The Renault Scenic has been reborn as an electric SUV, and the local division is keen to get its hands on it.
Renault has unveiled the fifth generation of the family-friendly Scenic at the IAA Munich motor show, this time with all-electric power, the E-Tech nameplate, and a compact SUV shape to replace the previous people mover configuration.
“We are excited by the Renault Scenic E-Tech and could see it working in Australia if it’s made available to our market in right-hand drive,” said a spokesperson for Renault Australia.
“As always, each potential model then needs to go through an internal business case to justify Renault’s investment to comply with Australia’s unique design rule requirements.”
Last year, Renault revealed the foundations for the Scenic E-Tech when it revealed the Scenic Vision at the 2022 ChangeNOW Summit in Paris.
The production model is a toned-down version of the concept, losing some of the dramatic creases but keeping the futuristic alloy wheels, a split headlight design, and a covered grille.
The concept featured a hydrogen fuel-cell plug-in hybrid powertrain, which Renault has ditched in favour of an all-electric drivetrain instead.
There’s a choice of two electric motors: one with 125kW of power and 280Nm of torque, the other with 160kW and 300Nm. The claimed 0-100km/h times for each are 9.3 seconds and 8.4 seconds, respectively.
The base 60kWh battery offers 420km of range on the WLTP testing cycle, while the larger 87kWh battery has 620km of range.
Batteries use nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry, with DC charging at up to 130kW with the smaller battery and 150kW with the larger.
Scenic E-Tech Esprit Alpine
The Scenic E-Tech will also be offered with a design upgrade package with the Esprit Alpine name, which Renault says gives the model a ‘sporty edge’.
The flat roofline ensures that even rear passengers have plenty of space, with Renault even confirming that they will have a 278 mm knee radius – though there’s no seven-seat version this time around.
A 545-litre boot capacity combined with a glass sunroof are two of the features Renault claims make the Scenic ideal for a family.
The model sits on the CMF-EV platform, developed as part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which also underpins the Megane E-Tech and Nissan Ariya.
It measures 4470mm long, 1864mm wide and 1571mm tall on a 2785mm wheelbase. For context, that’s around the same length as a Toyota Corolla Cross, albeit on a 145mm longer wheelbase.
The interior is largely carried over from the Megane E-Tech, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The latter uses Renault’s OpenR Link infotainment system with Google built-in, which runs on Android Automotive OS 12 and supports over-the-air updates.
Renault claims 24 per cent of the Scenic E-Tech’s materials are recycled and 90 per cent of the vehicle is recyclable, including the battery.
It has been 27 years since the Scenic made its debut as the first compact people mover in Europe, with the original model helping to revive the small people mover segment and inspiring myriad automakers to jump in with rival offerings.
The fifth-gen model will be made in the group’s ‘ElectriCity’ production plant in Northern France and Renault says deliveries will begin at the start of 2024.
The French brand is using the model as an example of its sustainable practices and socially and environmentally conscious design and manufacturing processes.
Renault is aiming to be a carbon-neutral brand in Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050.
The Scenic E-Tech will join an expanding lineup of Renault SUVs which includes the Captur, Arkana, Austral, Espace and Rafale.
The Espace is another nameplate that graced a people mover for several generations but which has now been applied to an SUV.
