Renault unveiled its largest hybrid crossover of the HEV type in South Korea, the Renault Filante. It was developed in partnership with Chinese company Geely. The model features a hybrid system with 247 horsepower and starts at 43,319,000 Korean won, approximately 29,390 USD (in South Korea). Deliveries are expected to begin in March 2026. It is also anticipated to launch in other countries outside Europe, such as the Middle East.
"Filante" represents a strategic step for Geely to expand its influence through partnerships, particularly in markets like the Middle East where hybrids compete strongly with BYD, Toyota, and others. With its attractive specs and competitive price, it may achieve success similar to "Grand Koleos" in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Renault Grand Koleos has achieved notable success in the Middle East since its launch as the first car jointly developed with Geely, with initial shipments to the region in March 2025 ahead of its full official entry. It is expected to launch in the UAE market by mid-2026 at a starting price of around 160,000 AED, making it a competitive option in the mid-size crossover segment thanks to its advanced technologies and strong performance. This success supports Renault's regional plans to expand exports to the Middle East as part of its global strategy, focusing on turbo engines suited to local roads.koreatimes+2
Details of Renault Filante
Filante measures 4915 cm in length, 1890 cm in width, and 1635 cm in height, making it the largest car in Renault's lineup. Its design features a frameless front grille, sporty bumpers, and modern LED lighting. The car is available in beautiful modern colors like Satin Universe White, Satin Forest Black, and Urban Gray.
Unlike "Grand Koleos," there is no direct Geely twin for Renault Filante, but its interior resembles Geely Monjaro's. The interior includes a sophisticated dashboard with advanced screens: three 12.3-inch displays, one dedicated to the front passenger, plus a 25.6-inch AR-HUD heads-up display.
According to Renault Korea officials, the Renault Filante supports an AI-powered voice assistant, active noise cancellation, and a driving assistance system including emergency steering. Despite its 4.9-meter length, it has only two rows of seats, with a trunk capacity of 633 liters (2050 liters with rear seats folded).
Chassis and Engine in Renault Filante
Renault Filante relies on Geely's CMA platform, which supports cars like Volvo XC40, Geely Monjaro, and Lynk & Co 01, and it is the largest model on this platform. It uses a traditional hybrid system with a 1.5-liter turbo engine and two electric motors delivering a total of 247 horsepower, plus a 1.64 kWh battery that is not a plug-in battery. Renault claims the battery enables up to 75% electric driving in cities, with average fuel consumption of 6.6 liters/100 km.
Like Renault Grand Koleos, Filante is positioned as a global model but designed for markets outside Europe. The Middle East is expected to be the first market after South Korea.
The partnership between Renault and Geely deepens across multiple areas, such as engine development via the joint "Horse Powertrain" project, a joint production project in Brazil, and launching new models on Geely platforms for emerging markets. This could lead to a powerful new global alliance.
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Renault is strengthening its collaboration with Nissan on new SUV projects targeted at India, launching the third-generation Duster in January 2026 with 1.0 and 1.3-liter turbo petrol engines, and a hybrid version later. Nissan will launch Tekton in June 2026, built on the same platform with an aggressive design inspired by Patrol, to compete with Creta and Siera. Plans include small MPVs like Grafiti, reflecting a strong comeback for the alliance in the Indian market.
