Renault has revealed further details of its Austral compact SUV, due to replace the Kadjar and now in its final stage of development.

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Previewed last month in a teaser image, the Austral has now been shown on the road in camouflaged form as a fleet of around 100 of the new SUVs take to European roads for testing.

The standard-practice endurance tests will ensure the model’s reliability and fine-tune its engine options, and will travel two million kilometres across open roads in France, Spain, Germany and Romania and including track conditions.

These tests will enable the teams to approve the adjustments made to the new Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance CMF-CD3 platform and driver assistance systems, as well as the suspension system.

The tests will also check on the powertrains. Renault has revealed that the Austral will only offer petrol-hybrid powertrains; mostly made up of brand-new engine options including a latest-generation E-Tech hybrid, a 1.3 TCe unit with a 12V mild hybrid solution and, for the first time in the Renault range, a 1.2 TCe unit with 48V mild hybrid technology.

CO2 emissions will start from 105g CO2/km, subject to homologation, and the line-up will bring up to 200hp maximum power.

Renault has previously said it’s on a “mission to regain its SUV-segment foothold” and the new Austral will be central to its plans, building on the Arkana and the new Mégane E-Tech Electric.

The new Austral name is derived from the Latin word ‘australis’ and said to work on an international level and evoke images of nature, while reflecting the vehicle’s positioning as a “C-segment SUV that is ready to take on any challenge”.