Austral [Spy Shots] 2024 Renault AUSTRAL COUPÉ

[Matski]

The styling is very Peugeot, pretty uninspiring.

I personally think Peugeot, as with the other major French manufacturers, make some really interesting looking cars. This body style is hard to pull off and I don't think anybody has really done it well on this kind of platform. I agree this looks pretty shit, but I don't think that's the norm for Peugeot.

 

[Mickaels]

I personally think Peugeot, as with the other major French manufacturers, make some really interesting looking cars. This body style is hard to pull off and I don't think anybody has really done it well on this kind of platform. I agree this looks pretty shit, but I don't think that's the norm for Peugeot.

my issue is not with peugoet and their styling, which is great, my issue is with renault which seems as if they are just mimicing peugeot's styling.

Gilles Vidal, the Renault design VP, formely from Peugeot head desinger, might be reason why things are beginning to look similar here.

 

[Matski]

my issue is not with peugoet and their styling, which is great, my issue is with renault which seems as if they are just mimicing peugeot's styling.

Gilles Vidal, the Renault design VP, formely from Peugeot head desinger, might be reason why things are beginning to look similar here.

Ah, sorry, bit of brain fade there, I meant Renault. I was going to mention the 408 as being another example that doesn't work for me, got off track.

 

[Giannis]

Is this a replacement for the Arkana, or is it higher up the line-up?

 

[advantage20]

Is this a replacement for the Arkana, or is it higher up the line-up?

Higher in the lineup, flagship in fact. 200ps HEV or 300ps PHEV will be available. The awkwardly proportioned Arkana is based on the B-segment platform of the Clio/Captur.

 

[advantage20]

 

[advantage20]

The styling is very Peugeot, pretty uninspiring.

Perhaps you meant uninspired? Indeed it's been designed under the leadership of Peugeot's ex-chief of design, but that's also why it looks so sharp and chiseled and very premium: the crisp, clear cut and finely detailed headlights and taillights, the sculpted roof, the big wheels for such a contained volume (20" here and 21" available later for a 4710mm overall length), virtually no bodyfat and no flat and plain body surface anywhere. Regardless of the Peugeot inspiration, I find it very inspiring per se in absolute terms, and I think it wipes the floor with most other SUV coupés out there and definitely rivals the X4 and GLC Coupé premium alternatives design-wise.

 

[Giannis]

Higher in the lineup, flagship in fact. 200ps HEV or 300ps PHEV will be available. The awkwardly proportioned Arkana is based on the B-segment platform of the Clio/Captur.

I thought the Arkana was higher-up, since the Clio based SAV is the Captur. So the Arkana is basically a reskinned Captur?

It does sell well, around here, and actually looks descent!

 

[Mickaels]

Perhaps you meant uninspired?

no.

 

[advantage20]

The PHEV 300 version will have 2 electric motors sitting on the rear axle.
Which is a nice occasion to remember this revolutionary hybrid concept from 1995, weighing in at an unbelievable 875kg thanks to the use of carbon fiber with inputs from Aérospatiale and Pagani:

NEW CLIO: DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS OVERCOME THE HIDDEN CHALLENGES

Video shows the challenges that our engineers surmounted as they developed some major components on the All-new Clio

www.renaultgroup.com

 

[advantage20]

 

[klier]

Are we still sure Renault and Peugeot are different brands??

 

[Gianclaudio]

Are we still sure Renault and Peugeot are different brands??

Just like when Seat/VAG took De Silva from Alfa Romeo…..

 

[J.E]

I'm just going to call it Rafael instead of Rafale because Rafale sounds dyslexic, and Rafael is a more memorable name

 

[advantage20]

I'm just going to call it Rafael instead of Rafale because Rafale sounds dyslexic, and Rafael is a more memorable name

Or they could have named it Regor

Rafale (with a silent "e") is actually a French common noun meaning sudden gust (usually of wind, or metaphorically something else, e.g. bullets).

It's a throwback to a couple of record-breaking airplanes from the 1930s where Renault was technically involved

And of course to the modern-day jet fighter from Dassault Aviation, who Renault allowed to use its registered name

 

[advantage20]

 

[advantage20]

 

[advantage20]

Design director (in French)

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[Centurion]

Finally something daring from Renault that’s visually on par with Peugeots.

Other than that, the number of European crossovers is becoming overwhelming. I can’t keep up with their names and specs.

 

[mr.Mister]

I think that the Rafale is the most cool looking midsizeSUV at this time.
No Q5, X3, GLC, Terramar, Tiguan, XC60 look so hot and sexy.
In grey very elegant and sporty, in black brutal like a batmobil

As a kid, which parents have driven (beside their Companies S-Classes since 1974), also many Renaults (R16, R30, R21, R25, Safrane) and my first car was also a 3-year old R Safrane Phase2 2.5 (with the Volvo engine), i am very happy, that Renault comes with a flagship again.
Sure, its not even close as futuristic and special, as the R25 in his debute was, but however, its nice to see a big Renault again.
I find many design details of the Safrane in the rear (a very square tailgate with an integrated mini-edge and boomerang headlights, only facing downwards) and in general heritage to all Renault business sedans with a typical 5-door shape and a coupe-like sloping roof. TOP!

Also the interior is much better build, then Renaults in the last 20 years.
Everything you touch, is very solid. Nothing moves, creaks, or cracks (as happens with current Mercedes models).
The only thing I'm afraid of is the durability of the base engine. On the other hand, in the best case scenario, it will be helped by 3 additional electric motors and perhaps therefore it will not be so burdened.
Time will tell.