France's Presidential SUV Appears to Be a Standard Crossover, but Its Interior Tells a Different Story | Carscoops

      The interior of the elongated hybrid crossover was crafted to highlight the talents of French artisans.

      Renault has developed a unique Rafale Hyper Hybrid E-Tech for the French president.

      This 297 hp hybrid features a reinforced and lengthened body to ensure the safety of heads of state.

      The bespoke SUV is equipped with soft-close doors, holders for flags, and is finished in Bleu Présidence paint.

      It’s highly improbable that you’d ever see President Trump squeezed into the back of a mid-size crossover, yet that’s precisely what Renault has provided for Emmanuel Macron, the head of state in France. Macron's new vehicle is a Renault Rafale Hyper Hybrid, and it's far from the standard models available at Renault dealerships.

      The Rafale is a coupe-crossover resembling a BMW X2, yet it boasts a 48 mm (1.9 inches) extended wheelbase. To make it suitable as France’s equivalent to The White House’s Beast, Renault’s engineers have included an unspecified amount of metal between the axles to enhance rear passenger space, as well as extensive armoring for the safety of dignitaries in the back.

      An exclusive Bleu Présidence paint adorns the exterior, with a white and red glitter effect that sparkles under sunlight. The custom crossover also features removable flag holders, a grille colored in the shades of the French flag, and tricolore emblems on each front fender where Alpine badges would typically be found on the high-end model.

      For the interior, Renault enlisted specialists to help design a space that reflects the finest in French style, luxury, and craftsmanship. Their contributions resulted in the one-off Rafale's rear console, steering wheel, and dashboard being finished in black marble sourced from the Pyrenees, while the rear control panels are made of dark beech wood crafted by a renowned cabinet maker.

      The custom leather seats offer full ventilation to keep the president comfortable, even under stress concerning Trump’s new 30 percent tariffs on EU imports. Additionally, there’s improved sound insulation, and the rear doors have a soft-close feature typically found in luxury vehicles.

      Renault does not specify how much extra weight was added from the stretching, armoring, and marbling, but the completed vehicle is likely closer to 2,700 kg (5,950 lbs) rather than the 1,700 kg (3,747 lbs) of a standard Rafale PHEV. With this added weight, even the top-spec Hyper Hybrid’s 297 hp (300 PS), 1.2-liter powertrain will have its challenges, making it unlikely to match the production version's 6.4-second 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration or its 65 miles (105 km) electric range.

      Since 1920, Renault has been providing vehicles for the French president; do you believe a mid-size crossover is an appropriate choice for France's head of state? What type of vehicle would you prefer Macron to drive? Share your thoughts in the comments.