Premier Limited, formerly called Premier Automobiles of the Padmini fame is trying to re-enter the car market with its SUV called the Rio. Earlier, they had launched the Rio with a petrol engine of a capacity of 1173 cc producing a power of 77bhp. It was launched across all the major metros and few select Tier II cities. Going by the market demand and judging the future potential for more diesel powertrains, they have offered a diesel version of the Rio, which is still not BSIV complaint.
The diesel engine plonked in the Rio is a 1489 cc engine producing a power output of 65 bhp. It is based on a Peugeot powertrain and is claimed to return an excellent mileage of 16 kmpl. The company is assembling the Rio in its plant in Pune. The Rio SUV is being sourced from the Chinese firm, Zoyte group and the design is based on a model from the Daihatsu stable. The prices of the Rio start from Rs. 4.7 lakhs (ex-showroom, Pune) and goes all the way to Rs. 6.3 lakhs. It is available in 4 variants. All the models feature power steering, front power windows, electrically operated door mirrors, roof-rails, central locking and CD/Mp3 players. Additionally, the top-end models will come with ABS, keyless entry and alloy wheels. The company is also aiming to strengthen its dealer network from 50 dealers to 100 in the coming months.
