The new Renault Scenic will reach the market in 2024 as a hydrogen-powered electric SUV

The Renault Scenic returns as a radical electric SUV with a hydrogen range extender. This concept serves as a preview of the SUV arriving in 2024 and reveals the plans of the diamond brand. It has just been presented at the Paris Motor Show as a prototype with a radical hydrogen electric powertrain. Taking over from the MPV produced between 1991 and 2022, the new Scenic will sit above the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric SUV in Renault’s fully electric range.

It will launch with a conventional battery electric powertrain, but the hydrogen electric system in the concept reflects the “broader vision” of Renault, and the company notes that hydrogen propulsion will become more common from 2030 onward for use in light commercial vehicles.

It measures 4.49 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.59 metres tall. The Scenic Vision concept is 280 mm longer, 120 mm wider and 85 mm taller than the Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric, and has a wheelbase 135 mm longer. Unlike previous generations of the Scenic, it takes the form of an SUV rather than an MPV.

This is what the Renault Scenic 2024 could look like

Renault has stated that the concept is “a modern design with a sustainable edge” and showcases sustainability initiatives focused on three main areas: environment, safety and inclusion. The wraparound light bar and slim LED headlights create a visual link with the Mégane E-Tech Electric, but the new striking light signatures in the lower section are part of a wider package intended to give it a unique and far more angular character.

Instead of a front grille, the Scenic features a panel decorated with a motif based on Renault’s diamond emblem, although it is unclear whether this will reach production. The electrically operated rear-hinged doors open via the touch-sensitive Renault logo on the door, and there is no B-pillar, which according to Renault improves entry and exit, but these features are unlikely to make it onto the production car.

Renault’s head of design, Gilles Vidal, has stated that the exterior design will evolve, but that the concept is 90% ready for production in 2024. The Scenic Vision’s powertrain is largely conventional, combining the 218 CV front-mounted motor from the Mégane E-Tech Electric with a smaller battery (40kWh), but innovatively adds a 15kW hydrogen fuel cell beneath the floor to charge the battery while driving.

Engineers at the Renault Group are developing a completely new architecture for hydrogen electric vehicles. Currently in the prototyping phase, it is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to developing alternative propulsion systems. It is specifically designed to house a battery, a motor, a fuel cell and a hydrogen tank.