A New Developed Plug-in Hybrid, 300 HP, New Renault Rafale Coupe-SUV 2024 Unveiled
The top version has AWD courtesy of a rear electric motor.
Coupe-SUVs used to be reserved for the luxury segment, but Renault has brought the body style mix into the mainstream with the compact Arkana, which debuted a little over three years ago. Fast forward to mid-2023, the company with the diamond logo introduces a larger model named after a 1934 racing plane. Meet Rafale, the D segment fast sports all-terrain vehicle, which serves as the first model of the brand to fully adopt the new design language.
Like the recently facelifted 2024 Clio, it uses a new front grille design and a new matrix LED light signature. Like the super mini, it's offered in the flagship Esprit Alpine trim, also available for the Espace, where it inherits the 2.74-metre (107.8-inch) wheelbase. It doesn't match the practicality of a traditionally styled SUV due to its sloping roofline, but still offers a generous 530 liters (18.7 cubic feet) of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place.
Renault is losing out on the Espace's third row as it plans to sell only the five-seat Rafale with minimal loss of rear headroom despite the coupe-like roofline. New to Renault's growing range is the 1,470 x 1,117 mm (57.8 x 43.9") panoramic glass roof 4.71 meters (185.4 inches) and 1.86 meters (73.2 inches) wide, which can switch from fully opaque to fully transparent. owner. . It has two additional settings as the front can be opaque while the back can be transparent or vice versa.
Considering the wider axles (+4 cm) and thick 245mm tires, it should look more imposing than the Espace in real life. Another innovation is represented by the evolution of Renault's rear-wheel drive steering to improve handling and cornering speed on uneven surfaces. The Rafale has exclusive Satin Pearl White and Alpine Blue paint colors, the latter a more intense shade of blue than on the A110.
Inside, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is combined with a 12-inch vertically oriented touchscreen to mirror many of Renault's latest models, including the Megane E-Tech Electric on which it was first installed. Running on Android Automotive 12, the infotainment system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Customers will be able to purchase the coupe-SUV with a 9.3-inch head-up display that projects relevant information onto the windscreen.
Power is provided by a hybrid setup combining a turbocharged three-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors. The 1.2-liter petrol unit produces 130 hp (96 kW) and 205 Nm (151 lb-ft) of torque, while the main e-engine is rated at 70 hp (50 kW) and 205 Nm (151 lb-ft). The secondary e-engine is a starter generator with 34 hp (25 kW) and 50 Nm (37 lb-ft). Combined, Renault offers a total power output of 200 hp to mirror the Espace.
At a later stage, the Rafale will receive a newly developed plug-in hybrid setup with 300 hp and all-wheel drive by attaching an electric m
