CARS OF THE WORLD

Renault Rafale 2024.

Renault Rafale 2024: the French presented a coupe-shaped crossover.

In June twenty-third, the French officially presented the flagship coupe-shaped crossover Renault Rafale 2024.

The premiere of the new product was the June air show in Le Bourget.

This is not at all accidental, since the model itself was developed with an eye to the aviation past of the French brand.

For example, it got its name in honor of a racing aircraft produced by Caudron-Renault in the 1930s.

Design and interior

2024 Renault Rafale is made in a new design style, which was invented by Gilles Vidal, a native of Peugeot.

Previously, this style was demonstrated on the Scenic Vision concept, as well as on the updated Clio (but partially).

The “face” of the cross-coupe attracts attention with unusual DRLs, the shape of which resembles an arrowhead.

At the bottom of the bumper there is a large air intake, and the decorative radiator grille located on the “nose” is notable for its three-dimensional pattern.

Its grill consists of many diamond-shaped elements, which in their shape repeat the logo of the French brand.

The athletic profile of the new Renault Rafale 2024 pleases the eye with emphasized flourishes of the wheel arches and sharp-edged stampings on the sidewalls.

Along the perimeter of the model body there are protective linings made of black plastic.

The car has a sloping roofline, and the glass on the fifth door is placed at an angle of 17 degrees.

This solution made it possible not only to improve the streamlining of the body, but also to abandon the windshield wiper.

The rear of the Renault Rafale SUV is characterized by the presence of high-mounted Y-shaped lights.

There are two spoilers here (on the roof and trunk lid), and the exhaust pipes are laconically integrated into the elegant bumper.

It is reported that 20-inch wheels are available as standard for the car (21-inch wheels are available for an additional fee), and it will be offered on the market in a wide range of colors.

In particular, customers will be offered a choice of shades: Alpine Blue, Ceramic Gray, Diamond Black, Flame Red and White Pearl.

The interior is characterized by the presence of an OpenR digital cockpit (as on Austral and Espace).

This means that the driver is offered a 12.3-inch virtual instrument panel, and in the center there is a 12.0-inch touchscreen for the entertainment system, plus there is a 9.3-inch head-up display.

The interior of the car is equipped with “sports” front seats with developed lateral support bolsters.

Among other features of the 2024 Renault Raphael in the new body, it is worth noting the Solarbay panoramic roof, which can be used to change the degree of transparency.

There is a “smart” backlight that automatically adjusts the brightness depending on the current time of day.

Although the roof of the model is coupe-shaped, the French report that there is enough free space above the heads of the rear passengers.

And due to the long wheelbase, their legs should not be cramped either.

The rear sofa is traditionally divided into three parts (40:20:40). It has a massive center armrest that houses USB-C ports and swivel cup holders.

If desired, the latter can be used as stands for mobile gadgets.

Specifications

The coupe-shaped Renault Rafale 2024 is built on the CMF-CD platform. In terms of dimensions, we have a mid-size crossover, which reaches a length, width and height of 4,710, 1,860 and 1,610 mm, respectively.

Its wheelbase is 2,740 mm. The trunk volume is stated at 647 liters (including underground), ground clearance (ground clearance) — 180 mm.

The model will be offered on the market exclusively as a hybrid with an E-Tech power plant.

Its basic version has a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with 129 hp, an electric motor, a starter-generator and a 2 kWh lithium-ion battery operating at 400 volts.

In total, these units produce 200 forces (205 Nm). Gears here are switched by cam clutches, and possible jerks are smoothed out electronically. The initial drive is front-wheel drive.

In the future, there will also be a rechargeable all-wheel drive version of the E-Tech 4×4, which has an additional electric motor installed on the rear axle, and a more capacious traction battery located under the floor. At peak performance reaches 300 “horses”.

There is no information yet about the range of the hybrid crossover in the electric preset, and the dynamics have not been specified.

At the same time, the French call Renault Rafale a “driver’s car”. Like the Espace, it has independent rear suspension, but with sportier settings and sharper steering.

What is the price

In the European market, the start of sales of the new Renault Rafale is planned only for the spring of 2024. The car will be produced at a plant in Palencia, Spain. The official price tag has not yet been announced.

Approximately, the new product will cost from 50,000 euros (4.6 million rubles at the current exchange rate), and its direct competitors will be the Citroen C5X and Peugoet 408 models.