The facelift version of the Renault Duster SUV will make its debut at the Indian Auto Expo to be held in February next year.
The facelift version of the Renault Duster SUV will make its debut at the Indian Auto Expo to be held in February next year. The launch of the SUV will happen after that in the first half of 2016.
The Duster was launched in 2012 and it become instantly popular. The SUV is built at the Renault – Nissan alliance plant in Chennai. The facelift version will get a host of new upgrades like new headlights, a new single slat grille, new alloy wheels, new bumpers and new interior trim. The interior will also get a brand new instrument cluster, a new steering wheel and an optional MediaNAV touchscreen infotainment System, which will feature navigation and Bluetooth connectivity.
The engines powering the SUV will be a 1.5-litre diesel engine in two states of tune. The lower power variant will produce 84 bhp and 200 Nm of torque. It will be mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The higher power variant will produce 108 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. It will be mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Renault offers a four-wheel drive option with the higher-powered variant. The facelifted model will also get an AMT automatic gearboxwhich will be as fuel efficient as the manual transmission. This is expected only in the top variants.
Renault will be looking to localise the SUV as much as possible to bring down costs. Localisation will be increased from the current 70% to 80%. The current generation of the French SUV starts at INR 8.30 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and goes up to INR 13.55 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). It competes against the Hyundai Creta, Mahindra TUV 300, Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari Storme, Nissan Terrano, Ford Ecosport and the Mahindra XUV 500.
The Renault Duster and the Kwid are the only two cars from the French company that are selling in decent and good numbers. Renault is struggling to sell the other cars in its stable which include the Pulse, Scala, Lodgy, Fluence and Koleos.
Source – Car Dekho
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