Renault Austral, Kadjar’s successor

DIESEL DRIVES ARE NOT PROVIDED. ONLY HYBRID GASOLINE ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN PREPARED

French experts have paid a lot of attention to raising quality, and the new name suggests that this is a car that wants to make a significant success and a turn over the previous model.

At the very beginning of the year, we announced that Renault was preparing a completely new model in the SUV C-segment. Now the sheet has finally been removed and many details about the new model are known. It is a model that comes as a successor to the Kadjar model and is also the technical twin brother of the founder of this very popular segment - Nissan Qashqai. 

There is no doubt that Renault has paid a lot of attention to the development of the new model, and to set new standards in the segment together with Qashqai. Australia is also the first Renault model to mark the top edition as the Esprit Alpine. It is an opportunity to give additional impetus to the Alpine brand, Renault's sports brand.

This is the third Renault in the C-segment, next to the Mégane Conquest and Mégane E-Tech Electric, which the French manufacturer wants to set a benchmark for in terms of technology, clean energy, and services in the automotive industry. That's how Australia fits into the Renault strategy! 

Australia has been on Renault's trademark database since 2005 and meets a number of naming criteria. Derived from the Latin word ‘australis’ (meaning southern), Austral combines the liveliness and warmth of the southern hemisphere with natural serenity, inviting us to explore open spaces and hints at endless possibilities. 

The name itself resonates strongly in many European languages, including French (which is especially important for a brand proud of its roots), Spanish, English, and Italian. The name International Touch is the perfect choice for a vehicle that will be sold all over Europe and beyond.

The exterior design, but also the one in the passenger compartment, is a continuation of the new design guidelines already shown on the Mégane E-Tech Electric. It has all the features of a traditional SUV model - front and rear chassis protection and side protection and strips in a contrasting color, high ground clearance (17 cm), and a high sideline that increases the safety of drivers and passengers.

It was created on the new CMF-CD platform and is also characterized by large wheels, from 17 to 20 inches, which emphasizes the muscular silhouette. The designers have retained the basic proportions that make SUVs so attractive, such as the dimensions of the overhang (92.5 cm at the front and 91.7 cm at the rear) and the rims to make the new model look stronger and smoother. With a height of 161.8 cm, a width of 182.5 cm, a length of 451 cm, and a wheelbase of 266.7 cm, the new model looks spacious and dynamic.

Front and rear lights, made in 100% LED technology. Also, the light signature is in the shape of the letter C. There are three versions of LED headlights - Pure LED Vision, Adaptive LED Vision, and Matrix LED Vision with dynamic direction indicators.

The petrol engine develops 130 hp, which is transmitted to the front axle with a 6-speed manual transmission. According to official data, this engine consumes 5.3 l / 100 km, and Renault says that there should be an adequate replacement for the diesel engines that we offer more. Without mild-hybrid technology, according to Renault's internal estimates, the engine would be 20 percent more thirsty.

Furthermore, the offer will consist of a Mild Hybrid with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder petrol engine. It was created in collaboration with Daimler and Mercedes-Benz and is assisted by an electric starter and a 12 V lithium-ion battery.

140 hp and 160 hp versions are available, combined with an automatic X-Tronic transmission. The 140 hp version is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The 12 V mild hybrid uses the enhanced Stop & Start function and the idle shut-off function in automatic transmission versions. It is possible to collect the energy released during braking, so the thermal engine is switched off (in versions with automatic transmission) during deceleration.

These improvements help reduce fuel consumption and limit pollutant emissions, guaranteeing smooth movement and greater comfort in everyday driving. This circuit also develops a maximum torque of 270 Nm in the range from 1800 to 3500 rpm. There is also a fuel consumption of 6.2 l / 100 km and CO2 emissions of 136 g / km in the mixed driving cycle.

A complete novelty is the E-Tech hybrid engine. It is a self-charging drive. Its advantages are better performance, greater driving pleasure, and reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The maximum power of this drive-in hybrid mode is 146 kW (200 hp).

The latest generation of hybrid technology combines a thermal motor, two electric motors, main batteries, and an advanced dog-clutch transmission with multiple modes.

When we talk about electric motors, it is the main electric motor and a high-voltage electric starter-generator that is used to start the thermal motor, change gears and charge the battery.

The hybrid E-Tech assembly is based on a new 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine that develops 96 kW (130 hp) of power and 205 Nm of torque. It is combined with an electric motor for additional power and torque delivery (50 kW and 205 Nm), a high-capacity lithium-ion battery (1.7 kWh / 400 V), and a 7-speed manual transmission. 

There are two gears for electric mode and five gears for hybrid mode. Gears have been optimized to withstand higher torque (from 350 Nm to 410 Nm) and deliver power more efficiently, resulting in greater dynamism and responsiveness.