► New Renault Rafale confirmed
► It’s the flagship coupe SUV
► Due at Paris Air Show in June
There’s a new name incoming for fans of big French luxury cars: the Renault Rafale has been confirmed as La Regie’s new range-topper – and it’s another entrant to the burgeoning ‘flagship coupe SUV’ sector.
Only the shadowy silhouette above has been published so far, revealing a fastback mash-up of crossover-meets-coupe roofline, the modish look that seems to have swept Europe’s design studios as the latest must-have range accessory.
We can’t make out much detail from this teaser picture, but there are clearly quite busy light graphics going on at the front, a roof spoiler picked out in red and a high SUV-on-tiptoes stance.
Renault has also released a picture of the Rafale badge (above). Few other hard details are known, but it will be positioned in the D-segment.
Renault Rafale: engineering specs
Underpinning the new range-topper is the Renault group’s CMF-CD architecture, which will bring E-Tech hybrid powertrains and front-wheel drive. No full electric version will be offered.
See the Renault Rafale unveiled in full at the Paris Air Show on 18 June 2023. Why an aviation show? Because Renault used to make aero engines and actually manufactured the Caudron-Renault Rafale (above) in 1934 – so it’s keen to emphasise the link to the skies.
We’ll let you decide whether a coupe SUV is deemed worthy of a high-flying plane name from a century ago. Be sure to sound off in the comments below!