Renault Rafale Debuts as Brand's Flagship Coupe SUV

Renault Rafale Debuts as Brand's Flagship Coupe SUV 

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Aviation nuts may think the Rafale nameplate adorned to Renault's newest model is odd, but it's not an entirely random naming choice. It's an aeronautical reference to the Caudron-Renault C.460 Rafale aircraft which flew at a record-breaking 445 km/h in 1934 wielding a supercharged Renault 456 6-cylinder inverted air-cooled engine. 

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89 years later, the nameplate has been revived and instead of being an aircraft like before, it resurrects in the form of a brand new coupe-SUV model built by Renault and unveiled at the 54th Paris Air Show. 

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Though the Renault Rafale shares its CMF-CD underpinnings with the Austral and Espace, neither of which are sold in SA, it looks nothing like them. Instead, it depicts the new visual language penned by Gilles Vidal, the design director at the French marque. 

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You can see a strong resemblance to the refreshed Clio if you squint. It features a neatly-designed front grille, new matrix LEDs and a plunging roofline that, according to Renault, doesn't compromise on boot space, but we will get to that in a bit. While the Rafale may not be supercharged (spoiler alert), we're confident its name was inspired by the striking resemblance between its roofline and the shape of an aeroplane's wings. 

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As a coupe SUV that looks ready to alter the D-segment, it is 4,710 m long and 1,860 m wide, with a wheelbase that matches that of the Espace at 2.740 mm. It sits 1,610 m high, thus making it a margin bigger than the Koleos. 

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It looks more imposing than the Espace, thanks to wider axles and a set of 20" wheels. The Rafale can be had in exclusive exterior shades such as Satin Pearl White and Alpine Blue. 

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Unlike the Espace, which is marketed as a 7-seater, the Rafale has five seats and a boot space that measures 530 litres, with the rear seats up - 66 litres more than the Koleos.  

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The interior should look even more impressive in person, thanks to a 12" portrait-style infotainment touchscreen borrowed from the Megane E-Tech electric car but with new graphics. The system is supplemented by a 12.3" digital instrument cluster as well as an optional 9.3" head-up display. 

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Other interior features include a large panoramic roof and sporty seats wrapped in Alcantara upholstery. 

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Motivation for the Rafale comes from a hybridised 1.2-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors for a total system output of 147 kW. The engine alone pumps out 96 kW and 205 Nm, while the main electric motor produces 50 kW and 205 Nm. It's fed power by a 2 kWh battery pack that gives the Rafale a fully-electric drive. As for the secondary motor, it churns out 25 kW and 50 Nm. 

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This particular model employs a multimode automatic transmission. 

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Renault promises a gruntier plug-in model that could pack 223 kW sent to all four wheels via the all-wheel-drive courtesy of a rear-axle mounted electric motor. 

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According to the French automaker, the Rafale will feature a range of safety features, from active driver assist systems, adaptive cruise control, and Level 2 autonomous driving to overspeed prevention. 

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The Rafale is a game-changer in the SUV fold, offering a striking combination of style and performance. It is not clear when it will arrive in Mzansi, but it will surely entice many consumers looking for a reasonable alternative to the Audi Q5 Sportback, Mercedes GLC Coupe and BMW X4. 

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