Not even Rolls-Royce does this: Renault uses marble in this car
Renault Rafale
Renault has been building service cars for the Élysée Palace since 1920, and this Rafale is the latest in that long tradition. It was designed at Renault’s design center in Guyancourt and painted in a special color: Bleu Présidence. Patriotism is evident: in the sunlight, even the colors of the French flag sparkle in the paint. Of course, the flag holders and national symbols are not missing.
French finesse
Behind its chauvinistic exterior lies a veritable fortress. The car is fully armored, developed together with safety specialist Centigon. Composite materials keep the weight under control, and thanks to all-wheel steering, it remains agile.
An office in the back
In the back, the Rafale transforms into a mobile workroom. This is where meetings are held, work is done, phone calls are made and texted at the state level. Two separate seats offer generous seating space, heating and ventilation. The headrests feature the coat of arms of the Republic.
Between the seats is a custom-made center console with folding work surface, small refrigerator, wireless charger and USB ports. Everything is covered in alcantara. Additional lighting compensates for the darkening effect of the armored glass, so it remains pleasant to work even in low light.
French craftsmanship in the Rafale
Renault has really gone all out with the interior. There is real marble on the center console, the dashboard and the steering wheel. Not just any tile from the hardware store, but Noir Grand Antique marble from the Pyrenees. For the woodwork, Renault engaged Parisian furniture artist Ludovic Avenel, who provided the dashboard with hand-inlaid beech wood. Even the stitching of the seats is matched to the official French color codes. So that’s called attention to detail.
