Arkana under consideration for NZ

 Renault here says it is studying factory’s new compact coupe-styled SUV.

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“YES, we are considering Renault Arkana but no decision has been made yet.” 

This from Renault New Zealand’s communications person, Kimberley Waters, in response to whether the French brand’s coupe-shaped compact sports utility might also show locally now that it has just been made available in Australia. 

Pitched as an indirect replacement for the Kadjar, and a step below the Koleos, the model will avail to our neighbours in three variants, spanning two trim levels already familiar in the local brand lingo – Zen and Intens – plus a new configuration, R.S. Line, that lends a sporty ambience.

The respective prices for these are $A33,990 – which works out as $35,460 in NZ dollars on today’s rate - $A37,490 ($NZ39,100) and $A40,990 ($NZ42,760). 

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All are powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 115kW and 262Nm, this sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

Zen and Intens are on sale across the water from this week. RS Line joins the fray in January.

Standard equipment includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, black leatherette upholstery, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, climate control, and front, side and rear parking sensors. 

Active safety aids include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and Easy Park Assist. The car has a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The Intens adds a larger 9.3-inch central touchscreen, satellite navigation, a 7.0-inch driver display, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather and suede upholstery, rear cross-traffic alert, and electric front seats with heating and ventilation.

R.S. Line has all that and adds a sportier exterior styling with a unique front bumper and black and grey trim. The interior features dedicated leather and suede upholstery with red stitching, red-striped seat belts, a perforated leather steering wheel, carbon-effect trim for the dashboard, aluminium pedals and a frameless rear-view mirror.

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It also includes wireless smartphone charging, unique 18-inch wheels with red accents, a sunroof, black leather and suede upholstery with red stitching, and rear privacy glass.

Combined claimed fuel economy is rated at 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres. Intens and R-Line have Eco, Sport and My Sense drive modes.

In Europe Arkana also comes with a hybrid drivetrain comprising a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors and a 1.2kWh battery pack, for a combined output of 106kW. The extra electrical assistance also improves the SUV’s fuel economy up to a claimed 4.9 litres per 100km.

Arkana is built on the CMF-B platform that the Clio and Captur base on and it shares elements of both of those cars’ designs. The front end features the same C-shaped daytime running lights and radiator grille as the Clio, while the SUV’s glasshouse and ride height bear resemblance to the Captur.

The Arkana’s boot has a capacity of 513 litres and Renault has also added a couple of practicality tweaks, such as a flat-folding rear bench seat, a 360-degree parking camera and large front door pockets which can accommodate 1.5-litre water bottles.

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