Renault has previewed the Symbioz, a new part-electric compact CUV expected to debut this spring.
The images show a rather boxy exterior aesthetic with many sharp edges and acute angles. A curved tailgate and a short quarter-panel window make the rear end look longer than it actually is. A peek inside reveals front seats with fixes headrests, a vertical infotainment display and a giant panoramic glass roof.
The whole car is 4,410 mm (172.3 inches) long. Rather than basing it on its larger and most up-to-date platform known as the CMF-C/D, Renault opted for the more basic and affordable CMF-B. On the upside, the car should weigh under 1,500 kg (3,300 lbs).
A 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood will unite efforts with two electric motors for a combined output of 145 PS (143 hp / 107 kW). A 1.2-kWh battery will receive its power from regenerative braking and the main engine, but you won’t be able to charge it up manually.
When it reaches the market, the Renault Symbioz will slot in between the company’s Captur and Austral models. The three vehicles are similarly sized and offer more or less the same features, but the automaker believes their target audiences are different and large enough not to worry about any model cannibalizing the sales of any other.