The Renault Arkana is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) with a sloping rear roofline produced by the French manufacturer Renault.[1] The car debuted in May 2019 in Russia as a car based on the older Dacia/Renault DusterB0 platform. Another separate version of the vehicle was introduced in South Korea in February 2020, and is based on a more advanced CMF-B platform. The latter version of the Arkana was later introduced in core European market in September 2020 and was marketed in South Korea as the Renault Samsung XM3 from 2020 to 2022 and then Renault XM3 from 2022 to 2024.
Renault stated the name "Arkana" derives from the Latinarcanum, meaning secret.[2]
Concept car
Renault Arkana concept
A show car based on the Arkana, the XM3 Inspire, was introduced by Renault subsidiary Renault Samsung Motors and unveiled at the 2019 Seoul Motor Show. The main differences with the Arkana are a redesigned front grille, a different colour scheme and a revised bodywork.[3]
The Arkana debuted in Russia in May 2019. For the Russian market, it is assembled by Renault Russia at its Moscow plant[2][5] and its unveiling took place at the 2018 Moscow International Automobile Salon through a near-production showcar. The car has a coupe-like styling.[6][7][8] The Russian Arkana is built on the Renault B0+ platform, a heavily revised variant of the B0 platform used by models such as the Kaptur and the Duster. The Russian model is using the 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine paired with Jatco CVT8 transmission.[7][8]
The car was launched in South Korea as the Renault Samsung XM3. Instead of riding above the B0 platform like the Russian Arkana, the XM3 uses the modular platform CMF-B and is related to the second-generation Renault Captur.[14] The XM3 is also purely a front-wheel drive car unlike its B0-based counterpart. The CMF-based variant is 25 mm longer than the B0-based Arkana sold in Russia. The South Korean model has two engine option either the 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine with 7-speed EDC gearbox or 1.6-litre petrol engine with Jatco CVT7 transmission.
In September 2020, the rebadged version of South Korean-made Samsung XM3 was also launched in Renault markets (outside of CIS) as the Renault Arkana.[15] It is introduced in former Yugoslavian countries as the Renault Mégane Conquest, as its original name may be associated with Arkan, the late Serbian criminal, politician and paramilitary commander during the Yugoslav Wars who was accused of numerous war crimes.[16]
The European model is equipped with a mild hybrid 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7-speed EDC gearbox.[17]
The Renault Arkana arrived in Australia in August 2021.[18]
Rear view (pre-facelift)
Interior
Renault Samsung XM3
Renault Samsung XM3
Renault Samsung XM3 (sportline front shield)
Facelift
The vehicle received a facelift in July 2023,[19][20] featuring among other things a new front grille and logo.[21]
The facelifted Arkana was also introduced in the GCC countries on 2 September 2024.[22]
^"VFACTS: Australia's 2021 new car sales detailed in full". CarExpert. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-31. Comments section: Comments: Renault Arkana 299 Renault Captur 533 Renault Clio 0 Renault Kadjar 0 Renault Kangoo 732 Renault Koleos 1,937 Renault Master 1,260 Renault Master Bus 122 Renault Megane 123 Renault Trafic 2,093 Renault Zoe 0 Renault Total 7,099
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