Renault Duster’s base variant may ditch touchscreen. Here’s reason to think so

Renault Duster’s base variant may ditch touchscreen. Here’s reason to think so

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 17 Mar 2024, 13:52 PM

The base variant of Dacia Duster SUV, which has influenced the upcoming new generation Renault Duster, has ditched the touchscreen infotainment system

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The base variant of the Dacia Duster SUV, which has influenced the upcoming new generation Renault Duster, has ditched the touchscreen infotainment system.

Before the launch of the Renault Kwid, the Renault Duster SUV remained one of the most successful cars from the French auto giant in the Indian market. Now, the car manufacturer is aiming to bring back the SUV to India again in late 2024. Renault has already unveiled the SUV a few months back. Based on the previously unveiled Dacia Duster, the new generation Renault Duster looks bolder than the model used to be sold in India.

Now, a new image has surfaced revealing the interior of the Dacia Duster’s base variant, which possibly previews the interior of the upcoming Renault Duster’s base variant as well. As it appears, the base variant of the SUV would miss out on a touchscreen infotainment system. However, there is a panel where the consumers can install a touchscreen infotainment unit from aftermarket. Overall, the base variant of the Renault SUV may look spartan in terms of distal interfaces.

Watch: 2024 Renault Duster breaks cover with bolder design, new engine

Speaking of the styling and features, the three-spoke multifunction steering wheel would come featuring a new and chunky look. The steering may come similar to the Dacia Duster one and sport a flat vibe at the top and bottom, while it would carry a plethora of control buttons. While the base variant may miss out on the touchscreen infotainment system, it would come with a fully digital instrument cluster. Among other features on the dashboard, there would be sharp-looking AC vents with horizontal slats and rotary dials for climate control functions at the centre console.

Interestingly, the rise of touch-sensitive digital interfaces and capacitive touchpad screens in modern cars has become a safety concern. The drivers tend to take their eyes off the road to navigate through the menus on the touchscreen to access various features. This is a major issue the Euro NCAP has recently highlighted. Hence, the safety rating agency has stated that from 2026, it will penalize automakers by lowering the safety rating of a car that doesn’t have physical control buttons for certain functions.

While the entry-level variants of many cars often come sans any touchscreen infotainment systems, in the last few years, even affordable small cars come with such units. The upcoming Renault Duster will not come as an affordable model. Instead, it would be positioned above the Kiger as an upmarket SUV. Hence it would be interesting to see if Renault India introduces the touchscreen infotainment system in the base variant of the car or continues with the spartan look visible in the Dacia Duster’s base variant.

First Published Date: 17 Mar 2024, 13:52 PM IST


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Renault India to drive out 5 models in next 3 years, focus likely on new Duster

Renault India to drive out 5 models in next 3 years, focus likely on new Duster

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  • Renault promises to play the SUV game in India much stronger than it has so far while also confirming an EV for the market over the next three years.
Renault India will drive out the next-generation Triber and Kiger models, an EV and two SUVs in the country in the next three years.

Renault India may have found the going tough over the past few years in the market here because of just three models in the portfolio and all of these three are ageing too. But the French automaker is now promising to fight back and is all set to enter the SUV space as well as electric segment. Renault officials on Tuesday confirmed as many as five launches over the next three years.

Renault, bolstered previously by the enormous success of the Duster only for the model to fade out, is now promising to enter the SUV game with renewed vigour. As such, two new SUVs are being promised for India – a B+ SUV and a C SUV. Although the company stopped short of openly naming Duster, it is more likely that the latest version of the model launched under the Dacia brand in Europe is the one that will also make its way into India. “We are saying that we will bring in a C SUV in the next three years. But I am not saying it will definitely be the Duster,” said Venkatram Mamillapalle, Renault India MD, when asked about the specifics. As for the B+ SUV segment, it refers to the more premium end of the sub-compact SUV space.

At present, Renault offers Kiger in the Indian market and the model competes in the entry-level SUV space, priced between ₹6.50 lakh and ₹11.20 lakh (ex-showroom). But while targeting a young set of buyers, the model hasn’t exactly been a rousing success just yet. The company on Tuesday also launched an updated version of the Kiger, complete with more features. The next-generation Kiger will also be introduced over the course of the next three years while the next-generation Triber, the company’s three-row MPV in the sub- ₹10 lakh bracket will also be brought in.

Also interesting is that Renault has confirmed entering the EV space in India over the next three years but once again, stopped short of elaborating which model or which price bracket this option would eventually be driven out in.

