Flagship Renault Rafale SUV coupe confirmed

The all-new 2024 Renault Rafale has been teased ahead of its June 18 reveal, giving us our first glimpse of the French car-maker’s rival for SUV coupes like the Audi Q3 Sportback, Cupra Formentor and Peugeot 408.

Based on the same CMF-CD platform as the Renault Austral and the Europe-only Espace, the Rafale is designed to sit above the Arkana and is billed as a “standard-setter” in its segment.

The Rafale takes its name from the French brand’s aviation days, borrowing its nameplate from the 1933 Caudron-Renault C460 Rafale single-seater racing plane.

The car is already confirmed for right-hand drive production and Renault has also sought trademark protection for the Rafale nameplate with IP Australia – the application was made in May 2022 – so it’s a potential to be sold Down Under. 

However, Renault’s local importer has resisted bringing the Austral small SUV here based on import costs and price positioning, despite being available for our market.

The Rafale is expected to be offered with the same 146kW 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid engine as found in the Austral.

It’s thought the model teased here could be the sportiest Esprit Alpine that will gain a body kit, larger wheels and potentially a retuned chassis developed by Alpine (formerly Renaultsport).

Stay tuned, as more will be revealed in the build-up to the Renault Rafale’s June 18 debut ahead of European sales starting later this year.

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