In September of 2015, French car manufacturer Renault launched its entry-level small car – the Renault Kwid. The Renault Kwid has been the company’s best seller here in India and now Renault is preparing to give the Kwid a much deserved facelift. According to the recent spy shots which were taken of a test car in camouflage covers near Pune, the Renault Kwid is seen with a new design on the front and is also expected to come with an updated BSVI engine and other new safety features as per the ARAI mandate.
On the exterior, the overall design cues come from the Renault Kwid EV (Electric Vehicle) that was recently showcased in China can be noted. The headlights get a split type design with the main beam unit on the bumper and sleek daytime running lights above it. The grille has horizontal slats and may have chrome garnish as we love that type of trim in India. The sides and the rear are relatively similar to the outgoing Kwid.
Like the exterior, the interior is also inspired by the EV Kwid’s design with a new digital instrument console and a touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control and rear air-conditioning vents. How many of these features come to our market remains to be seen.
In the engine department the current Renault Kwid is sold in two engine options:-
- 799cc, 3-cylinder, 12-valve engine that produces 54PS of power @ 5678 RPM and 72 Nm of torque @ 4386 RPM
- 999cc, 3-cylinder, 12-valve engine producing 68 PS of power @ 5500 RPM and 91 Nm of torque @ 4250 RPM
Both engines are coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission. The AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) option is only available with the larger 1.0-litre engine option.
The outgoing Renault Kwid comes with a driver side airbag, ABS, EBD, driver and passenger seatbelt reminder and over speed alert as standard safety features. Other features include integrated headrest on the front seats, integrated neck rest on the rear seats, gear shift indicator, inner fuel lid release and boot release from the driver side etc., as standard equipment. A 17.64 cm touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and voice recognition is also available on top-end models.
The new 2020 Kwid will be based on the same CMF-A platform which is used by the current Kwid and is expected to be improved to meet the new strict crash safety standards and the engines are also expected to be upgraded to BSVI standards. The Renault Kwid is expected to debut at the Auto Expo 2020 or maybe later this year during the festive season.
In related news, Renault also plans to launch the Kwid platform based new Triber MPV, a small SUV and a compact sedan car soon in India.