| Renault Austral | |
| Manufacturer: | Renault |
| Model Code: | RHN |
| Aka: | Renault Espace (LWB) |
| Production: | July 2022 – present |
| Designer: | Michael Han, Marco Brunori, Pierre Sabas, Alexis Martot, Andrey Basmanov, Alan Derosier |
| Assembly: | Spain: Palencia (Renault España) |
| Class: | Compact crossover SUV (C) |
| Body Style: | 5-door SUV |
| Layout: | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Platform: | Renault–Nissan CMF-CD |
| Motor: | 67abbr=onNaNabbr=on (E-Tech Hybrid) |
| Powerout: | NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Wheelbase: | 26671NaN1 |
| Length: | 45101NaN1 |
| Width: | 18251NaN1 |
| Height: | 16441NaN1 |
| Weight: | NaN0NaN0 |
| Sp: | uk |
The Renault Austral is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by Renault. It was unveiled in March 2022 as a successor to the Kadjar, and built on the third-generation CMF-CD platform.[1] [2] [3] It was publicly exhibited for the first time at the 2022 Paris Motor Show.[3] [4] Production began in July 2022 in Spain at the Palencia plant.[5]
Its derivatives include the sixth-generation Renault Espace, a long-wheelbase family-oriented version of the Renault Austral with three-row seating, and the Renault Rafale, a coupé SUV.[6] The three vehicles are sharing 75 percent of their parts.[7]
The "Austral" name was derived from the Latin word "australis", and has been trademarked since 2005.[8]
The Austral carries the new retro-inspired logo, the LED lights are in Renault's C-Shape signature, while the cockpit is in the form of an entirely digital "L", in order to "surround the driver". A long LED strip joins the logo on either side of the tailgate. The Austral adopts Renault's new design, called Sensual Tech.
According to Agneta Dahlgren, Renault design project director, "the result is materialized by the combination of generous shapes, curved shoulders, projecting sides and the integration of subtle technical details such as high-tech headlamps. which reinforce its identity design”.[9]
The dashboard of the Austral, called OpenR, is largely inspired by that of the Megane E-Tech, but the layout is slightly revised.[10]
| Model | Code | Type | Displacement | Power | Torque | Transmission | Battery | Top speed | Fuel consumption | CO2 emissions | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol hybrid: | |||||||||||||
| 1.3 Mild Hybrid 12V | H5Ht[11] | I4 turbo | 1333 cc | 6-speed manual X-Tronic CVT | 12V Lithium-ion | 10.7 s | Euro 6d compliant | ||||||
| at 1800 rpm | X-Tronic CVT | 9.7 s | |||||||||||
| 1.2 Mild Hybrid Advanced 48V | HR12[12] | I3 turbo | 1199 cc | 6-speed manual[13] | 48V Lithium-ion | 8.4 s | |||||||
| 1.2 E-Tech Full Hybrid | ICE engine
| 7-speed automatic | 400V Lithium-ion, 1.7 kWh | ||||||||||
See main article: article and Renault Espace. Unveiled on March 28, 2023, the sixth-generation Espace is heavily based on the Austral, sharing most of the body panels including the front end.[14]
It features an extended wheelbase and is available in five and seven-seater versions.[15] It is shorter in length and 215kg lighter than the previous generation.[16]
The Renault Espace will be available to order from spring 2023,[17] and will be produced at the Palencia plant in Spain alongside the mechanically related Austral.[18] However, it will not be available in the UK market.[19] [20]
See main article: Renault Rafale. The Rafale (codenamed DHN) is a coupe SUV unveiled on June 18, 2023 at the 54th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.[21]
While sharing the CMF-CD underpinnings with its Austral and Espace counterparts, it features a distinctive design with unique body panels, being the brand's first production vehicle designed entirely according to the new visual language penned by Gilles Vidal.[22]
The Rafale is named after the C.460 Rafale monoplane introduced in 1934 by the Caudron-Renault aviation company, although the name was also used more recently on the Dassault Rafale fighter jet.[23] [24] The car received a new plug-in hybrid powertrain with and all-wheel drive by installing an electric motor at the rear.
The Renault Austral received the Autobest 2023 trophy,[25] awarded by a jury from 31 European countries.[26]