Production Version of Renault Koleos Concept SUV Spotted

Spy shots of what is thought to be the next-generation Nissan Murano has turned out to be a test mule for the production version of Renault’s Koleos concept SUV.

It can be remembered that it was at the 2006 Paris Motor Show where Renault has chosen to unveil its Koleos Concept. This concept SUV foreshadows a 4WD vehicle which Renault plans of launching in the first half of 2008.

The new Renault SUV will borrow technology from the Nissan Qashqai and will be produced by Samsung at a plant in South Korea. A portion of the car’s development was administered by teams in Asia where a rebadge version of the new SUV is to be offered under the brand Samsung QMX.

The 4WD system which is claimed to be capable of sending 100 percent of torque to the rear wheels in case it detects any slip is to be provided by Nissan for the Koleos.

As a genuine off-roader, the new Koleos will be equipped with safety features such as the Hill Down Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist (HAS) and will be given a ground clearance of 200mm with front and rear aluminum protective skid plates.

And as part of Renault’s plan to further boost its lineup upscale, the base models of the Koleos are likely to feature 19in wheels and 180hp 2.0L diesel engine.

Feature of Koleos SUV includes the following:

• Driving dynamics
• Seating for four
• 2.0 dCi common rail turbo diesel engine
• 6-speed manual transmission
• Gauges for atmospheric pressure, altitude and gradient (stress the adventurous nature of the vehicle)
• Electronic traction control
• LED backlighting, navigation, and a panoramic glass roof
• New four-wheel drive chassis
• LED headlamps, with additional lights and indicators in the exterior mirrors
• Body strips (between the body sides and the roof) reinforce the stance of the car
• The glazed roof panel topped by profiled aluminum roof bars
• The chunky wheel arches house 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels fitted with "concept pattern" tyres
• Steeply raked rear window (emphasizes Koleos Concept's dynamic feel)
• Twin exhaust tailpipe incorporated into the rear bumper
• Aluminum door sill extensions (deploy when the doors are open facilitate ingress)
• Two-tone color scheme sporty interior
• Beige leather seats
• Centre console is made from a transparent material and contains the individual controls for the climate control system
• Navigation system, multimedia applications and specific data useful for all-terrain motoring
• Ample headroom and shoulder room (enable to seat four adults, whatever their physique)
• Numerous stowage compartments
• Split-opening tailgate (makes the vehicle easy to load and easy to access in cramped parking spaces)
• The lower part of the hatch (designed to enable two people to sit comfortably for picnics or for open-air activities during holidays or weekend excursions)
• ABS, Emergency Brake Assist and ESP
• To minimize polluting emissions, the 2.0 dCi is equipped with a periodic regeneration particulate filter
• Six-speed manual gearbox that gives Koleos Concept touring car level driving pleasure

Technical Characteristics

Dimensions, Transmission and Power train
Overall length 4,520mm
Width (excluding exterior mirrors) 1,890mm
Height 1,700mm
Four-cylinder 2.0-litre 16-valve turbocharged diesel engine with particulate filter, Euro4-compliant
Maximum power: 130kW/180hp
Six-speed manual gearbox
Four-wheel drive, transversely-positioned front-mounted engine
Electronic traction control as a function of available grip (front/rear split from 0 to 100 per cent)
19-inch wheels
Hankook 255/50 R19 tyres