► Renault confirms new SUV
► Unusual name: Kadjar!
► Due on sale late 2015
Renault today confirmed its new mid-sized crossover would be called the Kadjar. It’s the French firm’s version of sister brand Nissan’s Qashqai, one of the most successful new model launches in the past decade.
Paris says this is its first C-segment SUV, neatly airbrushing the unsuccessful Koleos of 2008 from company records.
Expect to see the Renault Kadjar on sale by the end of 2015, slotting above the Captur junior SUV.
What on earth does Kadjar mean?
Not much to these ears. It’s a sign that most normal-sounding names have been trademarked and manufacturers are increasingly having to invent words that work globally and chime with their brand values. No easy task…
Perhaps it’s best if we let Renault explain its thinking behind the new badge.
‘The name Kadjar is built around Kad and Jar,’ says today’s statement. ‘Kad is inspired by “quad” – representing a go-anywhere four-wheeled vehicle and Jar recalls the French words “agile” and “jaillir,” representing agility and suddenly emerging from somewhere.
‘The sound and spelling of the name have an exotic feel which suggests adventure and discovering new horizons. The initial letter ‘K’ is indicative of the model’s robustness and the Kadjar fits seamlessly with Renault’s existing B-segment crossover – Captur.’
So that’s cleared that one up.
When will we see the Renault Kadjar properly?
A Geneva motor show debut is planned for Renault’s new SUV and it will release the first photographs and specs of the Kadjar on 2 February 2015.
Expect it to offer a similar footprint and engine line-up to Nissan’s Qashqai. The two share the same Common Module Family (CMF) platform architecture, pointing to a choice of front- and four-wheel drive.
The UK isn’t taking the more crossover-ified new 2015 Espace; our right-hand drive market will instead focus on the smaller Captur crossover and the new Kadjar SUV.