Rafale SUV is new Renault flagship

Hybrid powertrain and fresh design language for all-new, sporty rival to Peugeot 408

- STEVE CROPLEY

Renault has unveiled its long-awaited new D-segment flagship, the Rafale - a powerful hybrid-powered coupé-SUV "born and bred for driving pleasure".

It will appear initially, from summer next year, as a 197bhp front-wheel-drive hybrid, but a 295bhp four-wheel-drive version is also scheduled.

Its launch is the latest move in the comprehensive 'Renaulution' plan laid out by boss Luca de Meo when he arrived three years ago.

De Meo identified the French firm's first mission as being to strengthen its C-segment model range which it has done with the Arkana, Mégane and Austral-but believes the next priority is the D-segment, which accounts for 15% of car sales across Europe.

The Rafale will be built in Valencia, Spain, on a variant of the CMF-CD platform that has already underpinned some 15 million Renault Group cars from the Clio upwards.

It fits into the heart of the D-segment, being 4.7 metres long, quite tall, at 1.6m (as befits a sporty SUV), and having a relatively long wheelbase of 2.74m.

The Rafale's prominent features include a striking new-look front grille, prominent haunches and a long, fastbackstyle roof, carefully configured both for generous rear head room and a rake angle of 17deg, which is considered ideal for efficient aerodynamics.

At launch, it gets the 197bhp E-Tech powertrain already used by its siblings, deriving its power from a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors.

The 129bhp Atkinson-cycle ICE drives the front wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox in a unit with the final drive.