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Family minibuses have fallen on hard times at Renault lately. The former pioneer of the segment called Espace has been transformed into a seven-seat SUV. And now the Scenic compact van becomes an electric crossover, sharing only the name with its predecessor.
But from Renault’s point of view, it makes sense: Renault CEO Luca de Meo (56) said two years ago: “There is no point in creating a model name as a brand for decades and then abandoning it when you electrify the model.” compact car Megane has become a Stromer. That’s why the XXL version of the Megane was named Scenic, after the minivan that has sold around 5.3 million units since 1996.
More space for families
The new one is likely to be the better Megane because it is more suitable for daily use. It shares technology with it but solves the biggest criticism points: more space in the back and, above all, headroom, more cargo space and a higher charging power of 150 kilowatts (kW). While Megane E-Tech Electric targets mostly singles and couples, Scenic E-Tech Electric turns into a real electric family car.
Initially, there is a battery under the body with a net capacity of 87 kilowatt hours (kWh) for a range of around 620 kilometers: “Two hours of driving at motorway speeds, followed by a 30-minute charging break,” says Renault brand boss Fabrice Cambolive – What you do with kids in the car, even during loading breaks This is. Scenic charges from 15 percent to 80 percent in 38 minutes with a fast charger.
Lighter than expected
Drive is provided by a 218 hp (160 kW) engine without rare earth elements on the front axle; A 170 hp version with a smaller battery and a range of 425 kilometers will come later. So how does the Scenic drive? At 4.47 meters long, the five-seater is much lighter on the outside than expected. There’s no sudden acceleration like some other electric vehicles, but the Scenic starts up quickly and remains very quiet; You can also turn off artificially produced driving noise. The steering is precise, cornering is more dynamic than passengers would like, and the crossover barely moves forward into the corner. This is probably due to the relatively low weight: the Scenic is 300 kilograms lighter than, for example, the slightly longer Peugeot e-3008.
This is also remarkable in terms of consumption: on a quick test tour in Northern Denmark we reached 18.8 kWh per 100 kilometres. That’s two kilowatt hours more than the factory spec, but it’s perfectly acceptable for a car of this size. The advantage of recharging is the high charging capacity of AC chargers, usually found in city centres, which many home wall boxes also account for: yet not many electric vehicles can charge with 22 kilowatts. Scenic does not need electricity for heating; a heat pump provides this as standard.
More space, more light
Chief designer Gilles Vidal (51) describes the Scenic design idea as “popular”: That’s why there are daytime running lights in the shape of the Renault logo and eccentric wheels aimed at reducing consumption thanks to optimum aerodynamics and bright colours. At the front, you sit relatively low despite the 14 centimeter battery height, while at the back, the rear seats are mounted higher, like in the cinema. Although its height is four centimeters less than the previous model, there is much more space for heads than in the Megane E-Tech-Electric. The loading floor is not completely flat when the rear seats are folded, but it offers a volume suitable for families with a volume of 545 to 1670 liters. It’s a shame: Renault doesn’t have a good idea about the charging cable either; The cable is located in a compartment under the boot floor.
The cockpit already looks familiar from the Megane, including the upright touchscreen for infotainment. It takes some getting used to, as the digital image in the rearview mirror doesn’t quite fit the usual perspective. The sense of space is aided by a large panoramic glass roof that becomes electronically opaque rather than using a heavy mechanical sunshade: Polymer liquid crystals respond to applied voltage and turn the roof a milky color at the press of a button. Whether this will also keep the heat of the summer sun away remains to be tested.
Introduction to circular economy
However, Renault is taking the biggest step in the field of materials thanks to its entry into the circular economy. Examples: About 40 percent of the aluminum in the car is recycled, the interior contains 40 kilograms of recycled plastic, and the steering wheel contains a quarter of organic PVC and natural wool. And the interior is vegan, thanks to recycled materials from supplier Kvadrat (also produced for luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, among others). In the future, especially nickel, cobalt and lithium will be recycled; However, currently a significant portion of discarded electric car batteries are too small to be recycled.
The market launch of the new Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric is planned for spring. However, prices are not yet known. Considering the Megane E-Tech Electric’s base price starts at 40,000 francs, Blick suggests the Scenic will start at just under 45,000 francs.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
