2024 Renault Rafale coupe SUV revealed, not ruled out for Australia

The 2024 Renault Rafale coupe SUV has debuted in Europe with electrified powertrains.

Like the Austral midsize SUV, the Rafale is based on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s CMF-CD platform shared with the latest Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander.

A spokesperson for Ateco Group – the third-party distributor for Renault vehicles in Australia – said the Rafale would be considered for our market if it were “made available to right-hand-drive markets”, with a business case to be analysed before a final decision is made.

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It appears right-hand-drive production is confirmed, with the Rafale appearing on the brand’s website in the United Kingdom, providing one less hurdle for Australia – unlike the new, left-hand-drive-only Espace seven-seater.

The Rafale will top Renault’s European lineup and is the spiritual successor to the Talisman sedan in Europe after production ended in France in 2022. It is named after the 1934 Caudron-Renault C460 racing aircraft.

Penned by former Peugeot designer Gilles Vidal, the Rafale is the first new vehicle to debut the brand’s revised design language, which eschews C-shaped headlights for sleeker units.

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Measuring 4710 millimetres long, 1860mm wide and 1610mm tall, with a 2740mm wheelbase, the Rafale is similar to its Peugeot 408 arch-rival – and the midsize BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC coupe SUVs.

The hybrid Rafale will launch with a 96kW/205Nm Miller-cycle 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine matched to a 50kW/205Nm electric motor for a 149kW total system output. It is linked to an F1-derived clutchless multi-mode automatic transmission.

A WLTP-rated combined fuel consumption of 4.7L/100km is claimed, allowing for an estimated 1100-kilometre driving range. CO2 output is listed at 105g/km.

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A plug-in hybrid Rafale with all-wheel-drive and a 224kW total system output is said to be in development.

Renault claims it is the first mainstream carmaker to use polymer-dispersed liquid crystal technology for a customisable panoramic sunroof similar to the Porsche Taycan and BMW iX. This allows passengers to choose its brightness, with sunlight in the front but darkness at the rear, or vice versa.

Inside, the Rafale is similar to the related Austral and Espace, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver and a 12-inch OpenR Link infotainment system powered by Android Automotive 12, allowing for Google’s built-in features.

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Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is retained, while the system supports over-the-air software updates and “AI-powered capabilities”, including voice control.

Renault has said it will delete leather from its lineup by the start of next year, with the Esprit Alpine range-topper featuring Alcantara upholstery with blue accents, a light-up Alpine logo embossed into the fabric, and partially recycled material.

The 2024 Renault Rafale coupe SUV will be produced in Spain, with European sales to commence next year. It has yet to be confirmed for Australia.