First Published Date: 09 Jan 2024, 12:04 PM IST


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Renault Kwid, Triber & Kiger get year-end discounts up to ₹65,000. Check out

Renault Kwid, Triber & Kiger get year-end discounts up to ₹65,000. Check out

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Starting with the Renault Kwid, the MY2023 version gets a maximum discount of ₹50,000 including a cash discount of ₹20,000, an exchange benefit of ₹20,000 on select variants and an additional ₹10,000 cash discount for loyal customers. The hatchback also gets a corporate discount of up to ₹12,000, while rural buyers including farmers, sarpanch and Gram Panchayat members will get a ₹5,000 discount. The Kwid RXE variant and Urban Night Limited Edition only get loyalty and exchange benefits with no cash discounts available.

Also Read : 2024 Renault Duster makes global debut with 4×4 and hybrid powertrain

The Renault Kwid, Kiger and Triber get additional loyalty benefits for existing customers

The MY2023 Renault Triber also gets benefits up to ₹50,000 including a ₹20,000 cash discount on select variants, an exchange bonus of ₹20,000 and an additional ₹10,000 cash discount for loyal customers. Much like the Kwid, the Triber also gets a ₹12,000 corporate discount and a ₹5,000 cash discount for rural customers.

On the Renaut Kiger, the subcompact SUV gets maximum benefits of up to ₹65,000 including cash benefits up to ₹20,000 on the RXZ and ₹25,000 on the RXT and RXT (O) Turbo variants. The model also gets an exchange benefit of ₹20,000 in cash on select variants for loyal customers. The automaker will offer additional loyalty offers on submission of proofs by the customer. The Kiger RXE variant only gets loyalty benefits and no cash discount will be applicable. Similarly, the Kiger Urban Night Limited Edition gets only loyalty and exchange benefits.

Also Read : Renault plans big EV and hybrid offensive, to launch three new models in India.

Furthermore, the MY2023 Kiger gets a corporate discount of RS 12,000, while a rural of ₹5,000 is applicable for farmers, sarpanch and gram panchayat members. The automaker will also offer a ₹10,000 discount under the RELIVE scrappage program for users scrapping their old vehicles.

The aforementioned offers will vary depending on the dealership, region, colour, variant, and availability, among other factors. Please make sure to check the final discounts with your preferred dealer. Other automakers and dealers are also offering discounts on their respective offerings, so make sure to check out the market for the best deals this December. In related news, Renault announced service assistance to customers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the wake of Cyclone Michaung.

First Published Date: 10 Dec 2023, 11:21 AM IST


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Renault extends support to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung

Renault extends support to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung

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Renault India has announced support for its customers in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh who have been affected by Cyclone Michaung. The French automaker announced free roadside assistance for the affected customers, while it also launched a 24×7 helpline among other benefits. The automaker also claimed that it had initiated SMS alerts and company app notifications prior cyclone to inform its customers about vehicle safeguarding measures.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 09 Dec 2023, 10:10 AM

Renault extends support to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung by launching free RSA and a 24×7 helpline.

Over the last two days, several automakers including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota, Jeep, and Audi have announced supportive measures for their respective customers who have been affected by the cyclone. Now, Renault has joined the list as it has announced a comprehensive support initiative for its customers.

Also Read : Citroen, Jeep join other carmakers, extend assistance to customers affected by Cyclone Michaung floods

Watch: Renault Kiger 2021: First drive review

The car manufacturer in an official release has said that it is offering roadside assistance to help customers transport their vehicles to the nearest dealerships free of cost. The company also claimed that it would reimburse the towing costs incurred by customers who independently arranged for transporting their vehicles. Renault claims to have deployed an additional fleet of 15 towing trucks throughout Tamil Nadu to prioritise recovery of flood-affected vehicles. Also, it has set up a 24×7 helpline ensuring the customers prompt and efficient assistance.

Speaking about the measures taken, Sudhir Malhotra, Vice President of Sales Marketing at Renault India Private Limited (RIPL), said the automaker has pledged to provide robust support to its customers affected by the Chennai floods. “During these hard times, Renault India, in solidarity with other OEMs, provides robust support to our customers affected by the Chennai floods. Our all-encompassing initiatives, spanning proactive communication and hands-on assistance, underscore our unwavering commitment to offering 24/7 aid to our customers in Tamil Nadu. Renault India will continue to remain vigilant, continuously monitoring the situation and adjusting our efforts to address the changing needs of the community and our customers. We stand united in these challenging times,” he added.

First Published Date: 09 Dec 2023, 10:10 AM IST


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Nissan Magnite Kuro edition launched at ₹8.27 lakh

Nissan Magnite Kuro edition launched at ₹8.27 lakh

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Nissan Motor has launched the Kuro edition of the Magnite SUV in India. The carmaker has announced that the price of this special edition Magnite to commemorate ICC World Cup Cricket will start from ₹8.27 lakh (ex-showroom). The carmaker had opened the bookings for the Magnite Kuro at ₹11,000 last month. Wrapped in an all-black exterior and interior theme, Magnite Kuro will basically be the black edition of one of the most affordable SUVs in India. Kuro is a Japanese word which means Black in English. The carmaker recently unveiled the Magnite Kuro edition revealing its design and features ahead of the launch.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 07 Oct 2023, 13:12 PM

Nissan Motor has launched the Kuro edition of the Magnite SUV which comes with an all-black theme.

