one of the “biggest breakthroughs in on-board technology in the past several years”.
The system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto with a built-in Google search function and pre-installed support for Google Maps. There will be a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that’s connected to a 12-inch portrait infotainment system.
This modular centre console was “inspired by the worlds of aeroplanes and fine watchmaking”. It has a stylish sliding hand rest that can be pushed back and forth to reveal a wireless smartphone charger or a large storage bin with cupholders.
Then there is the beautiful dashboard with faux-wood trim and a wide air vent spanning the width of the passenger seat. They’ve also added an ambient lighting system with light bars running across the top of the dash panel and around key trims such as the door handles.
On the outside of the prototype are slim high-mounted LED headlamps, a clamshell-type bonnet and a curved front fascia which seem to come from the EV. While the glasshouse is smaller than the Kadjar, it is larger than the Megane E-Tech’s which fits in perfectly with the Austral as it is a taller, crossover-bodied version of the Renault Megane.
Final Thoughts
Renault engineers worked tirelessly to maximise space in the cabin by designing the body without a central hump in the rear. This means the floor is flat which improves foot space for passengers sitting in the middle seat. At the same time, the rear bench can also slide back and forth to reveal boot space or rear legroom as required. For ease of use and functionality, the seat folds down completely with one press of a button in the boot.
“When we created the Austral’s passenger compartment, the three recurring themes were the perception of space, edgy design and a protective feel – and all that is based on high standards of quality,” said Agneta Dahlgren, Renault Design Project Director.
While it certainly looks like a good fit for other markets, the new Renault Austral SUV is primarily for the European market, at least for now. The automaker has not yet announced the official launch date for Europe and the UK although it looks like late 2022.
For more updates on new vehicle launches, locally and abroad, please follow our blog. If you want to receive the latest motoring news and special offers, sign up for our monthly newsletter.
