The Renault Austral is the medium C-segment SUV that replaces the Kadjar. New platform, new styling. The Austral is the first Renault vehicle to use the Alliance’s latest CMF-CD platform. Its large wheels (up to 20 inches and 720 mm in diameter) underscore the muscular silhouette of the hood line that approaches the wheel arches. The car also features the traditional hallmarks of an SUV: front and rear skid plates, contrasting side guards and sills, high headroom (170 mm) and a high beltline. “This model brings together bold styling features for a dynamic and elegant design. Engineered volumes, precisely drawn lines and sophisticated details give the design an overall sense of quality that is immediately visible,” says Gilles Vidal, head of design at Renault.
“We created the Austral’s exterior design based on Renault’s new sensual tech language. The result comes in the form of a combination of generous shapes, rounded shoulders and protruding sides with the integration of refined technical details such as high-tech headlights that reinforce the design identity,” said Agneta Dahlgren, Renault’s Design Project Director. At the center of the front is Renault’s new “Nouvel’R” logo that debuted on the Mégane E-Tech Electric. The Austral’s exterior design is based on the French manufacturer’s “sensual tech” design philosophy. The rounded shoulders echo the prominent flanks and sharp wing lines that extend around the headlights. We drove on Spanish roads around Madrid the French SUV powered by the 200 bhp full hybrid engine, which is ready, progressive in its response and economical in its consumption. The character of the Austral is never aggressive and relies on comfort, even if the “4Control” system with four steering wheels guarantees good driving precision in all situations, especially during manoeuvres and tight passages.
The LED headlights are sculpted and integrate the C-Shape light signature that characterizes Renault models. For the interior, the architecture of the dashboard is slim and wide, while the design on a general level follows taut lines and angles that give the model a certain strength. The protagonist is the new OpenR multimedia system, controllable by two large screens of 12 and 12.3 inches, one of which is reserved for the instrumentation, arranged in the shape of an inverted L. According to what has been stated, the model’s interior storage areas have a capacity of 30 liters. For the materials chapter, depending on the trim and extras chosen, the Austral’s interior incorporates real wood, leather, Alcantara or upholstered fabrics combined with lacquered details in Deep Glossy Black and Satin Chrome.
The French manufacturer’s SUV arrives in seven body colors: Glacier White, Pearl White, Flame Red, Iron Blue, Diamond Black and the latest addition, Shale Grey. The Esprit Alpine version also features Satin Shale Grey, which helps accentuate its athletic appearance. For added personality and a sleeker silhouette, standard models of the high-end versions feature a two-tone finish, where the same Diamond Black is used for the roof, shark fin antenna, mirror caps, front bumper vents and sill panel.
