Renault Rafale, the diamond-shaped star of 2024?

Among Mégane, Arkana, Austral, and Scenic, what could be the place of the new Renault Rafale coupe SUV?

Presented at the 2023 Bourget Motor Show, the Rafale, a high-end coupe SUV, demonstrates great ambitions and a name inspired by Renault’s history as an aerospace engine manufacturer in the 1930s.

With its E-Tech full hybrid 200 hp powertrain, Rafale supplements the family of E-Tech hybrid models after Austral, the five-seater SUV which shares its platform, and Espace, the large five- and seven-seater SUV. An somewhat uncertain positioning while the new Scenic has just been introduced and no longer resembles the monovolume it once was. This is starting to be a lot of SUVs at Renault!

And in terms of identity, it’s also particularly confusing, even a bit awkward, since like its cousin Scenic, Rafale cannot hide its resemblance to the latest Peugeot models! Not surprising when you know it was designed by Gilles Vidal , who left the Sochaux manufacturer to take charge of Renault’s design three years ago. 

This new Renault Rafale E-Tech full hybrid 200 hp will be marketed in Spring 2024, but is expected to undergo further technological developments soon after. Perhaps the best way to give it an identity is to position it within the high-performance automotive universe with a E-Tech 300 hp engine and all-wheel drive. If Renault presents it as a sporty coupe SUV rather than just another high-riding, high-end iteration, we are on board. Of course, the question of pricing remains, to be announced soon, but foremost, the message needs to be clear to prevent the Rafale from just being a breath of air.

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