Over thirty years ago, Renault invented the compact family car with the Scenic. Designed for families both past and present, it has now evolved into a new iteration for future generations with the Scenic Vision, a concept-car that embodies Renault’s commitments to decarbonisation and sustainable development. Concept-car or rather ‘concept care-car’: it cares for both its occupants and natural resources, by ensuring eco-responsible manufacturing and close management of the full life cycle of both the vehicle and its materials. Renault unveils a concept car that seeks to preserve all forms of life.

Renault is writing a new chapter of the Renaulution with the Scenic Vision concept-car, with an exterior design that gives a glimpse into the brand’s upcoming all-electric family vehicle. Above all, it is a car that evokes mobility that is more responsible and safer for the whole family, thereby embodying Renault Group’s commitments to sustainable development. Its components, interior, and on-board technology embrace the three pillars behind the strategy: environment, safety, and inclusion.

The Renault Scenic Vision is more than a unique way to experience travel, it shows how a vehicle can limit its impact on the climate and resources, to better serve future generations. It builds off and extends the notion of ‘cars for living’, taking it into the future. Not just a concept car, the Renault Scenic Vision is a concept ‘care-car’.

Made using more than 70% recycled materials and 95% recyclable, the Renault Scenic Vision has incorporated notions of eco-design and circular economy deep into its genetic makeup to further preserve resources. In harnessing electric and hydrogen power, it combines clean mobility with fast charging speeds, zero-emission manufacturing and exhaust emissions, and a carbon footprint 75% smaller than that of a conventional electric vehicle. Last but not least, its safety features and interior equipment provide optimal protection for all passengers, in particular thanks to new technology that help reduce the risk of accidents.

A climat’optimistic vehicle

To meet Renault Group’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040 and worldwide by 2050, action must be taken across the board: materials and components, production sites, driving emissions, second life, and recycling. The Renault Scenic Vision taps into each of these domains to achieve record breaking decarbonisation over a vehicle’s full life cycle. The combined electric engine and hydrogen fuel cell means the car can cover long trips, such as a Paris-Marseille (750 km), without leaving behind the slightest trace, while still ensuring the best on-road comfort for the whole family and an unbeaten downtime of just a few minutes!

Such a vehicle could be manufactured in the ElectriCity hub, where the plants will be carbon neutral by 2025. Equipped with carbon-free batteries that use responsibly sourced natural resources coming from strategic partnerships with recognized and legitimate businesses such as Terrafame and Vulcan Energy. The 2024 opening of the Douai Gigafactory – still within the ElectriCity hub – will complete the production facilities by providing a local supply chain with almost zero logistical impact and fewer CO_2e* emissions.

* It is not only carbon dioxide (CO2), but all greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming. To express a carbon footprint with a single unit, the other greenhouse gases are therefore all converted into the amount of CO2. We speak of equivalent ‘CO₂’, or ‘CO_2e’ (or sometimes even ‘CO2eq’).

Entering the circular economy loop

To limit the environmental impact from upstream manufacturing and the end of a vehicle’s life cycle as much as possible, the Renault Scenic Vision is entirely integrated into a circular economy cycle! In fact, 95% of the materials used to make the concept car – including the battery – are recyclable. Designed to preserve the environment as much as possible, the Renault Scenic Vision was also designed to facilitate end-of-life recycling. In the upstream stages of car production, the body is made using recycled steel and aluminium, and the on-board equipment incorporates new sources or materials such as by-product carbon fibre from none other than the aeronautic industry! A large portion of materials used for the batteries are used and re-used in a closed circuit. Copper parts and wiring are reused elsewhere to reduce the burden on mining new deposits.

Ensuring ‘safer driving’

The Renault Scenic Vision harnesses a full range of solutions to drivers avoid risks as much as possible without compromising on driving pleasure. In guaranteeing a safer drive, the car shows that it takes care of all its passengers through technological solutions that reduce the risk of having an accident by up to 70%. In embracing the five main pillars of Renault’s safety policy (awareness, prevention, correction, protection, and rescue), the Scenic Vision also features the “Safety Score” to further analyse driving habits, the “Safety Coach” to help anticipate risks, and the “Safe Guardian” to warn and take action should the driver’s attention wane.

An inclusive car par excellence, the Renault Scenic Vision was designed around the very notion of accessibility. A prime example of this are the rear-hinged doors that make it easier to access the car’s interior. Moreover, driver and passengers alike benefit from increased levels of customisation so that everyone gets the sort of comfort that they want: spaces that mould and adapt to each person’s body shape, configurable widgets, facial recognition, and more. Even the on-board soundscape can be tailored to each person so everyone can enjoy their own playlist during the trip.

