THE 158-INCH RENAULT SUV: MEET THE BRIDGER BUILT FOR THE WORLD’S NEXT CAR BOOM

Renault Group unveiled the Bridger Concept as part of its new long-term strategy called the futuREady plan. Under this strategy, Renault brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive outlined three major growth drivers for 2030. The plan focuses on strengthening the brand’s presence in Europe, expanding electrification across the entire lineup and reinforcing global markets outside Europe.

Through these initiatives, Renault aims to launch 26 new models and achieve annual sales of more than 2 million vehicles by 2030. Renault Group has also identified India, Morocco, Turkey and Latin America as key global hubs for growth.

India is receiving particular attention after surpassing Japan to become the world’s third-largest auto market behind China and the United States. Renault plans to open its second-largest design center in Chennai, India, in 2025 and appointed Stéphane Deblaise as CEO of Renault India in August 2025. The group also completed development of the new Dacia Duster within its global portfolio.

The Bridger is one of the new models expected to support these plans. While the new Duster measures about 171 inches in length, the Bridger is expected to come in under about 158 inches. That places it close in size, or slightly larger, than the Hyundai Casper Electric at roughly 151 inches, positioning it as a small SUV in the A or A-segment.

Despite its compact footprint, the Bridger offers a relatively spacious interior. Rear-seat knee room measures about 8 inches, while cargo capacity reaches roughly 14 cubic feet, exceeding that of the Volkswagen Golf.

Full powertrain details have not yet been disclosed, but Renault confirmed the model will use the Renault Group Modular Platform Small, a flexible architecture designed to support internal combustion, hybrid and fully electric powertrains.

The Duster offers three engine options including a 100-horsepower 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-three paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, a 160-horsepower 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-four with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a 160-horsepower 1.8-liter dual-motor hybrid system. Given the Bridger’s smaller size, it is likely to feature the 1.0-liter and 1.3-liter engines.

The Bridger is not expected to be sold in Europe, with India, Africa and the Middle East projected to be its primary markets. The model is expected to compete directly with vehicles from Hyundai in India, one of the company’s most important global markets. In that market, the Bridger’s main rival will be the Hyundai Venue, first introduced in 2019 and widely positioned as a compact SUV designed for emerging markets.

Renault Group has also continued restructuring efforts under the Renaulution strategy announced in 2021. Under the newer futuREady plan, the group aims to launch 36 new models across its Renault, Dacia and Alpine brands between 2023 and 2030 while accelerating electrification and expanding its global lineup. The company also plans to maintain an operating profit margin between 5% and 7% and target annual cash flow exceeding $1.61 billion to strengthen long-term financial stability.