Well mes amis, France has a new presidential carriage – and no, it’s not a stretched Safrane or a subtly armoured 605 with smoked glass and sovereign mystery. Instead, say bonjour to the all-new Renault Rafale, given the full République treatment to become the official ride of the French President.
Now, before we get into the glitter (literally), it’s worth mentioning that we’ve also got a Rafale in the driveway right now, courtesy of Renault UK. Ours, however, doesn’t feature tricolour glitter paint, marble trim or discreet armour plating... yet. But we do have a croissant holder in the door bin, so there’s that.
Anyway, back to the big news. The Presidential Rafale is based on the new Hyper Hybrid E-Tech 4x4, producing around 300 chevaux. Which probably helps if you need to make a swift getaway from a G7 summit or just really hate Paris traffic.
Renault's design team has stretched, armoured and generally presidentialised the Rafale while keeping its just-rolled-out-of-a-showroom lines intact. That said, it’s painted in a specially developed ‘Bleu Présidence’ shade with tricolour sparkle in the sunshine – because subtlety isn’t really a French thing when it comes to official pomp.
Of course, it's not all style. Underneath that suave skin lies reinforced suspension, 20-inch Michelin-shod Chicane wheels, four-wheel steering and a chassis tuned for maximum glide – even over cobbled boulevards and bureaucratic red tape. Inside, it’s basically a rolling office with marble trim (yes, marble – the kind usually seen in fancy Parisian foyers), handcrafted wood marquetry, bespoke upholstery and enough sound insulation to host a diplomatic incident in complete silence.
This state-spec Rafale is also the product of a particularly Gallic three-way: Renault, the Élysée Palace and a collective of French artisans. From Centigon’s stealthy armour integration to marquetry by Ludovic Avenel and a central console crafted by Design & Solution, it’s all très high-end.
And let’s not forget: Renault has been shuttling French heads of state since 1920. From the majestic Renault 40 CV to the delightfully bonkers Safrane Limousine Biturbo, presidential Renaults have long mixed gravitas with Gallic charm. The Rafale, with its high-tech hybrid powertrain and luxury touches, feels like a worthy heir – though Petrolblog will always have a soft spot for anything with velour seats and a cassette deck.
So there you have it: the President’s new ride, a car that mixes innovation, protection and a rather fancy bit of marble. Ours doesn’t have flag mounts or a rear seat fit for geopolitics, but hey, it does still have that unmistakable French flair. Vive le Rafale, or something.
Coming soon: Can you daily-drive a modern Rafale and still pretend you're in a 1985 R25 V6? We’re trying.
