RENAULT

Rafale: SUV-coupé als Frans topmodel

Renault Rafale. That name is completely new, but already makes sense. ‘Rafale’ means ‘gust’ and was used in the 1930s for the Caudron C.460 aircraft, which chased records and race wins thanks to a Renault six-cylinder with more than 400 km/h. Before your imagination runs away with you: a six-cylinder is not an option for the new Rafale. Instead, there’s a modest 1.2-litre three-cylinder in the nose, as part of the well-known E-Tech Hybrid powertrain. Just like in the Austral and its longer brother Espace, this produces 200 hp. However, more will follow with the Rafale, because Renault immediately announces a version with 300 hp. That Renault Rafale E-Tech 4×4 300 has an extra electric motor on the rear axle and therefore four-wheel drive. It is also a plug-in hybrid, so you can charge it to drive longer distances electrically. There will not be a fully electric Rafale, Renault will come up with other models for that. Multi-link rear suspension is standard, 4Control Advanced four-wheel steering optional. 

Mercedes and BMW ...The Renault Rafale shares its CMF-CD platform with the Austral and the Espace and has the same wheelbase as the latter at 2.74. According to Renault, that makes both cars so-called D-segmenters, just like the Talisman that we just lost. We’d say the line between the segments is a bit fuzzy these days, but the Rafale is definitely on the hefty side. The Renault is 4.71 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.61 meters high, making it narrowly shorter, four centimeters lower and two centimeters wider than the Espace. In addition, the track width has been increased by four centimeters compared to that car. The Rafale weighs at least 1,653 kg. If we look for some alternatives, it turns out that the Rafale as an SUV coupé with these exterior dimensions is quite a unique thing. The new Peugeot 408 comes close, but is lower and clearly less ‘SUV’. In a way, the Citroën C5-X is also comparable, but that car also has a clearly different shape. In that respect, the BMW X4, Audi Q5 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé come closer, but Renault has no premium aspirations with the Rafale and is likely to market it very differently (read: less high). 

Design Now that the Peugeot 408 has been mentioned: we can’t really ignore the fact that the Rafale has quite a few Peugeot traits all around. This is thanks to Renault’s new drawing style, which was first shown on last year’s Scenic Vision. The Rafale is the first production car to be drawn entirely according to that style, after the facelifted Clio already took off with a nose in the new style. 

In particular, the ‘tusks’ of LED lighting in the front bumper provide a striking resemblance to Peugeot, as does the large grille. The choice for such a striking fence is special in any case, since Renault has so far used much less prominent grilles and gratefully reaps the benefits of this with electric models. 

The grille of the Rafale is secretly not a grille at all, but a purely visual element that is apparently made up of small Renault ‘wyberts’. The rear of the Rafale also differs considerably from what we have seen at Renault in recent years. The large, sharp-lined taillights are almost black when switched off, with the lighting elements shining through like a kind of ice blocks. The strongly obliquely cut butt still offers 530 liters of luggage space, more than an Austral. There is also a lot of space in the back, although the floor is a bit high. The rear center armrest is remarkably large and, in addition to cup holders, offers USB charging points and special holders for a tablet or telephone, which is nice on long journeys. Just as nice is the large glass roof. It cannot be opened, but thanks to its length of 1.47 meters it offers a lot of light and visibility. At least, if you want to. At the push of a button, the roof becomes opaque, completely or partially. 

Slate and cork The front of the Rafale is a celebration of recognition. After all, the dashboard has been taken over one-on-one from the Austral and the Espace, which share their screen combination with the Renault Megane E-Tech. For the Rafale, Renault does pull out new colors and materials, plus some fun jokes. That brings up some details. For example, the door pockets of the Esprit Alpine version are covered with a blue fabric, the same version has an illuminated logo in the seat and slate or cork has been used for the finish. The logo on the steering wheel is in all cases slightly different from the Renaults we already know, because the high-gloss black frame is missing here. 

Some steps have also been taken on the technological front. For example, the Rafale has the latest generation of the Android Automotive operating system. This should work more intuitively and be able to recognize certain patterns based on driver habits and input. Other Renaults will also receive this update in the future, but the new design of the digital environment will remain reserved for the Rafale. The new Renault Rafale rolls off the production line in Palencia, Spain, just like – you guessed it – the Austral and the Espace. It is not yet known what it will cost, but we already know that it should appear on the market in the spring of 2024.

Reporter: Jan Lemkes