The Captur crossover SUV to demonstrate Renault’s new design strategy.

Visually boasting a flowing and athletic body language, it expresses the idea of two people exploring the world. Despite its bluff oversized styling, the Captur has a small, twin-turbo engine for driving fun, enjoyable performance and low CO2 emissions. It displays powerful and muscular all-terrain cues. As was the case with DeZir, angles, corners and lines have given way to sensuous, natural forms. For the exterior designer, Julio Lozano, the chief sources of inspiration were athletes and radical sports. The design also references equipment such as helmets, gloves and other protective gear used in radical sports, combining high technology with sophistication and lightness. The Captur is also designed to be a practical and versatile vehicle. It is fitted with a hard convertible roof which, once removed, reveals a carbon fibre framework. The car can thus transform itself from a coupé to a convertible, from an urban vehicle to an off-roader, while its overall sporty appeal is reinforced by its butterfly doors and large tyres fitted to 22-inch black and white rims, the design of which is echoed along the body sides. The rear of the vehicle is a multipurpose area where the deck is lined with three layers of rope. The stretched cords are laid out in a way that allows items to be secured safely, thus providing a reconfigurable storage area. They also provide an opportunity for relaxation thanks to the supple elasticity of the structure. This is an entirely new type of comfort, a new form of seating akin to a hammock. Underneath the bonnet, the Captur makes use of a twin-turbo engine-concept, developed from the new 1.6 dCi, Energy dCi 130. Downsizing is a key element in Renault’s strategy with regard to CO2 emissions. The range of electric vehicles will run alongside internal-combustion engined models that combine performance with contained fuel consumption. This Energy dCi Concept engine fits perfectly within this strategy. It produces 160hp from a capacity of 1.6 litres – that’s a specific power output of 100hp per litre, which is comparable with that of engines such as the one under the bonnet of Clio Renaultsport. Peak torque (380Nm) is available from as low as 1,750rpm, giving powerful acceleration from low revs, as well as refined performance under all driving conditions. Paired with a dual clutch EDC gearbox, this driveline promises genuinely enjoyable driving with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.