Concept previews an all-new Renault Scenic electric SUV, with a range-extending hydrogen generator and a high-tech interior...
On sale 2024 | Price from £38,000 (est)
If you’re a fan of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, the upcoming, reborn Renault Scenic is the car for you. See, the Scenic’s interior is lined with light-splitting materials that create an effect similar to that album’s cover art. But to prevent itself from being just another brick in the electric SUV wall, the Scenic is distinguished by being a hydrogen-powered range extender. In other words, it’s electrically powered, but not as we know it.
That futuristic set-up allows it to cover around 500 miles between top-ups – around 190 miles farther than rivals such as the pure electric Nissan Ariya can manage. That’s thanks to the Scenic’s combination of a 40kWh battery (which can be recharged by plugging it in, as with other electric cars) and a 15kW hydrogen fuel cell; the latter generates electricity to keep the batteries topped up on the move.
Renault hasn’t clarified how far the Scenic can go on battery power when the hydrogen tank is empty, but the smaller Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric can cover 186 miles between recharges with a battery of the same size.
Cheaper versions without the fuel cell will also be available. The 40kWh battery will remain in the entry-level car, but the 60kWh unit from the Mégane is also likely to be offered, yielding a range of around 280 miles. Regardless of which one you go for, power is provided by a 215bhp electric motor.
From the outside, the Scenic Vision concept car is striking, with angular creases and triangular motifs throughout. At 4.5m long, 1.9m wide and 1.59m tall, its footprint is comparable with that of family SUVs such as the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. Its rear-hinged rear doors open backwards, like those on the Mazda MX-30, but these might be changed for conventional doors on the version you’ll be able to buy.
Likewise, while the concept features four individual seats, it’s likely that the production model will change to a more conventional five-seat layout.
Screens feature prominently, with infotainment being provided through a transparent display spanning the width of the dashboard – although how it’s controlled is unclear. Ten square ‘widget’ touchscreens are distributed around the interior, with six around the steering wheel; these allow you to display important information such as range, navigation and music in a layout of your preference.
Prices are likely to begin at around £38,000 for a 40kWh version without the hydrogen range extender – slightly more than an equivalent Mégane. This could increase to £40,000 for a 60kWh model, and to £50,000 for the hydrogen fuel cell version, in line with the similarly powered Toyota Mirai.
Keyword: 2024 Renault Scenic electric car revealed: price, specs and release date