Renault Korea (CEO Nicolas Paris) unveiled the second model of the Aurora Project, the global flagship crossover "Filante (FILANTE)", for the first time in the world on the 13th at the Grand Walkerhill in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The first was the popular Grand Koleos. The Renault Filante features a bold and charismatic design, an interior space with a premium tech lounge concept, and a further upgraded hybrid E-Tech powertrain.
After the new car unveiling event, Renault Korea CEO Nicolas Paris also interviewed with Korean media. This is the first official interview with domestic media since his inauguration in September last year.
CEO Nicolas Paris said about the meaning of the Filante project, "Filante is the result of Renault Group's 'international game plan.' It is a strategic project aimed at growth in global markets beyond Europe, particularly targeting an upmarket move. It is a high-tech flagship covering the D·E segments, and I evaluate it as a model that concentrates Renault Korea's design and technical capabilities. The group's high evaluation of Renault Korea's engineering·design capabilities led to the trust that resulted in Filante. Personally, I am very proud of this car," adding, "Filante is the longest-wheelbase model in Renault's history and best embodies French DNA. The name originates from a concept car made in 1956 and carries the meaning of 'shooting star.' I judged that an unforgettable presence and the dynamism when falling match this car's sporty design well. I thought Filante was the name that could simultaneously convey French identity and Renault's future vision."
He also highly valued the strategic role of the Busan plant.
Paris said, "The Busan plant will develop not simply as a production base but as a 'Center of Excellence.' I expect it to take on roles beyond production in core technology areas such as architecture, software and connectivity. Renault Group recognizes Korea as a technology laboratory and a strategic hub, and holding this world premiere in Korea aligns with that context. The intention to continue production and investment in Korea going forward is clear."
Regarding Filante's export strategy, he said, "Exports are very important for this car. We first set Latin America and the Middle East as primary target markets, markets already validated through the Grand Koleos. In addition, we are considering other regions where there is demand for crossover·flagship models. I cannot disclose specific volume targets, but the goal is to create leverage through exports and further increase Korea's strategic value. Renault Group also agrees with this direction."
Based on his experience in the purchasing department, he also offered an immediate view of Korea's suppliers and technological ecosystem.
"Currently about 170 Korean suppliers work with the Busan plant, and Korean companies' technological capabilities across batteries, infotainment and parts are very impressive. Renault Korea sees Korea as a laboratory of innovation and plans to maintain close relationships with Korean suppliers in future group-level technology development," he said.
An interview was also held with Choi Seong-gyu, head of Renault Korea's research center, who led the Filante development process on site.
Research center head Choi Seong-gyu said about the Filante development direction, "After the Grand Koleos launch there were many positive reviews on driving performance, but over time there were criticisms that passing performance at high speed was disappointing. Because it was difficult to replace the powertrain itself in a short time, we pursued improvements through tuning methods using internal technical capabilities. Power was raised from the existing 106 kW to 110 kW, and maximum torque from 230 Nm to 250 Nm," adding, "In the case of the hybrid system, the motor output itself had limited structural room for change, so we changed the way the battery is used. Previously the lower limit was set at a 40% battery state of charge, but we raised this so the motor could intervene more actively. We also readjusted pedal response speed. As a result, perceived acceleration performance in the 2,500–3,500 rpm range improved markedly, and we judge that complaints about passing performance have been resolved during actual driving. You will be able to clearly feel this change in the March media test drive."
Asked about fuel economy·aerodynamic performance and driving completeness, he said, "Vehicle weight increased by about 50 kg, but we minimized fuel economy degradation through aerodynamic improvements. Combined fuel economy with 20-inch wheels is virtually the same as the previous model, and some trims actually improved by 0.1 km/l. Considering the impact of weight increase on the fuel economy calculation, this can be seen as achieving both performance and efficiency. NVH performance improved one step compared with the Grand Koleos. The panoramic glass roof applies the widest width in its class, and from the windshield to the rear of the second row we applied sound-insulating laminated glass to greatly increase interior quietness. The interior focused on comfort to the extent that the expression 'a living room-like space' is fitting," he said.
On Korea-specific tuning, he answered, "The core of this car is not where the platform comes from but the tuning completeness tailored to Korean consumers. We finely tuned not only the powertrain but also the chassis and suspension for Korean driving conditions. Software and connectivity are also important pillars. We collaborated with domestic services such as Naver and T map to implement highly usable features, and evolved the AI voice recognition system. After release we conducted four over-the-air updates, focusing on quickly reflecting customer complaints rather than recalls. This approach will continue with this new car, and the research center's basic direction is to become the brand that reflects customers' voices fastest."
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