Renault Filante: Geely-based flagship hybrid SUV revealed

The Renault Filante is a jazzed-up and stretched-out Koleos that will serve as Renault’s flagship model in many markets outside of Europe.

Measuring 4915mm long, 1890mm wide, 1635mm tall, and riding on a 2820mm wheelbase, the Filante shares the same wheelbase as the third-generation Koleos, which is sold as the Grand Koleos in South Korea, but is 135mm longer overall.

It is easily the largest vehicle in the global Renault range, eclipsing the 4.72m Espace in Europe and the 4.78m Grand Koleos. The Filante is only offered with seating for five, and its boot is said to be able to swallow 633 litres of stuff with the rear seats in use, or 2050L when they’re folded down.

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Like the Koleos, the Filante will be built in the former Renault Samsung factory in Busan, South Korea. As with its smaller sibling, the Filante will be sold in South Korea, the Middle East and parts of Latin America. In those regions it will serve as Renault’s flagship model.

While Renault Australia currently has two models from South Korea in its showrooms – the previous-generation Koleos and the Arkana – it has yet to confirm whether the Filante, new Koleos or any other future Geely-based models will be sold Down Under.

Compared to the Koleos, the Filante has a completely different exterior with softer surfacing, and a more distinctive side window design. It also features small headlights flanking an illuminated grille and Renault logo. The tail-light graphics when combined with the partially blacked-out tailgate on Esprit Alpine models (seen here) give the Filante more than a passing resemblance to the Ferrari Purosangue.

Inside, the Filante and Koleos share a lot more in common. The dashboard and door cards look to be the same, although the Filante is available with a wide of array of new trim, colour and pattern options, as well as a new steering wheel and classier-looking front and rear seats.

Ahead of the driver is a 12.3-inch instrumentation display and a 25.6-inch augmented-reality head up display. A 12.3-inch touchscreen resides in the centre of the dash, and alongside it is another for the front passenger’s exclusive use.

Available features include a fixed glass roof, Bose Premium 10-speaker sound system, digital smartphone key, over-the-air software updates, digital rear-view mirror, and remote control for the lights and interior temperature.

Safety features extend to autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, speed-limiter, lane keeping assist, a 360-degree camera system, and automated parking.

The Filante is powered exclusively by a hybrid drivetrain with a 110kW/250Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet, a 100kW/320Nm electric traction motor, and a 60kW/180Nm motor that starts the petrol engine and recharges the main 1.64kWh battery pack.

Tied together by a three-speed multi-mode transmission, the hybrid drivetrain makes a total of 184kW and 565Nm, and is expected to have a fuel economy rating of 4.6L/100km.

Underpinning the Filante is Geely’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which serves as the basis for a number of Geely and Lynk & Co models, as well as the Volvo C40, Volvo XC40 and Polestar 2.

The use of Geely platforms by Renault Korea, formerly known as Renault Samsung, stems from a partnership agreement signed by the two companies in 2022. Late last year, the automakers expanded their collaboration, and Renault will soon begin producing Geely-based models in Brazil too.

Geely owns 34 per cent of Renault Korea, while Geely and Renault each own 45 per cent of Horse Powertrain, the company that’s responsible for producing internal combustion engines, hybrid drivetrains and transmissions for both automakers.

Sales of the Filante begin in South Korea in March, with other countries to follow over the course of a year.

MORE: Explore the Renault showroom