There was not only applause for Renault when the charismatic Espace van was turned into an SUV within two generations. In addition, one with a narrow three-cylinder hybrid under the hood, which has little to do with the upper middle class. Now the Espace is getting a neat brother, and this is not only visually impressive, but also offers a significantly more powerful all-wheel drive version with 220 kW / 300 hp in addition to the small hybrid system of the Espace. “The new Renault Rafale is at the heart of the Renaulution strategic plan, symbolizing our move into the upper vehicle classes and showing that we are at home in every customer segment. Its captivating SUV coupe design is made for immersive experiences. With its hybrid drives and a benchmark-setting chassis, the Rafale offers unprecedented driving pleasure,” explains Fabrice Cambolive, CEO Renault Brand.
Named after the C460 single-seat racing aircraft, which was renamed the Rafale in 1934, the upper-middle-class SUV coupé wants to position the Renault brand further up the ladder and thus more profitably. With a length of 4.71 meters, the Renault Rafale is on the modular CMF-CD platform of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi group alliance. The standard drive comes from the recently introduced Renault Espace, which is powered by a 1.2 liter three-cylinder (96 kW / 130 hp) with an electric motor and multi-mode automatic transmission. The bottom line is that the driver has 146 kW / 200 hp available, which, however, is only brought to the road via the front axle. The electric drive delivers 51 kW / 70 PS / 205 Nm of torque and is powered by a small lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2.0 kWh and 400 volts. A second electric motor with 18 kW / 25 HP / 50 Nm acts as a starter generator and ensures that the gears are changed. This is to achieve a standard consumption of 4.7 liters of premium fuel per 100 kilometers.
With the more dynamically positioned Rafale, Renault is going a step further and will be offering a more powerful hybrid variant with 220 kW / 300 hp over the course of the next year, which is better suited to the segment simply because of the all-wheel drive. Like the closely related Renault Espace, the Rafale Coupé offers all-wheel steering. Here there is not only an additional electric motor on the rear axle, but as a plug-in hybrid there is also the option of charging at a socket and a significant electric range.
Inside, the SUV offers a modern cockpit with two digital displays, each around twelve inches diagonal, along with a head-up display, well-contoured seats and a large panoramic roof, which can be fully or partially shaded at the touch of a button even without a roller blind. However, despite the high vehicle segment, a leather interior is no longer available in the Rafale. If you want it classy, you have to be satisfied with Alcantara seats, which, depending on the equipment, are upgraded with an illuminated Alpine brand logo, similar to the BMW M GmbH models. Thanks to the 2.74 meter long wheelbase, the Rafale offers good space for up to five occupants and a load compartment that swallows an impressive 647 liters. A total of 32 driver assistance systems and on-board electronics with artificial intelligence, which supports the driver behind the wheel with tips, ensure comfort on board. Like its sister models Austral and Espace, the Renault Rafale is produced at the Spanish plant in Palencia. The market launch is next spring.
