Renault Kangoo Bebop: An Impression

Renault Kangoo Bebop Impression

The New Kangoo "Bebop" with a Playful Touch

Renault Japon has announced the "Renault Kangoo Bebop," a two-door hatchback that emphasizes design as its primary selling point to propose the enjoyment of buying and driving a car. Sales began on September 9th.

By Fumio Ogawa

Compact and Two-Door: A More Unique Styling

The Kangoo Bebop can be seen as a model that focuses on one aspect of the already popular Kangoo. It features a tall, 1840mm high body with a unique design where the rear half of the roof, along with its hinges, opens wide. Prioritizing play over functionality, it's a two-door model for four occupants. The fixed rear quarter windows, designed with a combination of arcs, give it a unique styling with a somewhat classic ambiance. Renault Japon, the importer, describes the car in a single phrase: "A car you buy on instinct." However, by shifting the rear seat position above the rear axle, a spacious interior is created.

The Kangoo Bebop is equipped with a 1.6-liter engine producing a maximum output of 78kW (105ps). It is only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. While its high design may appeal to women, it might limit its target audience in Japan.

Compared to the well-selling Kangoo in Japan, the Kangoo Bebop is 345mm shorter in length. The Kangoo Bebop is based on the Kangoo Express Compact, a two-seater commercial vehicle. Its wide body size was adopted to accommodate Euro pallets, which are used for cargo transport in Europe. However, the Kangoo Bebop shows no trace of its commercial vehicle origins, with meticulous attention to the interior finish.

Adequate Acceleration and Stable Handling

"We want to introduce cars to Japan that other manufacturers cannot make. We hope people will buy it not for its performance or features, but simply because it looks fun."
If we were to name competitors, they would be MINI and Fiat 500. It's a car intended to be bought for reasons like its great design even if it can't carry much luggage, or because it's fun to drive despite a firm ride," says a spokesperson for Renault Japon.

Driving impressions revealed adequate acceleration for city driving and easy maneuverability that belied its 1830mm width. The 1.6-liter engine, shared with the Kangoo and producing 105ps, is set to deliver effective torque from 2500rpm upwards. By skillfully utilizing the manual shift and staying within the torque band, it drives briskly. The handling is by no means sluggish, so there was none of the ponderousness one might expect from its size.

It's also possible to enter the rear seats through the tailgate. By operating the unlock button on the ceiling, the rear half of the roof can be easily slid open manually. The tailgate window can also be lowered, like those on old American station wagons, offering a unique sense of openness, akin to a "landaulet" carriage, which Renault Japon describes as a "special seat for children and dogs."

If there's one drawback, it's that the tailgate hinges are on the left side. Given the car's width, opening and closing it on the street requires you to extend your body into the road, which is somewhat concerning. The hinges also have a two-stage stopper to prevent them from hitting rear obstacles.

Bebop Limited Edition: Orange Scintillant

The body colors are two-tone only. The body colors are black, wine red, and metallic white, with the bonnet and part of the bumper in grayish silver. The combination of black and silver, in particular, had a crossover feel between classic and modern, which was very appealing.

Renault Kangoo Bebop
Body: Length 3,870 x Width 1,830 x Height 1,840mm
Engine: 1.6L Inline 4-cylinder DOHC
Max Output: 78kW [105ps] / 5,750rpm
Max Torque: 148Nm [15.1kgm] / 3,750rpm
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Transmission: 5MT
Price: 2,348,000 yen

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