THIS is Renault's vision of luxury off-road motoring: the `tall coupe' Egeus concept car. With its flowing, pared-down lines, this upmarket vehicle is more urban cruiser than rural mud-plugger.
And that's no accident, as the French manufacturer believes a high-end sports-utility vehicle should have simple, sweeping curves, rather than macho bull-bars and spotlamps.
"Egeus is an SUV for city driving and the open road, a sort of `tall coupe' that combines driving pleasure with elegance and sportiness," says Patrick le Quement, senior vice president of Renault's corporate design.
"The outside is about simplicity, unity, sensuality. Egeus looks as though it has been sculpted from a single piece. The undulating lines and voluptuous forms instantly suggest driving pleasure."
The Egeus will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Thanks to its SUV size, it offers a spacious interior with four independent seats boasting all the comfort of a luxury car.
Renault has tried to evoke the ambience of an underwater world in the cabin, with what it calls a "manta ray" dashboard and blue-tinted hues throughout the interior.
Light pours in through a glazed roof made up of a central strip with two transparent sections.
The Egeus also offers easy access. The front seats can pivot outwards and lower by seven centimetres so there's no need to clamber aboard this imposing vehicle.
The 4x4 has rear-hinged back doors and no central B pillar, like Mazda's innovative sports coupe, the RX8.
And the side door handles are flush-fitting, so as not to detract from the streamlined sides. An optical sensor detects an approaching hand and pushes the handle out a few centimetres, making it easy to grasp.
Electronic toys on offer include a GPS navigation system, which calculates the recommended speed for a particular road. LED diodes around the dial flash to alert drivers if they go over this speed.
In off-road mode, an indicator on the instrument panel comes alive to show how far the car is tilting in each direction, and alerts the driver if there is any risk of roll-over.
Outside, the front end is deliberately pared-down. By incorporating the air inlets under the headlamps, Egeus has no need for a grille - "too brash for such a pure design," says le Quement.
And under the bonnet there's a 250hp 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, mounted north-south.
The fully automatic 4WD transmission regulates traction on the four wheels from 0 to 100 per cent, according to grip. This, combined with a seven-speed flick-shift automatic transmission, ensures a high level of driving comfort while reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
America's legendary off-road manufacturer Jeep will also be presenting sports-utility vehicle concept cars at the Frankfurt show on September 12.
One of them, the Jeep Patriot, is designed to compete in the compact SUV class, and aims to be fun as well as practical, economical and good value.
Jeep says the car offers a modern interpretation of its classic styling, which offers a traditional rugged look. With its round headlamps and vertically slatted grill, you can see a clear resemblance to the vehicle which gave birth to the 4x4 - the US military's Willys Jeep.
Jeep says: "The Patriot would appeal to young buyers looking to join the brand in a genuine Jeep vehicle that would deliver fun and freedom at a great value.
"Jeep Patriot not only looks like a Jeep, but all-new Jeep off-road technology would ensure Patriot could be a Jeep Trail Rated 4x4, making it the most capable vehicle in its class."
