BEIJING MOTOR SHOW: Renault teases Maxthon SUV

Renault’s all-new Maxthon SUV has been teased for the first time in a couple of short videos posted on the car-maker’s global Twitter feed.

The first video, entitled ‘Renault Presents The Gift’, shows snapshot of the car's headlight design ahead of the Maxthon's launch at the Chinese motor show on April 25.

From earlier spy shots, we already know the replacement for the current Koleos measures in at around 4.7 metres in length, while beneath the skin the new Renault SUV is likely to share its architecture with the Nissan X-TRAIL.

Likely to go on sale globally shortly after the Beijing show, the big SUV will be produced first in China by Dongfeng following a joint-venture agreement signed back in 2013 with Renault.

By the end of this 2016, production of a version more suitable for Europe and Australian buyers will begin in South Korea, meaning the Maxthon will go on sale in Australia in the second half of this year.

According to reports, these South Korean Maxthons are likely to be engineered to take a third row of seats to help boost the big SUV’s appeal in markets like Australia and the UK where the Koleos sold poorly.

Designed to sit beneath the current Espace people-mover that’s only offered in left-hand drive European markets, the Maxthon will be positioned towards the premium end of the SUV segment and be far more than just a larger Kadjar.

With seven seats for the first time, Renault's Koleos replacement will also be on more of an equal footing to do battle with large SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Skoda's upcoming Kodiaq.

Pricing could also see the new Renault SUV go up against more expensive mid-size SUVs like the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Click on the links below to view Renault's official teaser videos, the second of which also shows the Maxthon wearing chunky 19-inch wheels from the Alaskan ute concept.