Nissan’s Version Of Renault Bridger Imagined
Renault has unveiled the all-new Bridger concept, previewing its upcoming sub-four metre SUV. Design remains the biggest highlight of this concept. Despite its compact proportions, the Bridger looks butch and rugged. It has been designed primarily for emerging markets like India. The production model is expected around 2027. It is likely that Nissan, Renault’s alliance partner, could launch its own version of the SUV later. We have now imagined the Nissan version’s design, digitally. Here’s a closer look.
The Bridger has a tall and upright stance. It looks like a proper SUV. When designing such a product, Nissan has a solid reference point to look up to (should they wish to do so)- the Patrol. This full-size SUV is on sale in many global markets and has a strong reputation for luxury, comfort and off-road abilities.
We have borrowed cues from the Patrol while creating this rendering. The vehicle in these images looks like a ‘baby Patrol’ from the front. It gets split-LED headlamps and C-shaped DRLs. The front bumper gets Silver accents, a large air dam and a Silver skid plate. The grille section is finished in Black and gets a layered design like one of the previous-generation Patrols. ‘NISSAN’ is spelled on it.
We have made the rear design slightly curvier than the Bridger concept. The panels on the Renault concept are much flatter. The tailgate-mounted spare wheel has been retained. There is an integrated rear spoiler, and a redesigned rear bumper with an integrated skid plate. The LED tail lamps draw inspiration from the previous-generation Patrol
Look carefully and you’ll notice that overhangs at both ends have been kept short. Overall, the design looks proportionate, and the platform has a key role to play in keeping it so. Like the Bridger concept, this SUV also has good ground clearance.
Nissan hasn’t commented on a Bridger-based product yet. It remains a strong possibility considering how the two manufacturers have actively been sharing platforms and products and how Nissan has been carefully plotting its comeback strategy in India.
Nissan has already confirmed that it is working on a three-row C-segment SUV, which will have a notable design influence of its global SUV models, including the Patrol. We will most likely see an effort to tie the design close to that of the Patrol, in the case of the Bridger-based SUV as well. If done right, such a move can boost the vehicle's visual appeal.
The Renault Bridger concept will spawn a sub-four-metre SUV, the second such product in the carmaker’s India portfolio. It already sells the Kiger, a sub-compact SUV here. The Bridger-based SUV will be based on the RGMP modular platform. The development of this project was led by Renault’s India design team. It is a product that has been developed with emerging markets in mind.
Renault claims that despite being a sub-4-metre (B segment) SUV, the Bridger’s production form version will have ample room and comfort inside. It will even have a boot space of around 400 litres. As can be seen in pictures, the Bridger has extremely short overhangs at the front and rear. This shows the versatility of the platform. The RGMP can accommodate front overhangs of 780 mm to 860 mm, and rear ones that extend up to 1020 mm.
The Bridger will offer multiple fuel and powertrain options. The RGMP is a multi-energy platform and Renault plans to put this ability to good use on the Bridger-based SUV. It will be available with petrol, turbocharged petrol, hybrid, and all-electric powertrains. The naturally aspirated engine will be a newly-developed 1.2L petrol unit.
When it makes it to the production stage, the Bridger-based SUV will be manufactured at Renault’s Chennai plant. The market launch, according to early reports, can be expected around the festive season next year.