New Renault Filante hybrid gives glimpse of future
Tue, 13 Jan 2026
- New flagship full-hybrid large SUV
- Aimed at Korean, Middle East and South America
- Not coming to UK, but expect to see its design and technology filter through
This is Renault's new flagship SUV, the Renault Filante. Designed for South Korea, the Middle East and South America, it won't be coming to the UK, but it does give us a solid indication of what we can expect from European Renaults in the future.
Named after the Etoile Filate, a land-speed record car from the 1950s, the Renault Filante will be built in South Korea and represents a global move upmarket for the Renault brand. It has a new design approach that blends (Renault says) the elegance of a saloon with the presence of an SUV, with scuplted body lines and a coupe-like rear profile.
Expect to see elements like the illuminated, 3D grille (inspired by Renault's diamond logo) make an appearance on future UK cars, as well as ultra-slim LED lights front and back.
Inside, the Renault Filante is more premium than we've seen from Renault in the past, with three 12.3-inch screens combing to form, what Renault calls, the OpenR Panorama Screen. There's a 25.6-inch augmented-reality head-up display and even an unusual in-car video game that uses the car's camera.
Other tech includes onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that lets you connect two phones at a time. There are three new driving assistance systems – an emergency collision avoidance system, a digital interior rear-view mirror and a child-presence detection feature that triggers an alert if you accidentally leave a child in the car.
The interior also has a new four-spoke steering wheel, as well as recycled textiles and a panoramic sunroof.
Power comes from a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 1.64kWh battery and two electric motors, producing 250PS and 565Nm of torque.
2026 Renault Filante price and release date
The new Renault Filante will launch in Korea this March, with releases in the Gulf states and South America planned for early 2027. There are no plans to bring it to the UK.
