Renault has surprised with the announcement of a new launch: the Symbioz, a compact SUV that it will unveil in spring and that inherits the name of the prototype presented at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (hence some of our readers may be familiar with the idea). denomination).

For now, the French brand has only provided several images of the car in the dark and some basic information. We will have to wait a little longer to see the car in all its splendor and get to know it in depth.

At the moment, we know that it measures 441 centimeters, so it will be above the Captur (421 cm) and below its SUV range brothers, the Austral (451 cm) and the Arkana (4.56m). Despite this compact size, Renault ensures that it has everything to satisfy families, with generous interior space and large cargo volume. To increase the feeling of space in the cabin, it mounts the well-known Solarbay panoramic glass roof, which can be completely or partially darkened without the need for a curtain; You just have to press a button or give the command by voice, thanks to the Google Assistant.

On a mechanical level, at least for now, the Symbioz will not have an electric or plug-in hybrid version. The 145 HP E-Tech full hybrid engine that is already fitted to other models in the brand’s catalog will be marketed. This propulsion system combined with a low vehicle weight (1,500 kilograms) contributes to reducing fuel consumption and improving the driving experience. In addition, being a self-charging hybrid variant, it enjoys the advantages of the DGT Eco label.

As we indicated at the beginning, the name of the new model had already been used previously. He was chosen by the brand to name a concept car that he exhibited at the now defunct German fair. In that case, it was a futuristic car that was intended to be a kind of living room as an extension of the house – it was even made with materials such as felt, wood, fine marble or porcelain.

The brand built a demonstration unit, equipped with a 500 kW electric propulsion system and a maximum torque of 660 Nm. Its range exceeded 500 km and 80% of the capacity of the 72 kWh batteries was recharged in just 20 minutes. In addition, it had level 4 autonomous driving technologies.

Obviously, Renault’s next launch has little to do with this prototype, from which it remains to be seen if it will inherit any design features. When it hits the market, the Symbioz will be a rival to models such as the Hyundai Kona, the Mazda CX-30, the Nissan Qashqai, the Peugeot 3008, the Seat Ateca or the Škoda Karoq.