Renault Kadjar Renaultsport to head hot SUV range

Renault has confirmed that it’s looking at hot versions of its SUV line-up, with the help of its Renaultsport performance arm and also Alliance partner Nissan’s Nismo tuning division.

Renaultsport versions of the Captur and Kadjar are expected soon, and our exclusive image shows how a Renault Kadjar Renaultsport could look.

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Speaking exclusively to Auto Express, Bruno Ancelin, executive vice president of product planning and programmes, said: “A Renaultsport SUV? Why not? SUVs are highly relevant in this kind of range. “We have made some prototypes and for SUVs we have no doubt that it works. Look to the competitors – many of them are doing that and it works. So it works for Captur and it works for the Nissan Juke.”

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Ancelin also hinted that closer ties between Renaultsport and Nismo could bring further hot models for both brands, telling us: “They have the Nismo, but they have no Micra Nismo, and we have the Renaultsport Clio.

“We are looking for synergies with Nismo – we could probably look to synergies to help each other. This is a key activity that we have inside the Alliance.”

Although no timescale was put on the arrival of Renaultsport SUVs, Ancelin hinted that it might not take too long, once a formal decision to go ahead is made. “Did we decide to do it? Up to now no, but time to market is not so long for having aRenaultsport version,” he said.

Renaultsport boss Patrice Ratti also spoke about future SUV models, telling us: “An SUV is part of what we’re looking at. What you see worldwide is that the SUV segment is going up, and there are some sporty SUVs that come from the high end.

“We’re still working on what a Renaultsport SUV would be and we need to answer that question very clearly. It’s difficult, but if you look at what Porsche has done with the Macan, it did a very good job.”

As the Captur and Kadjar share platform tech with Nissan’s Juke and Qashqai, we’d expect an RS Captur to make use of the Juke NISMO’s 197bhp 1.6-litre turbo, which could give a 0-62mph time of around 7.5 seconds.

Bruno Ancelin also confirmed Renault would be aiming to regain the front-wheel-drive production car lap record at Germany’s Nürburgring, currently held by the VW Golf GTI Clubsport S, with the new Mégane RS.

Should Renaultsport turn its hand to SUVs? Let us know in the comments section below...