With the Kwid’s chief rivals, the Maruti Alto and Hyundai Eon having a more powerful engine on offer, Renault plans to give its entry-level model a 1.0-litre engine which will come with safety equipment as standard.
You read it first on Motorbeam. The Chennai based manufacturer barged into the entry-level hatch segment with the all new Kwid. The pricing accompanied with the SUVish looks and plenty of ‘first in segment’ features made sure that the baby Renault was a sure shot hit. The variants priced between Rs. 2.56 lakh to Rs. 3.53 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), have already fetched Renault 70,000 bookings. As of now 5200 units have been delivered but unfortunately there has been a setback to the delivery rate because of the recent floods in Chennai; the waiting period shooting up to 10 months (for some models).
Though the numbers are marching towards north, Renault has faced backlash for missing out key safety features like ABS and side airbag. But looks like the French automaker did consider the feedback and have addressed the issues. Our source has confirmed that the 2016 Renault Kwid is set to become powerful and safer. The Kwid will be getting a 1.0-litre petrol engine and the vehicle will be offered with ABS and dual airbags. Renault is currently testing the model for durability and the launch announcement can be expected in the first half of next year.
The Renault Kwid is currently powered by a 0.8-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 53.2 BHP of maximum power and 72 Nm of peak torque where as the vehicle is claimed to deliver a fuel economy of 25.17 km/l, the highest for any petrol car in India.
By mid-2016, the Renault Kwid would be available with both 0.8-litre and 1.0-litre engine options and one can expect ABS and airbags to be available right from the base trims (on the 1-litre engine). It is a good sign that gradually vehicle manufacturers are gearing up for the 2017 Bharat NVSAP regulations, where all cars will be subjected to crash tests.
