ASPIRATIONAL FRENCH FASHION (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

The Rafale is a larger, more styling kind of Renault. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at this Hybrid contender.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 41

The Rafale reinterprets what a larger Renault model should be. This D-segment Coupe-SUV brings style and ingenuity to the business of tempting customers away from premium badged alternatives. It's a tough brief, but this Gallic contender has some genuinely interesting touches.

Backgroundword count: 200

In automotive terms, there's not much that's more French than a large Renault. And traditionally, France has been just about the only place where you're likely to see such a thing. In this new electrified era though, the Gallic brand has been emboldened to try its hand at a larger-segment model once again - and here it is, the Rafale. Unlike some other recent Renault model rivals, it's not a full-EV - in fact most sales will be of a volume hybrid version you can't plug in. And it's actually not that large, a D-segment model based on the Austral crossover but styled (like the smaller Arkana) as a Coupe-SUV. It's certainly a sweeping, quite aerodynamic thing, hence the name which in French references wind-driven natural energy and aeronautics: the Caudron-Renault Rafale of 1934 was a plane Renault made which flew a record-breaking 277mph. Nearly a century on, this automotive successor to that design won't set any sales records but it's a key component in Group boss Luca de Meo's comprehensive 'Renaultution' model plan. And the first offering from new ex-Peugeot design chief Gilles Vidal - which means it'll set the styling theme for a whole new generation of Renaults.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 244

Most Rafales will be sold with a 200hp E-Tech full hybrid petrol powertrain linked to a clutch-less multimode automatic. This powertrain pairs a 1.2-litre three cylinder engine with a couple of electric motors, one acting as a generator developing 33.5hp. The other acts as a main propulsion motor. This develops 67hp, sits between the engine and the main gearbox and incorporates its own integral 2-speed 'dog box' transmission. There's a 2kWh battery beneath the driver seat that allows for very short range electric driving. With the engine chiming in, 62mph from rest takes 8.9s. If that's not quite enough for you, then your dealer can also offer the potential to order a higher performance E-Tech 4x4 300hp flagship plug-in hybrid variant. This pairs the same hybrid system at the front with an additional electric motor at the rear which creates the AWD system. There's also a larger 22kWh battery pack, so of course when fully charged, there's a much longer EV drive range - up to 62 miles. There's an 'EV Mode' available with three settings - 'Hybrid', 'Electric' and 'E-save'. With the engine chiming in, 62mph from rest takes 6.4s. With both variants, at the top of the range Renault is offering an improved version of its 4Control 4-wheel steering system. This adds 7kg to the kerb weight, but gives the Rafale a tight 10.4m turning circle at low speeds and is supposed to improve cornering stability at speeds of up to 30mph.

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