2023 Munich Motor Show - Inovev forecasts 15,000 units per year of the new Renault Rafale
- Renault is presenting its new D-segment Rafale coupé SUV at the 2023 Munich Motor Show. This model, inspired by the C-segment Renault Arkana, the success of which is undeniable (76,000 units sold in Europe in 2022 against 18,000 Kadjar), will attempt to repeat Arkana's commercial success at the top echelon.
- For this, the carmaker started from the base of the Renault Espace SUV, itself derived from the Austral SUV, to create a silhouette close to the Arkana and which is in line with the movement of the Mercedes GLC coupé, BMW X4 or Audi Q3 Sportback. It is true that coupé SUVs were initiated by Premium carmakers and these still represent the vast majority of coupé SUV sales today.
- Renault is very reckless to venture into this category because the chances of success of the Rafale remain very slim. Indeed, between a Premium brand coupe SUV and a Renault mainstream brand coupe SUV, the customer will almost always prefer the Premium brand. Renault is of course building on the success of the lower-segment Arkana, but can that success really be repeated on a higher-segment model? Nothing is less sure. Especially since the Safrane, Renault has never stood out in the top of the range.
- Inovev is counting on a sales volume of 15,000 copies per year of the Renault Rafale. It is produced at the Palencia site in Spain, alongside the Renault Austral (115,000 units per year) and Espace (25,000 units per year). The Rafale will be available in gasoline hybrid (200 hp) or plug-in gasoline hybrid (300 hp) but not in a battery electric version. We are talking about prices between 45,000 and 65,000 euros depending on the version and the engines.