Renault Austral Sketch Reveals Megane E-Tech Inspired Face Before Imminent Debut

Renault has already confirmed the premiere of the new Austral for March 8, but the company wanted to show us a little bit more of the SUV’s design with one last (?) teaser. This is the first exterior sketch of the Austral we get to see, following photos of a camouflaged prototype, an interior sketch, and some teaser photos from the cabin.

The sketch might have exaggerated proportions and features like the massive wheels and the more aerodynamic shape, but it gives us a rough idea of the production model’s styling. The front end is clearly inspired by the fully electric Megane E-Tech, although the presence of an internal combustion engine under the bonnet has resulted in a larger grille.

The LED headlights have extensions towards the illuminated grille, while the large bumper intakes, the sculpted hood, and the polished steel bezel on the side windows incorporate Renault’s latest design language called “Sensual Tech”. An Austral-specific feature is the presence of front and rear skid plates communicating its SUV nature.

The hybrid Renault Austral (above) has many similarities with the fully electric Renault Megane E-Tech (below)

From previous teasers we know that the Austral will feature a five-seater cabin with multiple storage compartments and a “cocoon effect”. The digital cockpit including the OpenR infotainment will have a total display area of 24.3 inches, while Renault talks about improved soundproofing and more ADAS features compared to its predecessor – the Renault Kadjar.

Renault’s C-SUV will measure 4.51 meters (177.6 inches) in length, based on the CMF-CD3 platform. The Austral will be exclusively available with electrified petrol engines including mild hybrids – 1.3 TCe 12V and 1.2 TCe 48V – as well as a full hybrid E-Tech variant producing up to 197 hp (147 kW / 200 PS) of power. Rival models include the Peugeot 3008, Citroen C5 Aircross, Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Karoq, Seat Ateca, VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga, Jeep Compass etc.

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