The upscale new Filante SUV debuts in Korea, built on Geely underpinnings, though it’s unlikely to make its way to European roads
Renault isn’t exactly short on crossovers and SUVs, but that hasn’t stopped the company from adding another to the list. The latest is a new “high-end crossover” that will make its debut in South Korea on January 13, positioned as a flagship offering for markets outside Europe.
Named the Filante, it’s part of a broader push to reinforce the brand’s presence beyond its traditional European stronghold. Renault says the model reflects its ongoing “global upscale shift” and will sit in the E-segment (large), putting it a tier above the mid-size European-market Austral, Espace, and Rafale.
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According to Sylvia Dos Santos, Renault’s naming strategy lead, “Filante” was chosen for its evocation of “shooting stars, outer space and journeys,” themes that are said to mirror the car’s “stately design.”
The name draws from the historic Etoile Filante, a one-off record-setter from 1956, as well as the recent Filante Record concept, which covered 1,008 km (626 miles) at highway speeds without needing a recharge. Unlike those single-seat experiments, though, the production Filante takes a more practical form as a five-door SUV.
The teasers suggest a distinctive design, with LED elements integrated into the front bumper, an arcing, aerodynamic roofline, and muscular rear shoulders. Renault hasn’t revealed the interior yet but promises a cabin focused on occupant comfort and “state-of-the-art technology.”
Korean Assembly, Shared Foundations
The new crossover will be manufactured in Busan, South Korea. The same factory is the home of production for the Renault Grand Koleos, which was introduced in 2024 based on the Geely Xingyue L.
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Technical specs haven’t been disclosed, but the Filante is likely to use the Compact Modular Architecture, shared with several Geely, Volvo, and Polestar models. The platform supports internal combustion engines, hybrids, and fully electric setups, so there’s room for a varied powertrain lineup.
The new model will launch first in the South Korean market before expanding to other regions. It will likely remain off-limits for Europe, leaving the Rafale coupe-SUV as Renault’s flagship offering in the Old Continent.
Explaining the choice of launch location, Nicolas Paris, CEO of Renault Korea, highlighted the country’s importance:
“Korea has exceptional strength in the D and E segments. This is why Korea is so important to Renault. Filante is the second new-generation model in the Renault International Game Plan 2027 to be designed in Korea [after the Grand Koleos]. It illustrates our vision of a distinctive and daring crossover, a bold expression of Renault’s global move upmarket. It perfectly embodies the brand’s French roots.”
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio

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