GENEVA - Public Debut for Renault's ALL-NEW KADJAR, large SUV, this will do very well.

• Geneva Motor Show public debut for Captur’s bigger brother
• Renault’s new entry into the C-segment crossover market
• SUV, estate and saloon attributes packed into one model
• Compact dimensions with big-car space and versatility
• Highly efficient powertrains with two- or four-wheel drive
• CO₂ emissions equaling the best-in-class – as low as 99g/km
• Economy as high as 74.3mpg
• Available with the latest active safety and connectivity systems
• On sale in the UK in the Autumn

Robust yet elegant, powerful but extremely efficient, dynamic to drive while remaining a haven of calm and comfort to travel in and packed with the latest safety, infotainment and connectivity systems…the all-new Renault Kadjar – which makes its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show – is set to take the world of mid-sized crossovers by storm in the same way that the Captur has become a dominant force in the sector below.

All-New Kadjar delivers the best of what SUVs, estate cars and saloons have to offer in one stylish, compact package only 4.45 metres long, 1.84 metres wide and 1.6 metres high. It is powered by small-capacity Renault dCi diesel and TCe petrol engines which perfectly meet today’s demand for downsized power units which lack nothing in performance while delivering exceptional efficiency. Fuel economy and CO₂ figures will be as high as 74.3mpg and as low as 99g/km, equalling the best-in-class. There will be two- and four-wheel drive versions and manual and automatic transmissions to meet the needs of any buyer.

Up-to-the-minute active safety features will help the driver avoid low-speed accidents, stay in lane on highways, park, see in the dark and remain within speed limits, while the R-Link 2 multimedia system ensures the car is always fully connected to the outside world. The full UK model range, specifications and pricing will be announced closer to the UK on-sale date in the Autumn.

A SENSE OF ESCAPISM AND ADVENTURE

• A car equally at home in the country or the city
• Fluid, athletic lines buck the trend for boxy SUVs
• Lighting signature carried across from All-New Espace
• Meticulous interior detail with exceptional space and versatility

All-New Kadjar has been designed to be at home in any environment. Its compact size and command-post visibility make it ideal in busy urban areas; its estate car-like driving position and quiet, comfortable interior ensure the driver remains relaxed and focused on long journeys; and it has everything those owners who want a life of escapism and adventure might need.

The exterior exudes the dynamism and strength of a car built to go off the beaten track, but with more fluid, elegant lines than more boxy SUVs. It features muscular front wings, pronounced rear shoulders, slightly sculpted sides and doors which finish flush with the sills. Sculpted 17- and 19-inch alloy wheels are further evidence of its robust character.

A chrome strip runs across the headlights to emphasise the car’s width. The new lighting signature first seen on the latest Espace has been carried across to Kadjar and there are C-shaped LED daytime running lights. A structured grille, front and rear skid plates, lower door protective mouldings, black wheel arch extensions and anodised aluminium roof bars emphasise Kadjar’s off-road capabilities, but the car’s elegance is also to the fore in the chromed window surround, sill guard and daytime running light surrounds, and the body-colour door handles and mirror housings.

This is maintained inside the car. The horizontal dashboard stretching into the doors is a pointer to the car’s width and spaciousness. It contains two trim strips, while the instrument panel and air vents are outlined in chrome. Grab handles on each front door and the centre console and a bold gearlever attest to Kadjar’s sportiness and all-roads character.

This combination of sportiness and comfort is also evident in the seats, which have patterned cushions, vertical forms on the backrests and graphic patches on the side of the headrests. The seats are backed with dual-density foam for maximum comfort and support.

Courtesy handles in the boot release the ‘Easy Break’ 60:40 split rear seats, and the front passenger seat tips forward to form a small table or make space for longer items to be carried.

Two boot configurations are possible, giving either a flat floor or a capacity of 472 litres (seats upright), and the boot can be divided into three areas to prevent items from moving during transit. There is also 30 litres of storage space within the cabin, which provides passenger space on a par with anything in the class.

A CROSSOVER THAT DOESN’T COST THE EARTH

• Two dCi and one TCe downsized engines
• Start & Stop and deceleration energy recovery standard
• Advances in turbocharger and fuel injection technology
• Six-speed gearboxes and two- or four-wheel drive         

All-New Kadjar offers buyers a choice of two dCi diesel engines or one TCe turbocharged petrol unit which demonstrate that off-road capability need not cost the earth. It has fuel economy of up to 74.3mpg and CO₂emissions as low as 99g/km – equalling the class best. A six-speed EDC dual-clutch automatic gearbox is available with the dCi 110 engine, and Kadjar is available with two- or four-wheel drive.

The dCi 110, with a capacity of 1.5 litres and a power output of 110 hp, now has steel pistons which reduce internal friction and reduce CO₂ by three per cent. Fuel economy and CO₂ figures are similar for both the manual and automatic versions.

All-New Kadjar is also available with the 1.6-litre dCi 130 engine, with power and torque figures of 130 hp and 320 Nm, and the 1.2-litre TCe petrol unit which, with power and torque outputs of 130 hp and 205Nm, produces similar performance to a normally aspirated 2.0-litre unit. It features direct fuel injection and an integrated manifold for outstanding torque at low revs.

All three engines are allied to Renault’s Start & Stop technology to ensure that they use no fuel and emit no CO₂ when the car is stationary in traffic, and are equipped with energy recovery systems which become effective when decelerating or braking.

