New small crossover gets Renault Clio styling and engines, and will be aiming for sales success to match the Nissan Juke
Renault has turned to the Clio for styling inspiration for its new compact crossover, the Captur. The Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008 rival will get a Geneva motor show unveil in March and UK launch in late spring.
The Captur takes its name from a radically styled concept car that starred at the 2011 Geneva show. The ethos and name of the concept carry over to production, rather than any radical features such as the concept’s scissor doors.
The looks of the Captur are familiar though from the Clio, featuring the new fourth-generation supermini’s bold front-end and sculpted side surfaces. However, Renault says the Captur is a model its own right distinct from the Clio, and will be sold and marketed separately from the staple supermini.
Underpinning the front-drive Captur is Renault-Nissan’s familiar ‘B’ platform, which underpins a whole host of models as diverse as the Renault Clio and Nissan Juke.
At 4120mm in length, the Captur is just 15mm shorter than a Juke. Despite the close relationship in size and underpinnings between the pair of small crossovers, they have been engineered apart from each other and are built in separate factories.
But one part of the Juke Renault will be hoping to replicate is the smash hit sales success the Nissan has been in the booming small crossover segment. Renault hopes it will be bringing something unique to the segment by offering a high-level of customisation for both the exterior and interior.
All the now familiar class hallmarks are evident with the Captur: body cladding, raised ground clearance and a raised driving position.
Engines will be borrowed from the Clio, and will include the latest 89bhp 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol and 89bhp 1.5-litre turbodiesel units CO2 emissions will be as low as 96g/km in the diesel, while fuel economy is claimed to be best in class.