Renault last week released a teaser pic of its Captur mini-SUV, and now the French manufacturer has issued pics of the vehicle in all its glory. The newcomer is built on the same platform as its Clio sibling (as well as the Nissan Juke) and measures 4120mm from bumper to bumper, making it longer than the 3986mm Clio but slightly shorter than the 4135mm Juke.
The Captur goes in sale in Europe this northern summer, but its Australian prospects are yet to be confirmed. Even if it does get the green light for our market, we won’t see it before 2014.
Conceived to compete against the likes of the Peugeot 2008 and Ford EcoSport, the Captur was styled under the supervision of Renault’s styling boss Laurens Van den Acker. The company describes its new baby SUV as a “compact, unaggressive crossover which is particularly user-friendly”.
Although it carries over the same theme and name as the 2011 Geneva show concept that preceded it, the Captur loses the ultra-swoopy bodywork and 22-inch rims worn by the radical design study.
As evident from the accompanying images, the Captur has clear visual links with the recently revealed Clio 4, with swept-back headlights, a prominent Renault diamond logo on the nose and heavily sculpted flanks.
With flared wheelarches and a stubby tail, the Captur has a sporty stance, and its packaging efficiency is said to yield a spacious cabin and large luggage bay.
Kit levels will also be generous, with all Euro-spec cars equipped as standard with keyless entry, hill-start assist and parking sensors.
Buyers in Europe will also be able to opt for the Renault R-Link system, which adds a touchscreen media tablet to control infotainment functions, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo.
The Captur’s powertrain line-up hasn’t as yet been announced, but it’s expected to be largely as per the Clio 4, which is offered with a broad range of petrol and diesel units.
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