Other fuel-saving, emissions-reducing technologies include latest-generation high-pressure fuel injection systems, low inertia turbochargers, friction reduction and the Renault Driving eco² functions to help the driver adopt a more efficient driving style. All three meet EU6 emissions regulations, which has entailed the fitting of a NOx trap and particulate filter to the diesels.

Kadjar also features a number of aerodynamic aids which reduce CO₂ emissions by 4g/km at typical motorway speeds. They include wind tunnel-honed wheel rims, door mirrors, spoilers, underbody fairings; vents to reduce turbulence in the wheel arches; and active flaps which ensure that engine cooling is provided only as necessary.

Kadjar has 190mm of ground clearance and approach and departure angles of 18 and 25 degrees respectively, ensuring outstanding all-roads capability. Two-wheel-drive versions will be available with Renault’s Extended Grip traction control system so that they, too, can venture further off-road than their drive layout might suggest. They also be available with 17-inch Mud and Snow tyres with a specific tread pattern (depending on final individual market specifications).

The four-wheel-drive models use the Renault-Nissan Alliance Electronic Traction Control (ETC) system, which drives a coupler to deliver torque to the wheels according to speed and level of grip. A rotary switch gives the driver access to three different driving modes. The selected mode is displayed on the dashboard.

‘LOCK’ places the transmission in four-wheel drive and transfers 50 per cent of torque to the rear. It functions at speeds of up to 25mph and is recommended for rough, uneven or low-grip conditions.

‘AUTO’ automatically distributes torque as necessary, and can transmit 50 per cent to the rear.

‘2WD’ locks out the rear wheels and is the best setting for dry, grippy roads.         

ADVENTURE IN COMPLETE SAFETY

• Active Emergency Braking prevents low-speed accidents
• Lane Departure and Blind Spot Warnings supplement driver’s vision
• Easy Park Assist, camera and 360-degree sensors aid parking
• Pure Vision eases strain on the driver at night
• Traffic Sign Recognition and Speed Alert

All-New Kadjar is available with a full suite of active driving aids to help city, highway and country drivers avoid accidents or parking scrapes, see in the dark and avoid breaking the law. Many are accessed through the R-Link 2 connectivity menu.

For city driving the Active Emergency Braking System can prevent, or limit the effects of, a low-speed collision. It senses when there is the possibility of a collision with the vehicle in front, alerts the driver and then automatically initiates braking if no action is taken.

Parking bumps and scrapes are avoided through a number of available features. Easy Park Assist identifies suitable parking spaces and then takes full control of the steering during the manoeuvre. It is equally effective for parallel, end-on and angled manoeuvres and displays all essential information on the central screen. The driver only has to work the accelerator and brakes.

All-New Kadjar is also available with 360-degree proximity sensors and a reversing camera to assist in parking manoeuvres, and these are equally effective when guiding the car through difficult off-road terrain with restricted visibility. Meanwhile a Hill Start Assist function holds the car for three seconds when setting off on gradients of three per cent or steeper to give the driver time to transfer from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

For motorway driving Kadjar can be equipped with Lane Departure and Blind Spot warning systems which identify when the car is about to stray into an adjacent lane, and possibly into the path of a vehicle approaching from behind. There is also a Traffic Sign Recognition and Speed Alert system to help the driver remain within the law, and cruise control with speed limiter which maintains the car’s speed and prevents it from exceeding a pre-set limit.

And for night driving the Kadjar offers full-LED Pure Vision, which automatically adjusts the main and dipped headlight beam and endows the car with a more intense and precise light pattern 20 per cent more powerful than halogen lighting. It includes cornering foglights which activate when the indicator is used or the steering is turned at speeds below 25mph.     

FULLY CONNECTED, WITH CONCERT-HALL SOUND

• R-Link 2 brings intuitive, personalised connectivity
• Control centre for all Kadjar’s features; includes voice recognition
• Adapted towards business use to support fleet managers
• Bose® sound system delivers an intense listening experience

All-New Kadjar becomes the latest Renault to offer full in-car connectivity through the improved R-Link 2 multimedia system, which has now been adapted to offer additional support to fleet managers.  The car is also available with a Bose® audio system which delivers concert-hall sound quality for a premium listening experience.

R-Link 2 is the control centre for all Kadjar’s functions, including the electronic driver aids. It features voice recognition to enhance safe control of the navigation system, telephone and apps, and displays information on a seven-inch tablet-style TFT screen. The latest version provides a comprehensive range of motoring, travel, news and social media apps and is both intuitive to use and fully customisable. It comes with one year’s free TomTom Traffic cover, TomTom real-time traffic information, European map updates and access to the R-Link app store.

R-Link 2 has been adapted to support fleet managers through the new Fleet Asset Management packages. It helps in three main areas – cost control, by monitoring fuel consumption and mileage and anticipating maintenance needs; activity, by collecting usage data to generate better reliability; and driver education, by promoting more economical and safer driving.

The Bose® audio system delivers exceptionally lifelike concert-hall sound and includes one centrefill speaker to help provide a complete sound stage, six carefully placed speakers to guarantee rich sound to all parts of the car, a digital amplifier beneath the front passenger seat and a sub-woofer in the boot.

Full UK pricing and specifications will be made available closer to All-New Kadjar’s UK launch in the Autumn.