Renault has released further details about its forthcoming SUV, the Austral, set to replace the popular Kadjar later in 2022.
Engines confirmed
Although at least one petrol-only model was expected, the Austral line-up will exclusively feature hybrid powertrains including a 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine combined with a 12V mild hybrid set-up as well as a 1.2-litre turbocharged option with 48V mild hybrid assistance. There will be no diesel model.
That 1.3-litre "micro hybrid" drivetrain can also be found in the Renault Arkana in which it delivers 140hp and 5.7 litres/100km, so similar performance can be expected in this iteration of the Austral. The 1.2-litre engine with hybrid assistance is new to the Renault range and, although Irish specs for the Austral haven't been fully confirmed, there'll likely also be a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid option (as seen in the Renault Captur) somewhere in the line-up offering up to 200hp and 50km or so of electric-only driving.
Little is yet known of the Austral's interior, but it'll likely be an improvement on that of the ageing Kadjar with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and, possibly, on higher-spec models, a 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen in portrait aspect running the newest version of Renault's OpenR Link system.
Extensive testing
Renault says that the Austral has now entered its final stage of development which includes a fleet of 100 or so models covering two million kilometres on roads around Europe in order to iron out any kinks and bugs. The new models will be tested, the company says, in the hands of 900 drivers in France, Spain, Germany and Romania with 600,000km to be covered on public roads and the additional 1.4 million kilometres being dispatched on test tracks in order to fine-tune the suspension, sound-proofing and engine options.
When is the Renault Austral coming to Ireland?
The Renault Austral is due to arrive in late 2022 and, though Irish pricing has yet to be announced, expect something north of the €33,550 of the outgoing Kadjar thanks to the new engine options and upgraded tech.