Renault has teased its upmarket coupé-SUV, intended to provide a “standard setter” in the sector when it arrives at the end of 2023.

The Rafale will make its world premiere at the Paris Air Show on 18 June

Sitting above the existing Arkana coupé-SUV, the brand’s upcoming flagship will be based on the same CMF-CD platform as the Austral SUV due this summer, boosting Renault’s offensive in the D-segment.

It’s dubbed Rafale; inspired by the carmaker’s history as an aircraft engine manufacturer in the 1930s and taken from its racing plane from 1934.

Sylvia Dos Santos, head of naming strategy, Renault global marketing department, explained: “Few people are aware that the name ‘Rafale’ belongs to Renault and is part of the brand’s history. Today, we are using it to name a vehicle for the very first time.”

Rafale is a term for a force of nature and is linked to aerodynamics and efficiency. Applied to the new model, the semantics are intended to reflect that it’s a “breath of fresh air” and to connect with the camouflaged silhouette, “which instantly conjures up visions of performance, daring, excitement and character”.

“The name ‘Rafale’ immediately brings to mind technology, performance and a sense of daring, as well as driving pleasure and agility,” continued Dos Santos. “It is a thoroughly meaningful name that draws on our history while perfectly evoking the positioning of our future upmarket SUV coupe. I am sure that a promising future awaits Rafale, alongside the other vehicles in the Renault range.”

The teaser image reveals a rakish design while Renault has revealed it will complete the brand’s line-up powered by E-Tech hybrid engines and built on the CMF-CD platform; as such, it won’t be offered in fully electric guise.

There’s no news on specification details yet but in the UK, the Austral is being offered solely in full hybrid guise, teaming up a 1.2-litre petrol engine, motor and a 1.7kWh lithium-ion battery, generating 200hp while achieving up to 60.1mpg on the combined WLTP cycle, with emissions from 105g/km of CO2 and an electric-only mode for city driving.

Fittingly, the Rafale will make its world premiere at the Paris Air Show on 18 June.