Captur — the new Renault cross-over

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — TC Euro Cars, the local distributors for the Renault brand today previewed the new Renault Captur, an urban cross-over built on the Renault Clio platform.

With jazzy colours to capture the hearts of the young, the new model comes in the wake of a flurry of cross-over introductions as a result of a global gravitation towards SUV’s.

A cross-over vehicle is usually based on a passenger car, but beefed up to near-SUV specifications, made to ‘bridge’ the gap for people moving onto SUV’s from a normal passenger car.

Cross-overs usually have a higher seating position that is higher than that of a normal passenger car, but lower than that of a SUV; drive-trains usually are two-wheel drive, but some are offered as all-wheel drive.

Whilst a move from a car to an SUV can be seen as rather ‘intimidating’ for some people, the cross-over is a middle-of-the-road alternative.

Other ‘cross-over’ vehicles available currently in the Malaysian market include the Ford EcoSport and Honda HR-V, both launched within the last 12 months.

Having said that, In the last half decade or so, there has been a move by auto makers to ‘soften’ up their SUV’s and 4WD vehicles with more ‘car-like’ features; thus, with the SUV’s moving towards being more car-like, and the cars moving towards being more suv-like, and as auto makers start offering dual drive trains, cross-overs will eventually just blend into being just smaller SUV’s.

Back to the Captur, whilst it is Clio-based (B-segment vehicle), it carries a new 1.2 litre turbo-charged engine producing 120 horsepower at 4,900 rpm, and 190 Nm of torque.

The power output is the equivalent of a traditional 1.8 litre engine, and is part of Renault’s engine ‘down-sizing’ exercises, something also happening globally in the search for higher fuel efficiencies and lowering the carbon footprint.

Fuel consumption is rated as 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres – remember that this is a NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) rating and whilst it is a standard for comparing fuel efficiencies across brands based on a single standard, actual individual achievements on a daily use basis may differ.

Drive is to the front wheels through a 6-speed dual clutch transmission; the engine and transmission controls also feature an ECO mode that automatically restricts engine torque, gear change mapping and climate control when activated.

Speaking at the preview recently, Kuan Kim Luen, CEO of TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd said,:“Compact on the outside, yet spacious and versatile on the inside, Renault turns the crossover into a car for everyday use.

“It is particularly suited for today’s modern men and women, whose expectations are varied and demanding such as being parents, spouses and professionals driven by career and life goals.

“Few individuals have as many lives in one.

“Yet Renault Captur rises to the challenge thrown at it by these multi-faceted men and women, allowing them to ‘Capture Life’, with strong arguments in terms of design, technology and safety.”

The preview models come with a great lit of features and specifications  — four airbags, ESC with Roll movement Intervention, Hill Start Assist, ABS and EBA.

What was on show today was the first three units brought into the country, and first deliveries are expected in 4^th Quarter 2015 if you order now.

Prices are estimated at RM118,000 to RM123,000.

For the public, Renault shall be holding previews at selected showrooms during the month of August.