French carmaker Renault will introduce a new compact SUV in the near future. It bears the name Austral.
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But we’ve known that for some time. And we also know that the name chosen comes from the Latin word “australis”, ie “south bank”. But now Renault is adding some new information about the design and technology on board.
For example, the carmaker promises a “civilized SUV with character” that should be sharp, athletic and modern, while the proportions should give the car a feeling of robustness and agility.
“Renault Austral combines distinctive styling elements that give it a dynamic and elegant design. Its quality is obvious at first glance. We have narrowed the gaps in the body, improved the workmanship to immediately create a sense of quality,” says Gilles Vidal, Renault Design Director .
One of the distinctive stylistic elements of the new Renault Austral is to be the structural line at the bottom of the body sides. It slopes forward, allegedly increasing the dynamics of the car’s silhouette. Austral should look “up ahead” in profile.
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The carmaker also highlights headlights using micro-optical technology, which was first introduced in the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric. It consists of plexiglass, on the surface and in the heart of which the material is engraved with lines and patterns. When the edge of the plexiglass is illuminated by LEDs, all engraved areas light up and create a characteristic visual effect.
We know from previous reports that the technical basis of the SUV is the new CMF-CD3 platform, shared with the current Nissan Qashqai, for example. And that Austral will get new power units, such as a 1.2 TCe three-cylinder petrol engine.
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It is a mildhybrid with a 48V electrical system. It will be offered alongside the existing mildhybrid four-cylinder 1.3 TCe with a 12V system, and a new generation of the E-Tech hybrid system is also planned, which will probably replace the existing sixteen-liter petrol engine with an 18-liter engine. Diesel units do not figure in the plans.
Renault Austral will be introduced later this year. Derived models, an SUV-coupe and a seven-seater variant will also follow. In addition to Kadjar, the various designs on offer have indirectly replaced the Talisman and Koleos models.
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