Renault Australia has revealed its plans for the coming financial year with the confirmation that two all-new SUVs will join its lineup in 2021 as a way of restating its long-term commitment to the Australian market.
Joining the company’s lineup in the new year will be the second-generation Captur light SUV in Q1, along with the newly-introduced Arkana small SUV in the second half of the year.
Based underneath on the Clio 5, the all-new Captur will feature the company’s 1.3-litre turbocharged engine that featured in the limited-run first-gen S-Edition model. Co-developed with Mercedes-Benz, the same unit can also be found here under the bonnet of the A180 and Kadjar.
Three trim levels are set to be offered from launch – Life, Zen, and Intens, mirroring Renault Australia’s other SUV ranges – and although full specifications are yet to be announced, Renault does note that technology including wireless smartphone mirroring and charging will feature, and that it will have a five-star safety rating.
Joining it in the second half of the year will be the Arkana, an all-new model based on the same platform as the Captur underneath but sporting a coupé-SUV-style body inspired by the likes of the BMW X4 on top.
Speaking of the new addition to Renault Australia’s range, Senior Product Manager Charly Clercin notes that, “The all-new Arkana is a new generation of SUV for Australia and destined to become a segment breaker with its distinctive design, combining the creature comforts of an SUV with sedan driving dynamics.”
Although drivetrain specifics are yet to be confirmed, it’s likely it will feature the same running gear as the Captur underneath given the shared platform, and Renault Australia has confirmed it will come similarly loaded with technology.
“The Australian motoring landscape has changed dramatically in the past 12 months, but Renault is here for the long haul,” said Renault Australia Managing Director Anouk Poelmann, speaking of the new models joining the lineup.
“It’s an exciting time to be part of the Renault brand.”
These two new additions to the lineup don’t come without a cost though, as a major restructuring of the company’s lineup will see all but one of its passenger cars retired, with the Clio and Zoe deleted from the lineup to prioritise Captur sales, while the Kadjar that was only just introduced here last year will leave to make way for the Arkana.
In addition to the two new SUVs though, Renault Australia has also confirmed that an updated version of the Megane R.S. – the sole remaining Renault hatch sold here – will lob in at some point in the coming year, asserting the company’s performance flagship will remain in its Australian lineup despite all other hatch, sedan, and wagon variants being culled from it late last year.
An updated version of the Nissan X-Trail-based Koleos mid-sized SUV is also set to arrive in the country at some point in 2021 as well to compliment the new additions to Renault’s SUV lineup.
Further details about the new models, including final specification and pricing, will be announced closer to their respective launches.
2021 Renault Captur
2021 Renault Arkana
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