All-new Renault Arkana and Captur confirmed for Oz

Renault will effectively exit the EV, light-car and mainstream small-car space in Australia when stocks of the current Zoe, Clio and non-RS Megane models are exhausted in the near future.

Instead, the French brand will focus on SUVs and light commercial vehicles, with the new Renault Captur and all-new Renault Arkana now both confirmed for Australian release in 2021, when the latter will replace the short-lived Kadjar.

While the compact Renault Kangoo Maxi ZE electric van remains on sale, it has found just 13 Aussie buyers so far in 2020, and the third-generation Zoe revealed in France last June won’t be imported to Australia by Europe’s top-selling EV brand.

Just eight Renault Zoes were sold here in the first half of this year and only a handful remain in dealer showrooms.

Contrary to what Renault told us last year, the fifth-generation Clio won’t be sold Down Under either. Just 22 examples of the current Clio have been sold to June this year and Renault’s smallest passenger model has already disappeared from showrooms.

That includes the pint-size Renault Clio RS hot hatch, although Renault Australia hasn't ruled out importing the next-generation Clio RS.

Also on the way out are mainstream versions of the Renault Megane. Including hot RS versions, which will be the only passenger models to remain in the French brand's showrooms, Renault has sold 139 Meganes in Australia so far this year.

A recently revealed facelift for what could be the last Renault Megane anyway will extend to RS versions by mid-2021, including the Sport, Cup, Trophy and Trophy-R.

Just six months after its launch in November 2019, the Renault Kadjar will be axed in favour of the newer Arkana, a coupe-style small SUV first revealed in 2018.

To be produced for Australia in South Korea from the second half of 2021, the Arkana will be bookended by the smaller new Captur and larger Koleos – a mildly facelifted version of which will also arrive in the first half of next year.

Like the MY21 Megane RS range, the MY21 Koleos will receive minor design and tech updates by mid-2021.

Renault Australia senior product manager Charly Clercin said the two new SUVs will bring the latest design and technologies from the French brand, including a 360-degree camera and 9.3-inch infotainment touch-screen.

“The all-new Captur has been a huge success in the overseas markets where it has already launched,” he said.

“A cutting edge urban SUV, the all-new Captur will come fully loaded with a powerful but efficient turbocharged 1.3-litre petrol engine, technology including wireless smart phone replication and charging and five-star safety.”

Clercin said the all-new Renault Captur will become available in Australia from late January in three familiar equipment grades – Life, Zen and Intens – all powered by Daimler’s 1.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with pricing starting under $30,000 drive-away.

Fitted with a 7.0-inch infotainment touch-screen, gearshift paddles and 17-inch alloy wheels, the new Renault Captur will face stiff competition from the likes of the new Nissan JUKE and Volkswagen T-Cross.

It will be joined by the all-new Renault Arkana in the second half of the year. The five-door/seat small coupe-crossover is expected to be positioned above the Captur but below the Koleos, and priced in line with the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen T-Roc.

Clercin said the all-new Arkana nameplate will complete Renault Australia’s SUV line-up, and was preferable to the Spanish-built Kadjar, which arrived in Australia late in its life cycle, because it is an all-new, more upmarket model employing the latest Renault platform (CMF-B) and technologies.

He said distinctive styling and shorter delivery times from South Korea, with which Australia has a free trade agreement, made the Arkana – which is likely to form the basis of Renault’s first RS-badged SUV model – a more logical small SUV for Australia than the Kadjar, which will remain available until the Arkana arrives.

“The all-new Arkana is a new generation of SUV for Australia and destined to become a segment breaker with its distinctive design, combining the creature comforts of an SUV with sedan driving dynamics,” said Clercin.

“Like the all-new Captur, the all-new Arkana will come loaded with technology, comfort and five-star safety. With its distinctive coupe SUV design, it has all the elements to be a success here in Australia.”

Renault Australia today also confirmed the Nissan Navara-based Alaskan dual-cab ute and the smaller Duster Oroch lifestyle ute will not be sold here in their current generations.

However, it said it may leverage the Renault Nissan Mitsubishi Alliance for other new products in future, in particular a large, ladder-frame SUV based on the Nissan Terra.

On the light commercial van side, the recently updated small Kangoo and large Master vans continue to bookend the mid-size Renault Trafic, which will receive a safety upgrade including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in 2022.

Finally, Renault Australia said it is working to import the hotter A110 S version of the mid-engined Alpine sports coupe, with further details to come later this year.

Clercin said the decision to axe the Clio and Zoe was difficult but forced by the coronavirus pandemic and low demand for light cars and EVs in Australia.

“We were looking forward to more new products arriving in 2020, but like the rest of the industry our second-half activity has been affected by COVID-19,” he said.

“This impact led to renewed analysis of our product line-up going forward and the direction that Renault will pursue in Australia.

“Consequently we’ve taken the tough decision to cancel the launches of new Clio and Zoe. We understand that Clio is a nameplate with great heritage but the business case for that car is becoming harder to sustain.

“Our love affair with SUVs continues to grow with the small SUV segment growing by 200 per cent since 2011. In the dame period, light passenger [car] sales are down almost 70 per cent.

“As you know, we’re not the only brand taking such decisions. Hyundai has axed the Accent, Honda won’t replace the Jazz and only the Fiesta ST remains today in Ford showrooms.

“Electric cars remain a curiosity on Australian roads with around 5000 sales in the segment last year. With such limited numbers it makes it a difficult case to present to head office when they’re selling more than 10,000 units a month.

“These decisions were not taken lightly and only came after exhaustive analysis here in Australia and at head office.

“We are concentrating on segments demonstrating sustainability and growth with far greater volume ambitions than Clio and Zoe could ever achieve. We’ll continue to explore market opportunities for EVs and hybrids.”

Managing director Anouk Poelmann said the future of Renault Australia – whose sales are down more than a third in a market that’s down 20 per cent so far in 2020, with a market share of just 0.6% – was never in doubt.

But she said important product decisions had to be made to ensure Renault’s long-term health Down Under.

“The Australian motoring landscape has changed dramatically in the past 12 months,” she said. “Holden has announced its departure from the market, while Honda and Mercedes have signaled their shift to an agency [sales] model.

“…Renault Australia is not contemplating either of those outcomes. We are here for the long haul, with a model line-up that puts our brand in the middle of the largest and most profitable market segments.

“It is truly an exciting time, steering one of the world’s great automotive companies towards success here in Australia. Never have we relied so heavily on our brand heritage, global skills and core values to guide us through one of the most challenging periods in our history.

“As the world adjusts to a new context, the importance of brand becomes even more relevant to consumers.
With passion and fight at the core of Renault, we see this as an opportunity to only grow and cement our position in this market.

“In 2020 we continue our journey to reposition Renault as an aspirational brand for Australians. Our European design, French flair and passion for life puts us in a good place to be a credible competitor as a premium alternative to the mainstream brands.”

Renault Australia said it will roll out an online sales strategy for the French brand in 2021 and plans to maintain its current number of almost 60 sales and service outlets Down Under.

What’s coming from Renault:
MkII Captur – January 2021
Facelifted Koleos – First half 2021
Facelifted Megane RS – First half 2021
All-new Arkana – Second half 2021
Alpine A110 S – TBC