Beijing show: New Renault Koleos revealed

FRENCH car-maker Renault has ripped the covers from its new Koleos mid-size SUV ahead of next week’s official unveiling at the Beijing motor show, ahead of a late-2016 debut to the Australian market.

The video reveal comes amidst a series of leaks exposing the undisguised crossover and shows a mid-size SUV very similar in appearance to GoAuto’s artist rendering from earlier this month.

The new Koleos features a similar front-end to the European- and South Korean-only Renault Talisman, with a prominent company logo centred in a large grille, and comparable headlight designs with drop down ‘L’ shaped daytime running lights (DRLs).

While specification details are as yet unavailable, the company has already confirmed to GoAuto that the new Koleos will be bigger and better equipped with no increase in price.

The current Koleos range kicks off at $29,500 before on-road costs for the entry-level 2.5-litre petrol-powered front-drive Expression, and tops out with the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel all-wheel-drive Bose Premium for $43,500.

According to Renault, the new Koleos will provide “a refined, comfortable interior with ample room for passengers” and features “all-terrain ability and agility, while ensuring excellent ride, handing and stability”.

The official release also mentions that “the new Koleos is designed and engineered with global appeal to play a part in boosting Renault’s international growth, including in China where Renault opened a plant in Wuhan earlier this year”.

It is expected that Renault will introduce the new Koleos into the local market later this year as a five-seat mid-size SUV, ahead of a seven-seat option that will be available after the initial launch.

More information is expected next week when Renault chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn will officially take the wraps off the new range addition at the Beijing motor show.

The new SUV is also expected to reignite sales for Renault as the French car company has sold just 173 Koleos units in the first quarter of this year, a 35.4 per cent drop over the same period last year.

Renault finished last year with a total of 1419 Koleos’ sold, making it the company’s fourth best-selling passenger model behind the Clio (2767), Captur (1614) and Megane (1426).