The India spec Renault Lodgy gets subtle updates to the exterior design and will be sharing many components with the Duster SUV.
The MPV space in India has finally opened up with more and more manufacturers bringing in their offerings in recent years. While the Toyota Innova remains the undisputed king in the segment, its throne has been challenged by many including the Maruti Ertiga and Honda Mobilio in the recent past. With the advent of 2015, the Innova’s reign has been challenged this time round by Renault India as it plans to launch the new Lodgy MPV in the country. While the official image of the India spec Lodgy has been teased by the company, the MPV was spotted testing by our reader Ashok Kumar in Chennai in complete camouflage.
Sold under Renault’s budget brand Dacia internationally, the 2015 Lodgy shares its underpinnings with the Duster compact SUV and will see a host of parts sharing inside the cabin. Compared to the international version, the India spec model gets a redesigned grille with chrome treatment, chrome body cladding at the sides and new alloy wheels. Reports also stated that the automaker has made the interiors a lot more premium over the Dacia version. We also expect additional features to be offered to compliment the premium upholstery and quality of materials on the MPV.
In terms of power, the tried and tested 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder dCi motor will be plonked under the hood of the 2015 Lodgy that has been tuned to offer the same 85 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The MPV is also expected to have a leading fuel efficiency figure when it hits the showroom early next year. Taking the fight to its rivals, the Renault Lodgy is expected to be priced very aggressively against competition and with promotional activities under way, the launch is expected to happen in the following weeks.
