Renault Austral: this is the French offensive ‘made in Spain’

The launch of the Austral is a milestone for Renault Spain that they have been preparing for more than two years. In 2021, the group’s director of production at the global level,
Jose Vicente de los Mozosannounced the industrial plan Renaulution Spain, which would turn our country into the focus of brand hybridization.

The electric initiative will focus on ElectriCity’s manufacturing hub — located in Douai, in the north of France — while the Iberian Peninsula will be responsible for bringing E-Tech engines to the rest of the markets, in conventional or mild-style. hybrid versions .

The Austral engineers stated at the presentation of the new model that “they have the plug-in technology ready to be fitted in case the market demands it”, but for now they prefer to focus on offering conventional hybrids in a model. that do not have diesel propulsion.

The Austral is a fundamental part of Renault’s strategy to return to the top of the sales standings. It involves a frontal attack on one of the most controversial segments, that of the C-SUVs.

In Spain, a third of passenger car registrations come from segment C and about half of these are SUVs, a silhouette that, in the words of the director of Renault Spain,
Sebastien Guigues: “It is present in all segments and is here to stay.”

Another of the trends they have observed from the French brand is that of hybridization. “Customers come looking for a car that consumes little,” says Guigues, “it doesn’t matter to them whether it’s diesel or petrol, as long as it’s economical.”

And the Australia is. In its WLTP homologation, the E-Tech hybrid engine records a consumption of 4.6 liters per 100 km —
in actual use they are closer to 6—, but if you’re looking for an Eco label, the 12-volt mild-hybrid will do, too.

For the Austral can be chosen for two different engines, each with two powers. The mild hybrids are available in 140 and 160 hp, with a 1.3-litre engine made in collaboration with Daimler. The less powerful version is the only one available with a manual transmission.

Instead, the E-Tech hybrids can be selected between 160 or 200 horsepower. These engines are 1.2-litre three-cylinder, but are mated to a 400-volt electrical system and a 2 kWh battery.

Inside, the Austral is virtually identical to the Megane E-Tech, the brand’s latest zero-emission, which is an extremely positive note. The high-quality finishes, with brushed aluminum and two large 12-inch touchscreens, give it a distinguished and avant-garde look without losing sight of functionality.

Special mention has the connectivity of the vehicle, as it contains the Android Auto operating system integrated in the car, so there is no need to connect the phone, just log into the Google account to access applications such as Spotify, Waze or Google Maps.

On the outside, Renault has decided to move away from the curvy lines that characterized previous generations of its vehicles and while not a complete break from that style of design, the Austral is much more athletic and muscular than, say, the Captur.

The Austral is also one of the most ‘made-in-Spain’ cars on the market. According to De los Mozos, “the only thing we don’t do in Spain is design the vehicles.” Virtually the entire value chain, from stamping aluminum to the development of driver assistance systems, is carried out between the centers in Seville, Valladolid and Palencia, where it is assembled.

The prices of the Austral
from 30,900 euros for the mild-hybrid entry version and range up to 43,600 for the E-Tech with the Esprit Alpine sports finish.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.