“Cars for living”… better and longer

The Renault Scenic Vision concept car is the epitome of Renault’s Nouvelle Vague and its Renaulution, it dons an aesthetic appeal that heralds in the future of the brand’s design. The exterior takes on the shape of the brand’s upcoming line of family cars that will be released in 2024. Its interior is a glimpse into the future of the brand’s interior design.

With its high-tech design, generous shapes, and an interior designed with people in mind, incorporating materials and colours that exude a calming effect, the Renault Scenic Vision boasts an original design that is as functional as it is inclusive, true to the brand’s values.

Building on the hallmarks if its past, Renault is bringing ‘cars for living’ into the modern world with a more responsible undercurrent, one focused on future generations, preserving resources to leave the smallest possible footprint.

After the launch of the All-new Mégane E-TECH Electric, a compact hatchback that was the first of a new family of electric vehicles, the Renaulution is now welcoming its second model. The time has come for the All-new Austral, a modern and ambitious SUV, to make its debut. Part of Renault’s “Nouvelle Vague”, this new model contributes in various ways to the brand’s ambition to become a benchmark for technology, clean energy and services.

Announced by Luca de Meo just over a year ago, the Renaulution outlined a double promise made by Renault: restoring the brand’s competitiveness and bringing it into modernity by leading the way in technology, services and clean energy.

Since then, a revolution has got underway. Renault has embarked on an ambitious, value-generating transformation through the electrification of its product range, first with new models to regain the brand’s foothold in the C-segment, Europe’s most popular car segment. The first of that range, the All-new Mégane E-TECH Electric, will soon be arriving at dealerships.

Today, a new chapter of the Renaulution is beginning with the All-new Austral.

Through its design, engine fits and other features, the All-new Austral highlights Renault’s strengths in manufacturing and technology. In addition to its expertise in electric and electrified vehicles and its vision for sustainable mobility, Renault is making vehicles of the right size, weight, power and range for all customers. The All-new Austral is a SUV that answers ever-growing demand to travel without limits – going further for longer, while protecting the environment.

A new chapter in Renaulution opens with the All-new Austral

A high-tech interior behind an athletic exterior

With its sculpted bonnet, bold front profile and taut lines, the silhouette of the All-new Austral is visibly athletic and even sporty in its “Esprit Alpine” version. Its generous volumes and ideal proportions are visually appealing and immediately ooze spaciousness. The All-new Austral fully embodies Renault’s new “sensual tech” design language while incorporating a number of stylistic aspects, such as the inclusion of the emblematic Renault diamond motif at the front.

Look beyond its athletic shape – the All-new Austral holds its cards close to its chest. Yes, it has brawn, but it also has brains! Its passenger compartment is just as voluminous as that of a family car, in a high-tech cockpit designed around an XXL OpenR screen that combines an instrument panel with a multimedia console. What’s more, users can access the most useful Google services and applications through the OpenR Link system – making the experience behind the wheel more intuitive than ever!

Behind its athletic SUV shell, the All-new Austral hides a high-tech cockpit

A high-performance hybrid

The All-new Austral is the first model in the Renault range to benefit from all of the advantages of the Alliance’s new CMF-CD platform. Designed in various versions with different engine types, the platform gives the All-new Austral capacity for innovative and efficient all-electric powertrains for all uses. Customers can choose from the new E-TECH Hybrid engine (up to 200 hp), a new 48 V Mild Hybrid Advanced engine (130 hp) or a 12 V Mild Hybrid engine (140 hp or 160 hp). All of these options come with electrification technology and eco features designed to maximum energy efficiency, combining driving pleasure with reduced consumption and CO₂ emissions.

The All-new Austral is available in “Full Hybrid” with the E-TECH Hybrid engine (160 and 200 hp)

Customisable driving sensations

The All-new Austral is dynamic on the road while proving just as agile as a city car in urban environments. Thanks to 4CONTROL Advanced technology, it has an extremely tight turning circle of just 10.1 metres, unique to its segment. In combination with the MULTI-SENSE set-up, which offers four driving modes, 4CONTROL Advanced enables drivers to personalise their experience with 13 settings, far exceeding the 3 offered previously.

The All-new Austral: a whole world of sensations

An ADAS ace

The All-new Austral covers everything, from driving comfort to parking and safety, helping drivers stay in control in all circumstances. It incorporates no less than 32 advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), including a latest-generation head-up display, level 2 driving automation with Active Driver Assist, a 3D camera for 360° vision, full park assist and a detection system that prevents the car from pulling out if another vehicle is overtaking.

The All-new Austral also ensures optimal protection for its occupants and other road users by way of its enhanced passive safety features. There is also a new airbag between the driver and front passenger to prevent their heads colliding in the event of side impact. In the E-TECH Hybrid version, the All-new Austral is also kitted out with special access to the battery and a QR code to contact rescue teams, enabling them to come and help the occupants quickly and effectively when needed.

Jean-Baptiste Pietra