Renault might have unveiled the Duster crossover in India at the 2012 Auto Expo but the company is not yet finished testing the vehicle yet. The Renault Duster was spotted on test in Chennai (near the Renault-Nissan plant) and could be on its final round of tests before being launched. Renault has confirmed the launch of the Duster for June 2012 and will initially offer the compact SUV in 2-wheel drive version only. A 4-wheel drive version will join the Duster line-up in 2013. Talking about the 4-wheel drive version, you will be quite surprised to know how capable an SUV the Duster is. Don’t believe us? Check out the video below.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXzvALmvXtk 540 375]
The Renault Duster will open up a new segment, being the first of the compact SUVs in India, with an expected price of Rs. 8-10 lakhs. Engine power will come through a petrol as well as a diesel engine but it is the 1.5-litre DCI diesel which will be doing the real volumes. The diesel Duster will be available in two sets of tunes, with the lower variants getting around 90 BHP of power, while the higher variants getting the second stage of tune to the K9K motor, resulting in 108 PS of power.
The feature list of the Duster is out as well, with Renault offering the basic equipment you would expect from a vehicle of this price. The Duster, which will be available in 5 variants would feature ABS, EBD, brake assist, dual airbags, keyless entry, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, etc. The Duster’s main competitor (the Ford EcoSport) will only come in by the end of the year, so expect Renault to enjoy the first mover advantage till then.
Spy Pictures Source – Turbos and Pistonz
