The new Renault Filante is a mid-size hybrid crossover SUV co-designed between Renault and its main Chinese partner, Geely. It will be assembled in South Korea and chiefly exported to the Middle East and South American markets, while United States and Europe seem to be missing out for now.
As dozens of other vehicles produced by Chinese and European car brands, the Filante rides on Geely’s CMA platform. Compared to most of them, however, it is billed as a flagship. Despite being whopping 4,915 mm (192 inches) long with 2,820 mm (110.2 inches) between the axles, it looks almost like a sports car. This impression is supported by carefully sculped side panels, a shoulder line that rises towards the rear end, and a sporty roof spoiler. Bezel-free LED headlamps and a radiator grille composed of Renault diamonds only enhance the effect.
The interior seats five people and leaves enough room for a 654-liter (23.1-cubic-foot) trunk. Standard equipment includes three 12.3-inch displays, a windshield-based HUD powered by Augmented Reality, and a three-zone HVAC. A vast panoramic roof spanning all the way from the windshield to the rear window adds truthfulness to the “flagship” claim.
For the powertrain, the 2026 Renault Filante uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine in tandem with two electric motors and a three-speed automatic transmission. Their combined output doesn’t exceed 250 PS (247 hp / 184 kW) and 565 Nm (417 lb-ft) of torque.
Pricing info will have to wait until March, when the sales are scheduled to start.
