Renault Rafale plug-in hybrid now available to order

Renault has confirmed pricing for the Rafale plug-in hybrid, which is available to order now.

Based on the car maker's existing 200PS 1.2-litre E-Tech hybrid engine, used in the Austral and Rafale, the new unit has 300PS and all-wheel-drive.

Pricing starts at £45,695, for the new plug-in hybrid, which attracts an 8% benefit-in-kind tax rate.

The Rafale competes with the Audi Q5 Sportback as well as the surge of upmarket entrants from other French brands, including the Citroen C5 X and Peugeot 408.

A 22kWh battery enables a zero-emission driving range of 65 miles. The official WLTP fuel consumption figure is 564mpg and Renault claims the car can achieve almost 50mpg with a depleted battery.

The combustion engine is combined with three electric motors. The main electric motor drives the front wheels, while the second powers the rear axle. The third motor assists the petrol engine and also acts as a generator to replenish the battery.

When full power is deployed, the Rafale E-Tech 4x4 can accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds. 

A 7.4kW on-board charger allows the battery to be recharged from a home wallbox in less than three hours.

Two trim levels will be offered: Techno Esprit Alpine and Atelier Alpine. The latter is priced from £49,695 and comes equipped with a new self-adjusting suspension system that uses a forward facing camera to analyse the road ahead and alter the damping to accomodate imperfections such as potholes or speedbumps.