Renault Duster compact SUV will be showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo, though the launch is slated for sometime later. Thanks to our pals at MotorBeam.com, we finally get to see the first ever clear images of Duster undergoing tests rounds in Chennai, India. The Duster is a hotly anticipated SUV for the Indian market but was hardly caught on camera.
The company has already made their intentions clear about making use of the diesel technology to the maximum extent possible especially for the Indian car market and that is what we are going to see in the Renault Duster. The 1.5 K9K engine from Nissan will power the Renault Duster, but is expected to be offered in varied tunes for 91 PS and 108 PS peak power outputs with 240 Nm of maximum torque. Now, coming to the petrol engine, it is going to be a 1.6 L engine to churn out a 106 PS peak power.
Renault and Nissan have a combined plant at Oragadam, Chennai, which is no wonder why the Renault Duster was spotted in that area to begin with. The upcoming two cars, Renault Pulse hatchback and the upcoming Duster will be seen with some increased localisation from their Chennai plant. This also explains a couple of things, like the Logan platform being used for the Renault Duster SUV. So, the consumers can as well expect quite a few similarities in the estranged Logan sedan and the upcoming SUV.
But, if you are still hung up on the outdated looks of the sedan with little shabby interiors, the auto major seems to put every effort to avoid any disappointment on that ground. The spotted car clearly shows some redesigned interiors with some additional this and that to make up for the looks the SUV demands especially with the price tag it carries.
However, Renault India might bring in the 4×2 variant of the compact SUV before the 4×4 variant, just like many car manufacturers are doing of late. More than anything else, it’s because the sales the two-wheel drive SUVs garner partially because of the low price tag they carry. Remember, the Duster goes head on with the Ford EcoSport, with the latter being a sub 4-meter compact SUV with expected price range of Rs 8- Rs 10 lakh.
Also see – Spied – Renault Duster in India, coming with 5 variants!
Source – MotorBeam.com
