Renault’s got big plans for its Captur lineup, and it seems that one of those plans involve rolling out a new coupe-crossover that will make its debut in concept form at the 2018 Moscow Motor Show. The French automaker has rolled out at the first teaser of the concept, but more importantly, a heavily camouflaged test prototype has been seen rolling on the streets recently. By all accounts, this test mule is an early production version of the Moscow-bound concept that we will see this August. It's already pegged to get the Captur Coupe name, and it will likely be shared with Dacia using the same nameplate.

Exterior

We don’t get any specific hints on the design of the Captur Coupe, but we do get a good look at the overall shape of the crossover. From the looks of it, the test prototype has all the physical traits of a coupe-infused crossover, right down to the sloping roofline in the rear.

Speaking of the rear, notice how it rides higher than your standard SUVs? That’s another trademark design element among coupe crossovers. There are a few intriguing elements, too, particularly the bumps on the hood that may or may not be anything at all. We also see what appears to be a row of LED lights in the mold of what the Bugatti Chiron has. I never thought I’d get to compare the Chiron with a Renault coupe crossover, but the similarities in the layout of those lights are pretty impossible to ignore.

Other than those observations and the presence of some expected equipment — not surprising that there’s only one exhaust if this model is being prepared to be cheap and affordable — the test prototype of the Renault Captur Coupe looks promising. Let’s just hope that the next time we see in the wild, it’s going to shed some of that swirly skin.

Interior

Note: standard Renault Captur pictured here.

We don’t get to see anything inside the test prototypes, but it’s not hard to imagine that with this model being included in the Captur lineup, it should get a similar, albeit sportier, version of the Captur’s cabin.

If that ends up being the case, the Captur Coupe could feature a few leather trim elements on the dashboard, seats, and doors. The center console could also continue its minimalist look, though a few added sporty trim elements shouldn’t be dismissed outright. The console does get an infotainment system and a few knobs and buttons to account for some functions. Most of the materials, though, should be made from plastic for reasons that are clear.

The most interesting element of the Captur Coupe’s interior is going to be the seating layout. The crossover is expected to have room for five occupants, but by the nature of its coupe-inspired styling, it’s going to be interesting how Renault addresses the interior space, particularly in the rear where the headroom is probably going to be compromised by the sloping roof.

However the cabin ends up looking, don’t expect the world out of it. If anything, lowering those expectations might be the better way to go.

Drivetrain

The Renault Captur Coupe will be powered by a range of familiar gasoline and diesel turbo engines. If the menu of Captur engines is included in the coupe-crossover, we can expect it to feature a 0.9-liter three-cylinder with 90 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque, a 1.2-liter four-cylinder with 116 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque, or a 1.5-liter diesel with 90 ponies and an impressive 162 pound-feet of twist.

I do expect the Captur Coupe to be offered in more power form that would fit into its “sporty” personality. Perhaps Renault can fit a bigger 2.0-liter four-cylinder into the Captur Coupe, big enough to help it produce around 160 to 180 horsepower. The four-cylinder engine from the Megane is a likely candidate, but until we get confirmation from the French automaker itself, it’s hard to assume exactly how much power the Captur Coupe has packed in its arsenal.

Prices

Pricing is still a mystery, but we can look at the Captur for a bit of reference. The base trim, called the Captur Play, starts at £15,300. That converts to just over $20,000 based on current exchange rates. The mid-level trim is the Captur Iconic, and that starts £16,500, or about $21,800. Then there’s the range-topping Captur GT Line, which starts at £18,300, or a little over $24,000.

Using these prices as a reference, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Captur Coupe is priced somewhere closer to the Captur GT Line, maybe even a little higher. I’m throwing a dart blind on a dartboard here, but I’m thinking that the Captur Coupe will be priced at £20,000 when it hits the market in the next few years. That converts to about $26,000, putting it in the price range of rival models.

Competition

Volkswagen Taigun

The Volkswagen Taigun isn’t sold in a lot of market around the world but you can be sure that once the Renault Captur Coupe arrives, the Taigun is going to be on of the models it sets its sights on. The Volkswagen crossover is a lot of things, but it does provide make for a good option among this who are looking into buying a cheap coupe-like crossover. It’s powered by a 1.0-liter TSI engine that delivers a total of 110 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. With a total weight of 2,171 pounds, the concept will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds and up to a top speed of 115 mph. Pricing for the Taigun starts at around $20,000.

Read our full review on the 2016 Volkswagen Taigun concept.

Citroen C3 Aircross

There’s probably no entry-level crossover in the market now that’s as unique to look at as the C3 Aircross. It has a funky design with rounded edges and big bulbous shapes dominating its puffed-up outline. It also has a wide range of engine options that produce anywhere from 68, 82, and 110 horsepower. It also carries diesel engines that produce 75 and 100 horsepower, respectively. Pricing for the Citroen C3 Aircross starts at £14,000 and goes all the way up to £20,000. That converts to around $18,000 to $26,000.

Read our full review on the 2018 Citroen C3 Aircross.

Conclusion

Just when you thought the coupe-crossover segment couldn't get any more crowded, Renault's entering the party with a model that's being developed specifically for the masses. The Captur Coupe could be an impornant model for the French automaker as it tries to break into a somewhat new territory for itself. With the Captur crossover already proving its worth in the market, this was a gamble that Renault had to take. As long as it develops the Captur Coupe with the same verve as it did with the crossover, there's no reason why this model isn't going to be popular itself.

Further reading

Read our full review on the standard Renault Captur.

Read more Renault news.