The Renault Rafale represents the entry of the diamond brand in the D segment of SUVs, that is, intermediate SUVs. It will be the new flagship of the firm.
Next June 18 will not be just any day at Renault. That is the day chosen by the French brand to present what will be its new flagship, an SUV coupe located at the top of the range of the French firm, but without abandoning the D segment. This is all that is known about the new Renault Rafael.
It will not be until its official debut at the 54th Paris-Le Bourget International Aeronautics and Space Show when we will know all the details of this new model, but until then, we can tell you about some very interesting things.
With the Rafale, Renault introduces a new SUV model with a coupe and sporty look, a trend that began with the Arkana and that, until then, we only saw in premium segment models.
The new Rafale represents the entry of the diamond brand in the D segment of SUVs, that is, intermediate SUVs. This also means that it will take the place of two models at the same time, the Talisman and the Koleos, whose commercial success has been very restrained.
Renault Rafale, everything that is known about the new SUV that is manufactured in Spain
We will start with the name of the model, a not banal aspect for any manufacturer and, of course, also for Renault. The name Rafale alludes to a forgotten past that is related to the world of aviation.
The name refers to a famous French fighter from the 1930s and evokes France’s most prestigious achievements in the field of aviation. That story began with Louis Renault 89 years ago, but few know that the Rafale name has belonged to Renault since 1936.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Renault pioneered the creation of reciprocating engines not only for automobiles, but also for trains and even airplanes. Louis Renault was passionate about aviation and acquired the French aircraft manufacturer Caudron in 1933.
So, he created Caudron Renault and renamed all Caudron aircraft with terms related to the wind: thus, in 1934, the C460 became the Rafale, which means gust in French; the C500 in Simoun (‘simoon’, desert wind), the C640 in Typhon (‘typhoon’) and the C714 in Cyclone (‘cyclone’).
The Rafale (the Caudron Renault C460) was a single-seater racing plane designed to break records and only a handful were built, which might have consigned it to oblivion, but its aerodynamic design and incredible performance left its mark on aviation history. , making him a legend.
The famous aviator Hélène Boucher broke several speed records in the Rafale, including the women’s record for distances over 1,000 kilometers, when she reached 445 km/h on August 11, 1934.
The new Renault Rafale takes the legacy of that fighter from the 30s, seeking excellence through design and aerodynamics.
Design and equipment of the Renault Rafale
About the design, little is known so far, beyond that it will be an SUV with a coupe look. There is no data on measurements, but it will be larger than the new Renault Espace, around 4.70 meters long, although they will not be as spacious or have such a large trunk, for obvious reasons.
It is built on the brand’s third-generation CMF-CD platform, the same used by the Austral and the Espace. By design and dimensions, it is a clear direct rival of the Peugeot 408 that is already on the market.
From the inside, we know that it will have a design and distribution similar to what we have seen in the latest products from the diamond firm, although with a more high-end orientation. This means that it will have more elaborate details and the sense of perceived quality will be greater.
Of course, there will be a high level of technological and connectivity equipment, as well as the presence of two large digital screens, one for the multimedia system and the other for the instrumentation.
engines
As for the range of engines, the Renault Rafale will include the E-Tech hybrid range, in which the E-Tech Full Hybrid engine present in both the Austral and the Espace with 200 hp stands out. The Rafale is expected to achieve this same power.
It is a non-plug-in hybrid system, which is why it is entitled to the DGT ECO label. It consists of a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine, combined with two electric ones.
It is possible that the engine offer includes less powerful options, but always based on this same self-recharging hybrid scheme. The incorporation of a plug-in hybrid version with the ZERO label is also planned.
The new Renault Rafale is manufactured in Spain, at the Palencia plant, where the Austral and Espace are also assembled, and will hit the market in mid-2024.
