Renault, the French car manufacturer will launch its next generation Duster in India in the year 2018, a report in the Economic Times states. Renault Duster was first launched in India in the year 2012. Since then, it has managed to grab a large number of sales in the country. Duster at present is one of the most preferred SUVs in the country and the company is coming up with the facelift version of the same this year, that would further strengthen its position in the market. This facelifted version of the Duster is expected to be released at the 2016 Auto Expo.
In the updated version, the vehicle is expected to receive both cosmetic and mechanical changes. The car would receive an AMT automatic transmission with 110 PS power which was not included in the model when it was first introduced. The vehicle will compete against the likes of Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Creta, Maruti S-Cross and Mahindra Scorpio in the segment.
Though there is nothing much known for the next-generation model, but believing on the rumors, the second generation Renault Duster will get an advanced and refreshing design but not a whole new look. Some of the Duster resemblance will be there in the next generation version. New Duster will continue to carry forward its AWD option. The car is expected to get a 1.5-litre diesel engine as an upgrade and it also it might come with a turbocharged petrol mill. The vehicle would come with great comfort and spaciousness of 5+2 seating arrangement.
At present, the car gets an attractive body structure at its exteriors. It incorporates a dark chromed radiator grille and dual barrel headlamps at front. On the bonnet, it has racing stripes making it sportier while on the side profile, the car gets flared wheel arches and 16-inch wheels. On the rear, it sports large windscreen while the rear tailgate gets Duster branding and chrome strips. Dimension-wise, it is 4315 mm long, 1822 mm in width, 1695 mm high and gets the wheelbase of 2673 mm.
Coming to the interiors, Renault Duster is quite spacious with a comfortable seating for 5 occupants. The unique aspect in the car is that it has 8-way adjustable driver seat while all the seats are covered with leather upholstery. The steering wheel is a multi-functional unit with control switches mounted on it while the cabin gets dual tone color scheme. Other features included in the vehicle are electrically operated ORVMs, advanced multimedia system, audio streaming with Bluetooth connectivity, USB interface, six speakers, smart digital instrument cluster and the manual HVAC (heating, ventilation and air condition) unit.
Under the hood, current Duster is available with both diesel and petrol variants. The 1.6 litres K4M petrol engine can deliver the power output of 102.5 bhp at 5850 rpm and peak torque of 145 Nm at 3750 rpm. The mill comes coupled with 5-speed manual transmission. While in the diesel, it gets 1.5-litre dCi with the power output of 85 PS or 110 PS and peak torque of 200 Nm and the motor is mated to 5-speed gearbox.
Recently, Renault introduced the new Kwid hatchback in the country at the starting price tag of INR 2.57 lac and for the top trim, it is available for a sticker price of about INR 3.53 lac. The price is quite competitive due to its 98 % localization. Mechanically, it works on the 800 cc engine that can churn out the power output of 54 PS and maximum torque of 72 Nm. The fuel efficiency is very impressive with 25.17 kmpl.
The Renault Design Central Europe (RDCE) in co-operation with the Renault Technologie Roumanie, has been engaged in the development of the next-gen Duster in Bucharest. The project is being supervised by their GM Mr. Jean Phillipe Salar who is in interest with the company for about 19 years. Apart from Duster, he also has worked on Renault Kwid which is the latest launch of the company in India.