The Renault Duster is on its way to get a distinctive facelift which is scheduled for introduction at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The bold price tag and the mediocre interior ergonomics have disappointed a few prospective buyers but the launch of the Duster has worked as a catalyst in developing the company’s prestige in India. Renault has been selling good numbers of the Duster in our country. Even in the international markets the Duster has earned several praises where the Dacia nameplate is being used.
The Renault Duster was first time launched in Europe in 2010 and the automaker has not introduced any update on it yet. As mentioned earlier, the facelifted model is under development and will be significantly revised from toe to head. The exterior design will be more appealing and significant changes will be brought down to the headlamps, tail lamps, alloys along with new sharp creases on the bumpers that will shed the blunt design of the current model. High resemblance between the facelifted model and the D-Cross Concept (pictured here) is expected.
The interior will be revised with a new dashboard, better ergonomics, correct placement of switches, multi-function navigation system on the center console and use of up-market fabric for the seats. The sound insulation which is a setback for Duster owners will also be improved as promised by the company. The power trains will produce the same power figures but the emission norms will be improved. It is very likely that Renault will launch the updated Duster in India with a CVT transmission along with introducing a 4X4 drive train.
The competition in the compact-SUV segment is booming in India. Ford has launched the much-awaited EcoSport with a surprising price tag while Nissan has confirmed the launch of Terrano and Mahindra is developing a tailored down version of the XUV500. The mid-life facelift for the Duster will be showcased in September, therefore we can expect the model in our market by the end of the year. The prices will be the same for the current variants and if the company launches the Duster with new drive trains (CVT and 4X4), the prices will higher accordingly.
Source – LaTribune
