First look: Renault heads off-road with Egeus

RENAULT has previewed its four-wheel drive future by revealing a concept dubbed Egeus ahead of its debut appearance at the Frankfurt motor show next month.

Rather than producing another Megane-based all-wheel drive derivative in the vein of the previous Scenic RX4 derivative, it’s believed the Egeus light-duty AWD borrows its underpinnings from sister brand Nissan.

Described at a high-end luxury 4WD with saloon styling, Egeus claims to offer sedan-like interior space with coupe-like handling.

Apart from blue leather trim and 22-inch wheels, Egeus features a number of interior innovations. Wraparound front seats pivot outwards and can be lowered 70mm to improve access, as do the rear-hinged doors and absent centre pillar.

The boot features a split-level opening, comprising a lift-up top and a motorised, drop-down lower section with adjustable-height sliding tray.

Flush-fit side doorhandles include an optical sensor that detects an approaching hand and pushes the handle out a few centimetres.

The GPS navigation system calculates the recommended speed, which is then shown in the centre of the speedometer dial. LED diodes flash to alert drivers if they go over this speed.

In off-road mode, an indicator on the instrument panel is automatically activated to show the car's attitude and alert the driver if there is any risk of rollover.

Measuring 4700mm long, 1920mm wide, 1660mm high and riding on a 2900mm wheelbase, Egeus weighs 1950kg and is powered by a longitudinal 184kW 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, mated to a seven-speed flick-shift auto and a fully automatic 4WD system.