Skip advert
Advertisement

'Renault is setting the scene for a new French revolution'

John McIlroy thinks Renault's electric car future looks promising

Opinion Renault EV

It's been 18 months since Renault launched its ‘Renaulution’ – a radical plan to turn around the company by lowering its costs, restructuring its range of cars and focusing on electrification. And last week the firm’s boss, Luca de Meo, revealed that most of the goals have been achieved at least a year ahead of schedule. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Now comes the next step. Renault is looking to double down on the C-segment – the mid-sized cars that so many of us buy. An all-electric Mégane will come first, but during last week’s financial results call, de Meo revealed that a reborn version of the Scénic is also on the way.

This is an intriguing move from the French brand, which has a strong history of coming up with novel people-carriers – first the Espace, which pretty much created the genre in Europe, and then the Scénic. De Meo was remaining tight-lipped on details, but he did say there’s no way the car is going to be a conventional, boxy MPV shape on top of an electric platform.

So it’s hard not to draw a connection between the Scénic plan and a teaser shot of a concept issued by Renault during the same presentation. It’s supposed to arrive in May and showcase sustainability, with a hydrogen-powered engine. But at the same time, de Meo said, “This concept will announce a future product.” Anyone want to take a guess which one?

The electric car market is still developing rapidly, but there’s no less desire and demand from consumers for space and carrying capacity than there was a decade ago. Renault could well tap into this, if it can harness the Scénic’s clever heritage and wrap it up in a modern design that’s relevant for today’s trends. 

De Meo told us, “I’m confident on what we’re doing with engineering and design, so all the projects look very good.” It’s going to be fascinating to see how that promise transfers to real metal in the years ahead. 

Check out the latest on Renault's upcoming electric 5 hatchback here...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2024, 2025 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2024, 2025 and beyond

These are the biggest and most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
6 Nov 2024
Renault Embleme: hydrogen range-extender to get “next-generation platform”
Renault Embleme concept - front

Renault Embleme: hydrogen range-extender to get “next-generation platform”

First look inside Renault’s future EV as CEO Luca de Meo calls it a “masterpiece”
News
31 Oct 2024
Viva la Renaulution! Out-going Renault UK boss reveals brand's future plan
Renault brand future feature with out-going Renault UK boss Guillaume Sicard

Viva la Renaulution! Out-going Renault UK boss reveals brand's future plan

Out-going UK boss discusses laying the foundations for Renaulution
Features
29 Oct 2024
Paris Motor Show 2024: full show round-up and all the exciting new cars
Paris Motor Show 2024 - header image

Paris Motor Show 2024: full show round-up and all the exciting new cars

The all-new Renault 4, MINI John Cooper Works and Dacia Bigster were among the models on display at this year’s Mondial de L’Auto
News
16 Oct 2024

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
Best used cars to buy 2024
Best used cars 2024

Best used cars to buy 2024

From city cars to large SUVs, here’s our annual pick of the star performers that’ll save you thousands when you buy them used instead of new
Best cars & vans
22 Nov 2024
Jaguar concept car teased further in new image
2024 Jaguar badge teaser image

Jaguar concept car teased further in new image

The all-electric concept promises to have bold styling and showcases polarising new logo
News
22 Nov 2024