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Renault Koleos Replacement First Official Photo Leaked

Renault Mid-Size SUV to Be Named Kilimandjaro or Kayak 1 photo
Photo: Renault
All will become clear tomorrow morning when Renault reveals the all-new flagship SUV model that will replace the Koleos. But for now, we are very excited to show you the first official photo.
It's common for one or even several photos of a new car to be leaked right before the debut. This image has been circulating on the Internet over the past couple of hours, and we see no reason why it wouldn't be "official." The headlights are our main clue since they perfectly match the official teaser from earlier today.

The design language is the same as the Talisman sedan and wagon, which does not surprise us. The headlights are connected in the middle by a trademark Renault grille and badge, while the daytime running lights resemble the letter J.

This is going to be so much more than a bigger version of the Kadjar, as the interior quality will surpass its little brother. Renault also has several advanced technologies that the Nissan X-Trail sister car lacks. These include a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox and rear-wheel steering.

The new SUV will have a crucial job of replacing the Koleos, which is especially important in China. However, all the engines will be tailored to meet the stringent European emissions regulations. That means you can say goodbye to large displacements and hello to the 1.6-liter turbo that will dominate the range.

The only major unknown is the name. While the car websites from across Europe have continued to call this SUV "Maxthon," we've cut against the grain today. According to our research, Renault does not have the right to use that name but has trademarked Kilimanjaro and Kayak. Both start with the letter K, thus fitting the French carmaker's MO perfectly.

Like we said already, everything will be revealed tomorrow, when we will say "we told you so" or have a thin slice of humble pie.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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