Renault Filante Soon Debuts in South Korea, Ready to Become a New Staple

Teaser of Renault Filante. (Photo: Renault Korea)

JAKARTA - Renault is not a newcomer in the South Korean automotive market, and now the brand is confirmed to add to its portfolio with the launch of a new crossover. Based on a report from Carscoops, quoted Tuesday, January 6, the crossover will make its debut in South Korea on January 13, positioned as a flagship offering for markets outside Europe. Named Filante, this car is part of a broader effort to strengthen the brand's presence. Renault says this model is one level above the Austral, Espace, and Rafale marketed in European markets. Head of Naming Renault, Sylvia Dos Santos, said the name Filante was chosen because it evokes many interesting impressions, and reflects the elegant design of the model. The name is taken from the historic Etoile Filante, a record-breaking car in 1956, as well as the Filante Record concept. However, unlike the one-seater experiment, the production version of Filante takes a more practical form as a five-door SUV. The teaser hints at a distinctive design, with LED elements integrated into the front bumper, a curved aerodynamic roof line, and a muscular rear shoulder.

Renault has not revealed its interior, but promises a cabin focused on passenger comfort and cutting-edge technology, which is indeed the weapon of many manufacturers. This new crossover will be produced in Busan, South Korea. The same factory is also the place of production of the Renault Grand Koleos, which was introduced in 2024 based on the Geely Xingyue L. Technical specifications have not been revealed, but the Filante will likely use the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), which is used jointly by several Geely, Volvo, and Polestar models. This platform supports internal combustion engines, hybrids and fully electric configurations, so there is room for a diverse range of powertrains. The new model will be launched first in the South Korean market before expanding to other regions.