The Renault Filante is a beefed up and stretched Koleos that will serve as Renault’s flagship model in many markets outside of Europe.
Measuring 4915mm long, 1890mm wide, 1635mm high and 2820mm wheelbase, the Filante shares the same wheelbase as the third-generation Koleos, sold in South Korea as the Grand Koleos, but is 135mm longer overall.
It is by far the largest vehicle in Renault’s global range, surpassing the 4.72m Espace in Europe and the 4.78m Grand Koleos. The Filante is only offered with seating for five people, and its trunk is said to be able to hold 633 liters with the rear seats in use or 2050 liters with the rear seats folded down.
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Like the Koleos, the Filante is built at the former Renault-Samsung factory in Busan, South Korea. Like its smaller brother, the Filante is sold in South Korea, the Middle East and parts of Latin America. It will serve as Renault’s flagship model in these regions.
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 other future Geely-based models will be sold Down Under.
Compared to the Koleos, the Filante has a completely different exterior with a softer surface and a more distinctive side window design. It also features small headlights flanking an illuminated grille and the Renault logo. The taillight graphics, combined with the partially blacked-out tailgate of the Esprit Alpine models (seen here), give the Filante more than a passing resemblance to the Ferrari Purosangue.
Inside, Filante and Koleos have a lot more in common. The dashboard and door panels appear to be the same, although the Filante is available with a wide range of new trim, color and pattern options, as well as a new steering wheel and classier-looking front and rear seats.
In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch instrument display and a 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display. There is a 12.3-inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard and another one next to it that is reserved exclusively for the front passenger.
Available features include a fixed glass roof, a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system, a digital smartphone key, over-the-air software updates, a digital rearview mirror, and remote control for lights and interior temperature.
Safety features include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, speed limiter, lane departure warning, 360-degree camera system and automatic parking.
The Filante is powered exclusively by a hybrid powertrain with a 1.5-litre 110kW/250Nm four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine under the bonnet, a 100kW/320Nm electric traction motor and a 60kW/180Nm motor that starts the petrol engine and charges the 1.64kWh main battery.
The hybrid powertrain, linked by a three-speed multi-mode transmission, produces a total of 184kW and 565Nm and is claimed to have fuel consumption of 4.6L/100km.
The Filante is based on Geely’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which serves as the basis for a range of Geely and Lynk & Co models as well as the Volvo C40, Volvo XC40 and Polestar 2.
Renault Korea’s use of Geely platforms, formerly known as Renault Samsung, dates back to a partnership agreement the two companies signed in 2022. Late last year, the automakers expanded their collaboration and Renault will soon begin producing Geely-based models in Brazil.
Geely owns 34 percent of Renault Korea, while Geely and Renault each own 45 percent of Horse Powertrain, the company responsible for producing internal combustion engines, hybrid powertrains and transmissions for both automakers.
Sales of the Filante will begin in South Korea in March, with other countries expected to follow over the course of a year.
MORE: Discover the Renault showroom
