Renault has announced that its next mid-size SUV will be named the Austral, with the Kadjar set to be retired.
The Kadjar has been a key part of Renault’s range since 2015, but for the next-generation model, the French marque has elected the Austral name. Joining the lucrative C-segment, which Renault already has the Arkana and Megane E-Tech Electric in, the new name derives from the Latin word ‘australis’.
Sylvia Dos Santos, model-naming strategy manager within the Renault G=lobal Marketing Department: “Austral conjures up the vibrancy and heat of the southern hemisphere and extends an invitation to explore, which makes it an ideal fit for an SUV. The word is built around a harmonious balance of sounds that are easy to pronounce by people all around the world, giving it a truly international feel.”
The Austral is set to remain a very similar size to the Kadjar, at 4.51m-long, with Renault saying it will also be able to seat five adults ‘comfortably’.
Set to be unveiled in spring next year, the Arkana will be related to Nissan’s latest Qashqai, and will likely also feature electrified powertrains, including the firm’s well-used E-Tech hybrid and plug-in hybrid system. More conventional mild-hybrid petrol options will also be offered to customers.
Further details on the new Austral will be announced in the run up to the model’s full reveal.
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