The Captur is based on Renault's DeZir sports coupe concept that was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and is a three-door crossover model with a convertible hardtop. "It takes as its basis the fundamental design language introduced on the DeZir concept car but adds a more technical dimension - more functional but still highly sensuous," said Renault's director of concept cars, Axel Breun.

The Captur is said to be inspired by athletes and sports, and among the unique design features include LED lighting units, matt-finished accents, and 22-inch wheels, together with the hardtop convertible roof. The doors also open upwards like a butterfly and the body is crafted from carbon-fibre. "My main sources of inspiration were the human body, outdoor sports and urban styling," explains the colour and trim designer, Kana Watanabe. "I wanted Captur to radiate warmth and dynamism."

Inside, the Captur can accommodate four people, and features fluorescent highlights, floating front seats, a translucent dashboard and aluminium pedals. Magali Gouraud-Borgers, the Cpatur's interior designer, said, "The whole of the interior is designed around this network of stretched elastic ropes which bring to mind the worlds of sailing or mountain climbing. They use graphics and light to bring rhythm to the overall design and reinforce the dynamic feel of the vehicle while also ensuring a lighter feel inside the cabin."

The Captur is powered by a 1.6-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine that produces 160bhp and 380Nm of torque, which was developed from Renault's new Energy dCi 130bhp unit. The engine is mated to a dual-clutch EDC gearbox and allows the car to go from 0-100km/h in 8 seconds, and reach a top speed of 210km/h.

The Captur also comes with a number of technological features, such as a new RX2 mechanical self-locking differential and the Visio-System with a forward-facing camera mounted at the top of the windscreen providing driver-assistance functions. Renault will showcase the Captur concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March.