The debut of the new product of the French brand is expected to take place during the first months of next year. It will probably reach dealers in the European market in the summer.
The Renault Austral crossover replaced the retired Kadjar in 2022. This SUV is based on a modified CMF C/D platform, which makes it related to the third-generation Nissan Qashqai. Now the French brand's SUV is preparing for a planned mid-life update: a prototype of the refreshed Austral was first spotted undergoing road testing.
In the photo: a prototype of the updated Renault Austral crossover
The photos were shared with us by colleagues from the Spanish publication Motor.es. They show a car whose exterior details have been very carefully hidden with the help of camouflage film. The future new product is currently undergoing summer tests, which are being conducted on public roads in the southern part of Europe.
Judging by the photographs, the main part of the changes in appearance will be on the front part. It is expected that it will be designed in accordance with the current corporate style of the brand, which has already been demonstrated on the current Scenic and Rafale. The feed may also receive “cosmetic” adjustments.
Let us recall that we previously published a rendering of the updated Renault Austral. Judging by it, the refreshed SUV may get LED headlights of a different shape: separate «boomerangs» of running lights instead of the current «squiggles». It is expected that the main block of headlights will have a new «stuffing». Probably, the design of the radiator grille may also change — due to a pattern in the form of thin honeycombs instead of rectangular elements connected in a network.
The spy photographers have not yet been able to examine the interior of the restyled crossover. It is expected that it will also receive its share of updates: they will probably affect the finishing materials, as well as the functions responsible for the comfort of the driver and passengers. Presumably, the front panel will retain the current two-piece display, one part of which acts as a digital instrument panel, and the second — a touchscreen for the infotainment system.
As reported earlier, Renault will most likely «pull up» the Austral equipment to meet Euro-7 emission standards. The current SUV is offered with mild hybrid installations, which are based on either a 1.2-liter turbo three, working in tandem with a 48-volt Mild Hybrid Advanced starter-generator (130 hp, paired with mechanics), or a 1.3-liter turbo four complete with a 12-volt Mild Hybrid starter-generator (140 hp — with a manual transmission, 160 hp — with a CVT). The top-end E-Tech hybrid system includes a 1.2-liter engine, an electric motor, a 1.7 kWh battery (output — 200 hp). There is a possibility that during the update, the CVT will be replaced with a seven-speed dual-clutch robot.
The debut of the new French brand is expected to take place during the first months of next year. It will probably reach dealers on the European market in the summer. The prices for the refreshed Renault Austral will be announced later. The starting price of the current crossover on the home market, in France, is 35,800 euros (equivalent to about 3.35 million rubles at the current exchange rate), for the top version they are asking at least 46,100 euros (about 4.31 million rubles).