Renault has just released a short but sweet statement saying that it's next C-segment crossover will be called KADJAR and will debut very soon on February 2nd.
Today is the day that we've had to ask our spell check dictionary to learn yet another weird word for an SUV. After the Macan and the Tiguan… this.
The Kadjar is likely the prototype we've seen testing throughout 2014. It's expected to directly replace the current Renault Koleos SUV with a formula that's less about going offroad and more about space and fuel economy.
The platform and most of the engines will probably be shared with the Nissan Qashqai, arguably the most popular car in this segment. The second generation was launched last year and introduced things like LED headlights, the Safety Shield suite and a surround view monitor. Add some French design flair and it's clear that they may be on to a winner.
What does the name "Kadjar" mean? The first par, KAD, is inspired by the word quad and expresses the four-wheel drive nature of the vehicle, while JAR is a reference to the French word "agile". Frankly, it sounds like they made it up, but in a really nice way.
Other information has not been revealed, but we know every major FWD car from Renault needs to be based on the CMF modular platform. A Qashqai 2 joined the testing convoy on most occasions and the two seemed almost identical in size, meaning the Koleos replacement will be slightly shorter and less tall.
We expect the engine range to center around the 1.2 TCe turbo petrol engine and the 1.5 and 1.6 dCi diesels with outputs ranging from around 100 to 160 horsepower. Like the Qashqai, all-wheel drive will be an optional extra. The one major difference we foresee is the use of a 6-speed twin-clutch "Efficient Double Clutch" gearbox instead of a CVT like Nissan uses.
Like the Qashqai, we expect this Renault crossover not to use independent rear suspension. This reduces the cost and increases cargo space. Speaking of which, we expect this car to offer around 450 liters of boot capacity, slightly more than most compact hatchbacks. It should weigh around 1.4 tons and cost from around €20,000.
With the full reveal of the 2015 Renault Kadjar scheduled for February 2nd, we're likely going to see it in person this March at the Geneva Motor Show.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News