Renault eyeing several new EVs for Australia

Renault Australia is looking to revamp its range through 2025 and beyond, with a number of new models and variants on the cards for the local market.

General manager for Renault Australia Glen Sealey told CarExpert the French brand’s electrification expansion locally will focus on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rather than hybrids or plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

“When we talk electrification, we talk [internal-combustion engines] or EV,” Mr Sealy said. “We have ICE in Arkana, Captur, Koleos and so on. Will they go to hybrid at some stage? There has to be a natural progression, certainly around NVES.”

“For Kangoo we have electrification (full EV), for Trafic we will have electrification (full EV), for Master we’ll have electrification (full EV). [The] Megane E-Tech is fully electric, and then we’re working now on a number of other cars to come in that will be full EV.”

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Mr Sealey confirmed the brand’s vans will offer E-Tech Electric versions throughout the course of 2025. The smallest Kangoo is launching this year with an E-Tech version, with the Trafic and Master vans due to gain EV options next year – Trafic E-Tech early in 2025, Master E-Tech at the end of the year.

Beyond the van range, Mr Sealey highlighted two new models the local arm is working on bringing to the Australian market at opposite ends of the market.

First is the recently revealed Renault 5 E-Tech, which debuted at this year’s Geneva motor show. It replaces the Clio-sized Zoe electric hatchback, and will offer 40kWh and 52kWh batteries in Europe with up to 400km of WLTP range.

The retro EV is a nod to the Renault 5 hatchback produced between the ’70s and ’90s, and stays true to a concept that previewed it in 2021.

It rides on Renault’s new AmpR electric vehicle platform, which itself is an adaptation of the architecture underpinning the Renault Clio and Captur, as well as the Nissan Juke.

Pricing in the UK is expected to dip in under £25,000 ($48,579). That seems pricey as a conversion, but it’s not far off the positioning of a mid-spec petrol-powered Captu – which in Australia starts from $35,000. It’s possible the R5 E-Tech could dip in under $40,000 with the smaller battery should it come here.

The reborn Renault 5 has also spawned a performance Alpine version, the A290, which is the first electric vehicle from the go-fast brand.

Read more about the Renault 5 E-Tech here.

The other new electric vehicle flagged by Mr Sealy is the new Scenic E-Tech, which like the R5 revives an old nameplate for the French brand.

Revealed at last year’s Munich mobility show, the Scenic E-Tech borrows its name from a legendary people mover. It’s based on the same Alliance CMF-EV platform as the Megane E-Tech and the Nissan Ariya, and could serve as a spiritual successor to the Kadjar in Australia.

Measuring 4470mm long, 1864mm wide and 1571mm tall with a 2785mm wheelbase, the Scenic is around the same length as a Toyota Corolla Cross, albeit on a 145mm longer wheelbase.

For context, the Megane E-Tech is 4200mm long, 1760mm wide and 1505mm tall, riding on a shorter 2685mm wheelbase.

The new Scenic E-Tech offers a choice of two electric motor outputs and two different batteries.

The base 60kWh battery offers 420km of range, while the 87kWh battery has 620km. Both use nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry, with DC charging quoted at up to 130kW for the 60kWh model and 150kW for the 87kWh variant.

A 545L boot features, and Renault says it’s focused on delivery lots of legroom. There will be a sporty Esprit Alpine design pack available globally, which would be on the wish list for Australia should the Scenic make it Down Under.

When asked about the even smaller Twingo E-Tech previewed in concept form but confirmed for production in Europe potentially in partnership with Volkswagen, Mr Sealey said “that may not work here”.

The new Twingo could launch as early as 2026 with a target price of less than €20,000 ($32,774). Speaking with industry journal Automotive News Europe at the Geneva motor show, Renault CEO Luca de Meo said the French carmaker is in talks with a number of potential partners, including the Volkswagen Group.

Mr de Meo said Renault is in “good discussions” with Volkswagen to partner on the Twingo project and share platforms, which would be a logical pathway towards VW’s plans to launch a new e-Up! city hatchback at a similar price point.

The production model will be based on a shortened version of the AmpR compact EV architecture which underpins the Renault 5 E-Tech.

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