By Breda Corrigan
Expressing French flair for excellence and intrepid design, the stunning new Renault Rafale Coupé-SUV connects with Renault’s prestigious past in the French aviation industry, and the records notched up by the Caudron-Renault Rafale aircraft, which reached a speed of 445km/h in 1934 and went on to win multiple awards.
Dramatic Style.
The new Renault Rafale delivers the dramatic looks buyers want, the tech on-board is excellent and space is plentiful. The Rafale is equipped with a self-charging, full hybrid engine and underpinnings part-developed by sports-car manufacturer Alpine. The Rafale is 4.71m long, 1.86m wide, and 1.61m tall, placing it squarely in the D-segment, while its impressive 2.74m wheelbase allows for a profiled, flowing roofline, gently curved to maintain maximum headroom for rear seat occupants. The Rafale boasts a dynamic and sporty look, with its upright front end, pronounced shoulders, sloping tailgate and a distinctive front and rear lighting signature. The visually-impactful radiator grille is made up of small diamonds arranged in a 3D design around the central logo. The background of blue or slate grey (depending on the version) seems to appear and disappear depending on the angle of vision. Additionally, this diamond theme is carried over to the light signature for a strong and robust effect. At the back the taillights are narrow in the middle before fanning out to the sides, giving the car a tall and imposing stance. Their shape is inspired by Chinese tangram puzzles, in which a square is divided into seven pieces. When switched on, they are brought to life by micro-optical technology, and when they are switched off, they resemble ‘floating ice cubes’. Stylish body cladding around the car’s lower edges give it a rugged look, as does the inclusion of gloss black wheel arch protectors.
Self-Charging Hybrid Power.
For now, the sole powerplant option is a 1.2-litre petrol engine with two electric motors that produce a combined power output of 200hp (197bhp), with power sent to the car’s front wheels. In a similar fashion to regular hybrids, the Rafale is capable of driving on electric power alone in urban settings, with Renault claiming that up to 80% of urban driving can be completed without the use of the petrol engine at all. With an official fuel consumption figure of 60.1mpg (4.7l/100km) on a WLTP combined driving cycle, the Rafale should prove itself to be a cost-effective travel companion. A Co2 emissions figure of 107g/km results in annual road tax of just €180. The Rafale Hybrid will soon be joined by a 300hp plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, with a bigger battery and an additional electric motor to drive the rear wheels, providing the car with all-wheel drivability. Trim grades consist of techno, esprit Alpine and esprit Alpine+ (plus), all of which are supplied with a comprehensive array of comfort, convenience, safety, and infotainment features as standard.
Plush, Hi-Tech Cabin.
The Rafale’s plush cabin features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen in a portrait format which runs Google’s Android-based operating system, and it includes Google Maps navigation and Google Assistant, among other features. The system is called OpenR Link and remains one of the best infotainment systems available. The screens are incredibly sharp and responsive, while the menus are always quick to load and intuitive because they’re laid out in a similar fashion to those on an Android smartphone. Thankfully, there are physical controls for the heating and ventilation system, so there is no need to have to use the touchscreen for that purpose at all. The Rafale features special new seats with lateral reinforcements for exceptional support. The Alcantara upholstery contributes to the sporty ambience, while also being eco-responsible as the first Alcantara to be recycled, up to a level of 61%. Delivering generous interior space in the front and rear compartments, the Rafale raises the bar in terms of travelling pleasure and overall comfort. For an enhanced onboard experience, the new Rafale features an ingenious rear armrest, dedicated to multimedia activities. This high-tech armrest includes two USB sockets, storage space for tablets and smartphones, and two fold-out supports for viewing the screens in comfort. Up front, the centre console features an elevated, padded wrist rest designed to provide a stable platform when you are making inputs on the touchscreen, while ambient lighting can be set to change colour subtly every 30 minutes to match the time of day or night it is. Solarbay technology allows the panoramic glass roof to be made opaque in sections at the touch of a button – keeping occupants cool in the rear seats, for example, while allowing you to enjoy the sunshine up front. The Rafale boasts class-leading boot space of 530-litres, and this can be expanded by dropping the rear seat backs when necessary. Standard safety systems across all trims include: lane departure warning, lane change warning, occupant safe exit warning, lane keeping assist, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear automatic emergency braking, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, traffic sign recognition with speed alert, and driver attention alert.
Test Car Details.
My Rafale esprit Alpine+ test car was finished in Shadow Grey metallic paintwork with a Diamond Black metallic roof and striking 20-inch sonic black diamond-cut alloy wheels.
As powerful as it is efficient, the 200hp E-Tech full hybrid engine combines power and fuel economy. The 4Control advanced 4-wheel steering system makes trajectories clear, precise and safe, ensuring that curves and bends remain under control. The 4Control system provides the Rafale with a turning circle of just 10.4-metres, which is close to that of a city car and it works in such a way that at speeds of up to 50km/h, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to reduce the turning circle and facilitate manoeuvring. At speeds in excess of 50km/h, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels to improve road holding and safety. The petrol engine drives the front wheels via an automatic gearbox, and a 67bhp electric motor is located between the petrol engine and the main gearbox. The second motor is an integrated starter-generator that collects energy when the car coasts or brakes, and can assist acceleration if needed. There is a 2kWh battery under the driver’s seat that allows electric-only driving for short distances, and Renault claim that in town, electric driving allows you to save up to 40% on fuel, with the car’s battery recharging itself during deceleration and braking. With 200hp (197bhp) and 205Nm of torque on offer, the Rafale can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.9-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 180km/h (where permitted).
Verdict & Price.
With its generous dimensions, dynamic design and strong personality, the Renault Rafale takes up a natural position as the Renault brand’s new flagship. The Rafale introduces a new design language for the whole Renault brand, with an interesting combination of curved surfaces and hard edges that its creators say provide ‘tension and definition’. Pricing starts at €51,495. Visit www.renault.ie for further information.
