Renualt has confirmed that it will put hybrid versions of both the Captur and the Arkana coupe-SUV on sale next year.
140hp 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid
Now, that might seem confusing to those of you who have noticed that there's already a plug-in hybrid version of the Captur on sale, but this new Captur E-Tech (E-Tech being Renault's catch-all term for its hybridised powertrains) dispenses with the plug and goes for a slightly more straightforward hybrid model.
We know that the Captur E-Tech will share its 140hp 1.6-litre petrol engine and hybrid module with the new Clio E-Tech Hybrid, but Renault hasn't given us the performance nor environmental data for the new car yet. However, the French car-making giant has confirmed that all of the Captur's petrol engines will now benefit from a 12-volt mild-hybrid assistance system, which should further improve their economy and emissions.
The Captur also gets a new RS-Line trim level, which gets redesigned front and rear bumpers featuring an F1-style front blade across the front bumper, along with exclusive alloy wheels. Inside, black headlining, unique upholstery with red stitching and carbon-style trim details distinguish the Captur RS-Line from the rest of the range.
Incidentally, Renault in the UK has announced that it's chopping diesel options for all of its models, aside from the current Megane hatchback, but such a move has not been confirmed for Ireland just yet.
New Arkana coupe crossover
In the meantime, there's the new Arkana coupe-SUV model to consider. Is it a coupe Kadjar? Or is it a Megane saloon on stilts? Either way, it'll go on sale next year, and it too will get both the 140hp hybrid powertrain as used by the Captur and the Clio and 12-volt mild-hybrids too. As in the Captur and Clio, the E-Tech hybrid system uses two electric motors both to spread the power load and to allow it to recover more energy from braking events, and Renault claims that it has used its recent experience of building ultra-high performance hybrids for Formula One to create the system.
Renault claims that in the Arkana, the hybrid engine can spend as much as 80 per cent of urban journeys running on the lithium-ion battery.
Plug-in hybid E-Tech Megane
Finally, there's a new plug-in hybrid version of the Megane hatchback, using the same 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine as the rest of the E-Tech hybrid lineup, but allied to a more powerful electric motor and a bigger 9.9kWh battery which can, of course, be charged up at home or from a public charger. Renault claims that the plug-in Megane has charged-up range of as much as 48km, and that the system develops a combined 160hp.
As with the E-Tech hybrids, you can choose how to run the car through the MySense system built into the central touchscreen, choosing between Eco, Sport, and personalised modes. As standard, the Megane E-Tech plugin gets the largest, portrait-style, 9.3-inch touchscreen, as well as a new 10-inch TFT digital instrument panel.