The Upcoming Quick Renault Is Arriving Soon, and It May Not Be What You Anticipate | Carscoops

      The French car manufacturer is set to unveil "some proposals" for sporty models over the coming 12 months.

      Renault’s CEO has confirmed that new sporty offerings will be launched within the next year.

      Future performance vehicles will be significantly more affordable than the €155K R5 Turbo 3E hatchback.

      The boldly designed new Clio is unlikely to have a hot hatch variant anytime soon, if at all.

      Renault is currently evaluating options for its next range of performance vehicles, with initial proposals expected to appear next year as concepts. This approach will allow the automaker to assess both the feasibility and market interest before deciding on production.

      This information was provided by Fabrice Cambolive, Renault’s newly appointed CEO. In a conversation with Autocar regarding the potential for more affordable performance cars, he stated: “Yes, we are exploring some others. We will come to you with some proposals in the next 12 months.”

      Cambolive also emphasized the need for the company to find a suitable balance between development costs and consumer demand before approving any projects, indicating that these concepts are still in their early stages.

      Transitioning Identity in Performance

      With the retirement of the Renault Sport brand in favor of Alpine, the branding for upcoming models remains uncertain. Regardless of the emblem, Renault’s future performance cars are expected to be significantly less extravagant compared to the R5 Turbo 3E, an electric hyper hatch limited to 1,980 units priced from €155,000 (around $182,000).

      A more practical advancement could be a high-performance Megane E-Tech. This electric crossover is scheduled for a substantial update next year, featuring enhanced styling and improved batteries aimed at increasing its attractiveness.

      The recently launched Clio won’t have a performance variant for the time being, as confirmed by Emmanuel de Jesus Pequeno, Renault’s product line manager for this model. Nevertheless, Renault is not absent from the small hot hatch segment, with the fully electric Alpine A290, based on the R5 E-Tech, fulfilling that niche.

      Venturing Into SUVs?

      Considering the competition, another possibility for Renault could be a performance SUV. The current lineup features the Captur, Arkana, Symbioz, Austral, Espace, and Rafale, along with the fully electric R4 E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech. The most powerful model is the Rafale E-Tech 4×4 300 hp flagship, which includes a plug-in hybrid setup and an Atelier Alpine variant that offers a sportier chassis.

      With the previously utilized turbocharged 1.8-liter engine from the discontinued Megane RS and the outgoing Alpine A110 being ruled out due to stricter emissions standards, electrification now stands as the sole viable option. The objective is for Renault to integrate the same driving excitement into its next generation of EVs that once characterized its RS-badged models.