Renault Arkana Hybrid Coming To South Africa!
Electrification in the automotive sector is gaining even more traction as global emissions continue to increase. Now, Renault has joined the fray with the Renault Arkana hybrid edition which will likely enter the South African market in 2024.
Driving Electrification With The Renault Arkana Hybrid
Renault SA’s first hybrid-electric vehicle will be the Arkana, a new family-focused coupe-SUV with a stylishly sloped roof and loads of tech for an impressive all-rounder. The company is hoping to launch the Renault Arkana in South Africa sporting a 1.3-litre petrol or E-Tech Hybrid 1.6-litre engine that charges the batteries on the go.
Zian Van Heerden, sales and operations vice-president of Renault SA said the car is likely to arrive in South Africa early in 2024. The SA-bound Arkana was part of several new models and concept vehicles showcased at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Fit for five, this coupe-SUV has a similar façade to the current Renault Clio but is somewhat larger to incorporate the batteries and in line with modern car trends.
Renault Arkana Hybrid Styling
No matter where you go in the new Renault Arkana Hybrid, it will attract attention whether you’re a petrolhead or not. While the Arkana is based on the CMF-B modular platform used by the Renault Clio and Renault Captur, it is slightly larger. Based on the showcased model, the SUV coupe has 200mm of ground clearance, five spacious seats and a large boot ideal for shopping sprees, weekend getaways and daily school runs.
The Renault Arkana Hybrid Coupe features a sporty sloped roofline and sleek lines which are synonymous with the more luxurious German brands. The cabin has ample room with wide and comfortable seats, even for the passengers in the rear. As per the demo model at the Paris Motor Show, the functions and luxuries are up to scratch with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for easy navigation and entertainment galore.
The dash and interior décor are similar to the current Renault vehicles in SA which includes a similar colourful screen display as the larger one in the all-new, fully-electric Renault Megane which is not yet confirmed for South Africa.
Driving The Renault Arkana Hybrid
In a recent test drive cruising out of city streets, the car automatically switched to full electric mode, driving in silence until the speed exceeded 60km/h. At that point, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine kicked in and recharged the batteries while eating up the road in comfort and style.
Pushing 140kW and 148Nm of torque, the Arkana powers from 0-100km/h in 10.8 seconds which is pretty good for an SUV-type car of this size. An added benefit of the Arkana is the regenerative brakes that help to charge the 1.2kWh battery which contributes toward an impressive average fuel consumption of 4.8 litres/100km.
The drive feels luxurious and super comfortable which is further bolstered by the adjustable seat to match the high steering wheel position. In terms of layout, everything seems to be in the right place and within easy reach. Although the rear view is slightly obscured by the sloping roofline, it more than makes up for it with the trio of mirrors to clearly see what is happening behind you.
The Renault Arkana is easy to drive thanks to responsive steering which also aids in high-speed cornering. The front-wheel drive results in loads of front-end grip for a more enjoyable drive on even and uneven surfaces.
Renault At The 2022 Paris Motor Show
Along with the hybrid Renault Arkana, new ideas from the French automaker included the new 4Ever Trophy concept; a modern and more rugged version of the 1984 Renault 4 station wagon and a hatchback combo. Next on the list was the Renault 5 Turbo 3E which is an electric concept that pays tribute to the Renault 5 Turbo rally legend.
Renault showed its hand at the Paris Motor Show with the largest stand which included the new Austral SUV and the Espace concept, a stunning hydrogen-powered hatchback. Speaking of hybrid cars, Renault’s sister brand Alpine also showcased the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow concept.
Dacia also had something to show and that was the Manifesto all-terrain buggy concept and the Spring which is an all-electric spin-off of the Renault Kwid. These could play a pivotal role in Renault’s electrification ambitions in South Africa.
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