A high-ranking Renault Sport executive has described the Koleos as a “big fat SUV that sells okay” in France.
Speaking to CarAdvice, Jean Calcat, who holds the position of Renault Sport general manager of sales, said the Boulogne-Billancourt-based automaker was still closely examining the option of building high-performance SUVs bearing the RS badge.
“That’s particularly relevant in markets like Australia, where Renault’s number one selling vehicle is its mid-size SUV, the Koleos,” Calcat told the publication.
“That’s the complete opposite scenario that we have in France, where the Koleos is a big fat SUV that sells okay, but nothing like the numbers we do in Clio and Mégane.”
The Koleos is likely to be launched in South Africa in the near future, with the local arm of the French brand having seemingly opted for this model over the facelifted Kadjar.
Calcat hinted that RS-fettled crossovers would likely focus on handling over outright engine performance, although suggested even this would be tricky with vehicles such as the Koleos.
“Of course, that becomes a big challenge for us because at the very heart of Renault Sport DNA is everything handling and roadholding, which is where we really thrive as a company.
“Don’t get me wrong, we think we build very good engines, but probably no better than our main rivals in this segment. But when it comes to chassis and dynamics, we think we’re number one.”
