Renault is planning to launch the Captur compact-SUV in the Indian market by 2016. Slotting below the Duster, the Captur will fight against the Ford EcoSport, Hyundai ix25 & Maruti Suzuki XA Aplha.
The Captur will be a sub-4 metre, compact-SUV and hence, pricing is expected to be very competitive. Also, the exterior design and dimensions look more with the times, and the Captur could appeal to a wider audience unlike the old school Duster. The Captur was first revealed in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show and has been on sale in France since 2013.
Renault is planning to use the same underpinnings from the Duster on the Captur, which will help in competitive pricing. Renault is also working on the KWID compact-SUV concept which is currently being developed by Renault India’s R&D centre. The Captur could be powered by a 1.2L petrol and a 1.5L diesel motor.
Although part sharing between the Duster and the Captur is inevitable, the Captur is expected to provide a more upmarket and premium interior and exterior design language. Images seen of the car in the international markets does suggest a refreshing change on the inside, compared to the Duster.
More details should crop up in a couple of months.
Source – AutoColumn