Renault has disclosed that it will start developing a new seven-seater SUV to replace the ageing Koleos in 2017. The manufacturer also denied the possibility of introducing the Espace in Asia anytime soon.
In terms of proportions, the new SUV fits between the recently announced Kadjar and the Espace. It will be based on Renault-Nissan’s CMF platform and apart from being a seven-seater, it will be built as a robust off-road friendly vehicle and not a soft-roader. We can expect typical Renault styling and design language for the upcoming new SUV.
Laurens van den Acker, Renault’s design boss, said, "It's much more than just a big Kadjar - the proportions are slightly different, the positioning is more high end. We are going for a different type of customer. It will sit just underneath the Espace, which for me remains the flagship of the brand. Not many markets will take the D-crossover and the Espace. The D-crossover is mainly for Asia, where it will replace the Koleos, and there is no Espace in Asia. It will be sportier; it will be younger than the Espace."
Renault hasn't given any confirmation yet if they will continue with the same Koleos brand name for the new SUV. According to reports, a new brand name with starting letters 'C' or 'K' is being considered. We can expect a 2017 debut for this product and more details emerging soon as Renault starts working on the vehicle. The Nissan X-Trail will face competition with the introduction of this new SUV.
Source: CarScoops