Renault has launched the compact SUV Austral, a model that replaces Kadjar and is a competitor for cars such as Ford Kuga and Toyota RAV4. It will be released in September and is produced at the Spanish plant Palencia. It will also have hybrid versions.
Renault AustralPhoto: Renault
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Austral is the second compact SUV launched in the last year by Renault, after Arkana, which is produced in South Korea and has found over 40,000 customers in Europe.
Arkana is the coupe-style model for lifestyle buyers, while Austral is described as a family-friendly “athletic” model.
Both models are part of the relaunch strategy presented by CEO Luca de Meo who stressed that Renault will focus on larger models with higher profit margins. Renault will also launch a compact full-electric crossover in 2023.
Built on the CMF-CD platform, developed within the alliance and in the third generation, the New Austral offers various electrification technologies, including a new E-TECH Full Hybrid engine.
Austral replaces Kadjar, a model launched in 2015 that saw its sales fall by 48% last year.
The new Austral also comes with a new sporty version, the Esprit Alpine, available for the first time on a Renault vehicle.
The new Renault Austral benefits from a range of engines with a new generation of the E-TECH Hybrid system on a 400 V network and developing up to 200 hp, as well as two other petrol engines: a Mild Hybrid Advanced 48V with 130 hp and a Mild Hybrid 12V of 140 and 160 hp.
The high-tech cockpit of the New Renault Austral is built around the OpenR screen that combines the 12.3-inch instrument cluster display with the 12-inch vertical multimedia display. There will also be a 9.3-inch head-up display.
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