Mild Hybrid ICE Only Option for Renault Austral SUV
In among all the BEV noise, Renault will be launching its new mid-sector SUV purely with an ICE mild-hybrid range of powertrains.
The French automaker’s latest drip-feed unveiling of the Renault Austral confirms that powertrains will feature a gasoline hybrid-only line up, which will be mostly made up of new engine options including a latest-generation E-Tech hybrid, a 1.3-liter TCe unit with a 12V mild hybrid solution and, for the first time in the Renault range, a 1.2-liter TCe unit with 48V mild hybrid technology.
The carmaker claims the range will offer “record-breaking performance”, with reduced CO2 emissions from 105g CO2/km for the E-Tech engine, according to an as yet unverified WLTP rating, and up to 200hp maximum power. Currently test vehicles are taken through months of intensive trials in order to ensure quality and reliability.
A fleet of around 100 vehicles have set off to travel 2M kilometers crossing France, Spain, Germany and Romania in order to confirm the results of the previous checks. Nine hundred drivers will cover 600,000km of open roads in real-life conditions, while the remaining 1.4Mkm will take place on the track. The Renault Austral has now entered its final stage of development, with final checks of the new CMF-CD3 platform and the engine options.
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
