Renault’s Scenic family van will go on sale in 2024 as the new Stromer: Renault makes the electric car greener

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This is a car designer’s nightmare. The new model is ready and working in coordination with the developers; technology fits under the shell of the design studio. “And then an engineer wants to widen the track of the front axle, which no longer fits under the fenders.” Gilles Vidal, Renault’s chief designer, rolls his eyes for fun: “We had to change the front design at the last minute.”

But you don’t matter. Newly unveiled at the IAA Mobility (September 5-10) in Munich (D), Renault’s new Scenic E-Tech Electric still looks well-proportioned and looks similar to the concept car from May 2022. 27 years later and 5.3 million copies were sold. Concept change: Family vans are sold by almost all brands – the Scenic also becomes a crossover somewhere between a compact car and an SUV.

Range up to 620 kilometers

It will be all-electric because underneath is the platform of the smaller Megane E-Tech Electric: two drive options are available, with either 170 hp (125 kW) or 218 hp (160 kW); the first has a net capacity of 60, the second 87 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for a travel-ready range of 420 to 620 kilometers. They reach 100 km/h in 9.3 and 8.4 seconds and are braked electronically at top speeds of 150 and 170 km/h.

However, the charging capacity is now 150 kilowatts (kW) instead of the Megane’s 130 kW (kW), which will receive the corresponding upgrade. The fast charger boosts the battery charge from 15 to 80 percent in 30 minutes. An important plus point: The Scenic can also be charged with 22 kW of direct current, which many public charging stations in the city offer. So far, only a few electric cars can do this.

recycling and circular economy

But the real innovations in the new Scenic are in the details and cannot be seen at first glance. Electric vehicles alone are not enough to generate CO2 in Europe by 2040₂– to be impartial. Renault looks after the entire chain, from raw materials to development, production, operation and disposal. It touches on some points that have been repeatedly criticized by electric car opponents.

That’s why almost a quarter of the car is made from recycled materials (aluminum, PVC, old plastic bottles for seat covers and door panels). Scenic doesn’t have “rare earths” because the electric motor doesn’t need permanent magnets. And weighing over two tons like some competitors, the Scenic weighs just 1842 kilograms; This theoretically reduces consumption to 15.7 kWh/100 km.

Crystals block the sun

With a length of 4.47 meters and a width of 1.86 meters, the Scenic offers more space at the rear than the narrow Megane. You sit low at the front and higher at the rear for a direct driving experience. “It was the height that became particularly critical,” explains Vidal: For better aerodynamics and therefore lower consumption, the Scenic is now four centimeters lower than its combustion-engined predecessor, despite the 14-centimetre-high battery in the underbody.

The headlining was cleverly shaped to provide sufficient headroom; the developers saved the roller blind for the panoramic roof, thereby gaining three centimeters. If the sun burns inside, at the push of a button a layer of polymer crystals will cloud the glass.

Prices are like hybrid.

The cockpit comes from the electric Megane and Google is responsible for infotainment, navigation and voice control; the latter can now even lower the side windows. There are a lot of shelves, and in the trunk can fit from 545 to 1670 liters of luggage – generous. However, as is typical for Renault, the loading threshold is quite high; This means a more advantageous insurance rating because in the event of a rear-end collision, the trunk lid and taillights are more likely to remain intact. However, this invitation can backfire.

The new Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric will go on sale in spring 2024. Prices are yet to be determined, but Renault boss Fabrice Cambolive wants to reckon: The five-seater should be as expensive as a comparable hybrid. The much more compact Megane currently starts at 40,000 francs and has a smaller 60 kWh battery. A few thousand francs more with the Scenic.

Source: Blick