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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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The sleek new Renault Rafale
Sunny Seville, is it ever any other way, was the location for the European launch of the new Renault Rafale. It is their flagship SUV in the range.
There are now seven SUVs in the Renault family starting with the Captur, the Arkana, the Symbioz (coming soon), the Austral, the Scenic (coming soon), the Espace (a pioneer remember) and now the Rafale.
There seems to be no let up in the appetite of buyers for the up high driving position afforded by these vehicles and Renault are keen to keep you as a customer with an offering for all tastes and requirements.
Renault has a busy schedule of launches on the horizon as well with new R5's and R4's on the way.
The Rafale is a 5 seater SUV Coupe and in Ireland we will be getting two models.
A 200 hp E-Tech hybrid model and a 300hp 4wd E-Tech version (petrol/plug-in hybrid) arriving in Autumn 2024. Two trims are initially available, Techno and Esprit Alpine, with prices starting at €51,495.
The name was inspired by the Caudron-Renault Rafale competition aeroplane that we were lucky to stop off and see on one of the planned routes Renault devised to show off the car’s ability. An opportunity for the protege to meet the inspiration.
Initial impressions are very good. There was a runway beside the plane and we needed little encouragement to see how the Rafale performed.
I floored it but made a rookie mistake and forgot to select Sport mode.
Still, it picked up speed quickly enough but I just wished the runway was a bit longer.
With all the warnings and speed restrictions these days it was nice to be let off the lead for a change.
The Rafale is designed around passenger comfort and then filled to the gunnels with technology and features.
Away from the airstrip we took in a lot of undulating, twisty roads and the car handles like a dream.
The Rafale is a premium offering and compared to the opposition the pricing is attractive but north of €50k is still quite a lot of change to find.
A full review of the Rafale will be coming soon to Louth Live/Dundalk Democrat Motoring.
Bó Studios Gallery in Dundalk open every Saturday to the public
The Leinster Strign Quartet will perform at the festival
Cllr Sionainn McCann
Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault at Seatown
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