French Renault on March 8 introduced a new compact crossover Austral. The model was created specifically for the EU market and replaces the Kadjar SUV in the range, which has been produced since 2015 and has not gained much popularity.
The name Austral comes from the Latin word australis, which translates as "southern". Thus, Renault marketers are hinting that the new product is perfect for vacation trips to warmer climes.
The crossover is based on the Renault-Nissan CMF-CD platform, and it is unified with the Japanese Nissan Qashqai J12 in terms of the supporting frame and internal body panels, however, all external elements, headlights and lights from Austral are original, they form their own design, echoing other new models French brand, incl. with Megane E-Tech electric car.
The overall length of the Renault Austral is 4.51 m, which is a couple of centimeters longer than that of the “retiring” Kadjar.
The interior of the novelty has nothing to do with the Nissan Qashqai, the front panel of the "Austral" is made in a futuristic style - visually, the one-piece L-shaped block of the instrument panel and the display of the media system, the complex solution of the ventilation deflectors and the steering wheel truncated both above and below attract attention. Almost all secondary functions are controlled through the touch screen, only climate control has physical buttons. The screen diagonal of the instrument panel is 12.3 inches, the media complex is 12.0 inches.
Range of Renault Austral engines:
1.2-liter gasoline turbo engine + starter-generator ("mild hybrid"), power - 130 hp,
1.3-liter petrol turbo engine + starter-generator, 140 hp,
1.3-liter petrol turbo engine + starter-alternator, 160 hp,
parallel hybrid, including a 1.2-liter gasoline turbo engine and an electric motor, 160 hp,
Parallel hybrid with 1.2 liter petrol turbo and electric motor, 200 hp
In the standard configuration, Austral has front-wheel drive and a semi-independent beam rear suspension, in the top versions it has all-wheel drive and an independent rear suspension with a multi-link design.
Renault Austral - a new compact crossover for the European Union
