Renault Arkana unveiled, new coupe SUV to take on Russia market



Renault has just unveiled their latest mid-sized SUV named the Renault Arkana at the 2018 Moscow Motor Show. Unlike traditional SUVs, the Arkana features a distinctive coupe-crossover body style, opening a new market segment for the French carmaker.

Interestingly, there are no immediate plans for the Arkana to go on sale in Europe but will be introduced to the Russian market in 2019 and other undesignated Asia markets. However, Renault positions the coupe crossover as a C-segment rival with global ambitions.

The Arkana wears the Renault family face that is present on their newer models, having “fangs” for their LED daytime running lights around the slim headlamps, horizontal slats for the grille and angular trims on the lower section. A silver trim at the lower front lip highlights the Arkana’s robust and go anywhere nature.

Its coupe crossover silhouette is obvious from the side with its sloping roofline that tapers downwards as it approaches the C-pillar – a very similar profile to the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. A set of 19-inch alloys fills up the arches nicely and gives the coupe crossover the ground clearance it needs to face different terrains. This is merely a first preview of the Arkana and details of the interior is not revealed to the public.

Senior Vice President, Corporate Design of Groupe Renault, Laurens Van den Acker said: “The Arkana show car is a distinctive coupé-crossover, striking balance between the elegance of a saloon and the powerful stance of an SUV. We have dialled in specific Renault cues, with a strong design, strength and sensuality with a French touch.”

The Renault Arkana will play an important role for the brand’s Drive the Future strategic plan where Groupe Renault intends to expand its product range to increase global sales volumes up to 5 million units by 2022.

The C-segment is currently the most dynamic and challenging sector of the automotive industry, especially SUVs. Customers’ needs are getting more and more diverse as a result, the Arkana is born from those customers’ new expectations.


IMAGE GALLERY