Do you know that almost one quarter of all cars sold in Europe are crossovers? Well, now you do. And thanks to Renault, our cultured cousins now have a new mid-size model to think about. Sharing components with the Nissan Qashqai, the oddly-named Kadjar will be competing with the likes of the Mazda CX-5 and Ford Escape (Kuga) when it hits European showrooms in the summer after its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

As well as being built in Spain, the Kadjar will also be the first Renault to be produced in China, as the French carmaker is keen to exploit the superpower's rapidly expanding car market. Renault hasn't released any technical details, so we can't bore you with those. But sharing a platform with the Qashqai means power will come from 1.2- and 1.6-liter turbos with a choice of front- and four-wheel drive. It's a nice looking thing too, with "athletic exterior styling" and an interior that's "both sporty and refined." Optional LED headlights, underbody protection and 19-inch rims all look like worthwhile additions, and the Kadjar will boast Renault's R-Link 2 infotainment system.

Renault's head of design Laurens van den Acker said of the Kadjar: "It is a big gap in our line-up that we have finally filled and it is very important for us to finally have a C crossover." But stressed "The goal is not to steal sales from the Qashqai. It is to steal sales from Volkswagen, from Kia, from Toyota, and I think there is room in the market to do it." Do you agree?