Renault Kwid – World Debut

With their latest offering – Kwid, Renault has entered the compact car segment . The Kwid is based on an all new platform CMF-A by Renault-Nissan and marks the entry of Renault into the volume segment in India.The Kwid concept was earlier displayed at the Auto Expo 2014.

Chairman and Group CEO, Carlos Ghosn unveiled the Kwid and stated that it is a stylish, robust and easy to use vehicle. Renault aims to make Kwid a game-changer , with its dynamic profile and SUV kind looks, additionally offering a spacious and comfortable interior.The Kwid is a sub-4 metre car measuring 3.68 metres in length, is 1.58 metres wide and has a ground clearance of 180mm with short front and rear overhangs. The rectangular headlamps with a bold grill housing a prominent Renault logo and the rectangular wheel arches with black trim on the rear bumper also highlight SUV undertones.

The interiors have an uncluttered styling and the cabin feels airy with the large windows. The car is designed to seat five people in comfort. Headroom is generous and also the rear legroom is good enough. The Dashboard has prominent centre console in piano black finish with chrome surround and it houses the multimedia system with navigation and bluetooth telephony, sporting a 7 inch display. The speedometer console is fully digital. The Kwid also boasts of having the best-in-class boot capacity.

The car is slated to be launched in the second half of 2015 and will be priced in the range of Rs.3 to 4 lakhs. Powered by a 800cc petrol engine, it will compete with the Maruti Suzuki Alto, Hyundai Eon and Tata Nano. Renault says that all safety regulations for the Kwid shall be met. The Kwid is a global car that will be manufactured in Chennai and is a very important product for Renault. It has achieved 96% localisation in India. This vehicle would be launched in several other markets too but will face its biggest challenge in India. The CMF-A platform shall be used for manufacturing cars by Nissan too, thereby reducing costs.

The dealer network of Renault in India is growing and a brisk pace. Having crossed 157 sales and service facilities, it aims at reaching 205 facilities by end of 2015. Renault also aims at growing its market share to 5% with the help of Kwid and recently launched Lodgy.