PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Renault compact SUV confirmed

Confirming an all-new compact SUV will make its global debut in March 2013, Renault's design chief Laurens van den Acker told a small group of Australian journalists that we can expect a lot more SUVs from the brand, but lamented how long it's taken to get the ball rolling.

"Early next year we will be launching the small segment SUV, and we'll be launching that in Geneva," said Mr van den Acker.

Expected to take a few design cues from the Renault Captur crossover concept released in February 2011, the new baby SUV will give the French car maker a foot in the door of the highly lucrative sector.

Mr van den Acker used the 'better late than never' adage to explain the significant expansion to the French marque's SUV range.

"We are in the midst of creating a full line of crossovers, unfortunately we are many years too late. So the only hope I have is that we will come in late, but we will have learnt maybe from all the others' mistakes so we can come in with a strong line-up.

"The B [segment] crossover we do next year, we won't be the first but at least we won't be the last, and we will definitely not be the ugliest and I think that's a good start."

The Dutch-born designer revealed the new compact SUV to be launched in Geneva next year would be based on the Renault Modus MPV platform, which also underpins the Dacia Sandero SUV and Renault Clio, but that future SUV models will leverage Nissan's know-how.

"For the B crossover it's more European based, it's using the Modus platform so in that sense it ties us to Europe. But the other versions of the line-up, we will definitely work closer with Nissan [and] benefit from their knowledge in this sector.

"Anyway we are forced to look for more synergies, it's economy of scale that demands us find ways to quicker produce more derivatives, and synergies is the way to go in this sense."

It's not yet clear what engines or gearboxes will be used in the new compact SUV, but the Captur concept made use of a 1.6-litre turbo petrol coupled to an EDC dual-clutch transmission, similar to those seen on the new Clio RS 200.

What is set in stone is Renault head office's commitment to Australia, something that hasn't always been the case.

"Are we serious about Australia? Frankly speaking in the past I can't say we've been serious," admitted Mr. Normand. "Are we willing to become serious? Obviously we are willing, because we want to increase our share in the Asia Pacific. I don't consider there is any reason why we are not capable to make an impact in Australia.

"It's not going to take place overnight. It's going to need a lot of effort and investment, but at least we have a very clear strategy direction."

Read more Paris Motor Show stories at motoring.com.au

See all the photos from the Paris Motor Show at motoring.com.au

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