Nissan Magnite Kuro, based on the XV trim of the SUV, is available in three top-spec variants which include the XV MT, Turbo XV MT and Turbo XV CVT. The price of the Turbo XV MT is ₹9.65 lakh (ex-showroom) while the Turbo XV CVT will cost ₹10.46 lakh (ex-showroom). While there are no direct rivals for Magnite Kuro, it is likely to take on the Renault Kiger SUV’s Urban Knight special edition launched last month.

Nissan Magnite Kuro variants will come with similar glossy black exterior colour scheme. The Magnite Kuro will get blacked out grille, skid plates, bumpers, headlight accents, door handles and roof rails painted in black. The only chrome on the exterior is theNissan and Magnite badgings at the front and rear. The alloy wheels will come with red calipers offering some colour relief from black. Overall, there are no design changes in the Magnite Kuro edition.

The all-black theme continues inside the cabin as well. The dashboard, centre console, seats and upholstery has the monotone. Some of the elements inside the cabin have been given piano-black treatment for more premium look. The feature-list remains similar with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital driver display, wireless charging among others.

There are no changes under the hood of the Magnite Kuro edition either. Nissan will continue to offer the same 1.0-litre petrol and 1.0-litre turbo petrol units that power the standard versions of the SUV. The naturally-aspirated petrol motor is capable of generating 71 bhp of power and 96 Nm of peak torque. The turbo petrol engine can churn out around 99 bhp of power and 152 Nm of peak torque.

Nissan will also launch a new variant of the Magnite SUV on October 12. The new variant will come with an AMT gearbox and will be called the EZ Shift variant.

The standard variants of the Magnite SUV is offered at a starting price of ₹6 lakh (ex-showroom). The top-spec variant of the SUV costs ₹10.86 lakh (ex-showroom).

First Published Date: 07 Oct 2023, 13:12 PM IST


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Hyundai Exter receives more than 50,000 bookings, AMT is in demand

Hyundai Exter receives more than 50,000 bookings, AMT is in demand

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Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has announced that they have received more than 50,000 bookings for the Exter. Bookings grew from 10,000 to 50,000 in just 30 days of launch. Hyundai has also revealed that more than one-third of the bookings are for the AMT variants. Hyundai Exter’s main rival is the Tata Punch. The Exter is currently priced between ₹6 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Both prices are ex-showroom and introductory.

By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 09 Aug 2023, 14:21 PM

Hyundai Exter is the tallest and has the longest wheelbase in its segment. (HT Auto/Sabyasachi Dasgupta)

The Exter is being sold in seven variants. There is EX, EX(O), S, S(O), SX, SX(O) and SX(O) Connect. Hyundai Exter is offered with a 3-year (unlimited kilometres warranty) along with an option of 7 years of extended warranty. The micro SUV is available with 6 Monotone and 3 Dual tone exterior colour options.

The Exter really made a mark in the market by offering several segment-first features. It comes with footwell lighting, metal pedals, a shark-fin antenna, a smart electric sunroof, a dashcam with dual cameras, a wireless charger, rear AC vents, premium floor mats, paddle shifters, on-board navigation and support for multiple languages.

Powering the Exter is a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that is doing duty on other Hyundai models. It produces 81.86 bhp of max power and 113.8 Nm of peak torque. While running on CNG, these figures are reduced to 68 bhp and 95.2 Nm. The max power arrives at 6,000 rpm while the peak torque output arrives at 4,000 rpm.

The Petrol powertrain comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 5-speed AMT. The CNG powertrain only gets a 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine is quite smooth and refined. Moreover, the manual gearbox also slots in with a positive feel and while the AMT gearbox shifts with a minimal head nod, making it one of the best AMTs in the market. Interestingly, the Exter AMT is also offered with paddle shifters.

Watch: Hyundai Exter SUV: First Drive Review

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “With Hyundai EXTER, we have continued our pursuit of democratizing advanced technology, superior quality, next-gen features, safety and comfort for customers. This SUV has redefined benchmarks in the country and offers customers superior safety with 6 Airbags as standard and ESC, VSM, HAC available across all trims as option. The response to EXTER is euphoric, so much so that the bookings have zoomed from 10,000 prelaunch to 50,000 plus in less than 30 days of launch. What is also interesting to witness is that the trims with sunroof constitute more than 75% of total bookings signaling a big thumbs up from the customers for the segment raising benchmark features introduced in the EXTER. HMIL would like to sincerely thank our customers for their trust and love for Hyundai EXTER and we are confident that the Hyundai SUV Life will continue to elevate their aspirations.”

First Published Date: 09 Aug 2023, 14:21 PM IST


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