French car manufacturer Renault is gearing up again to bring in a new car to India. This time, the car will be a compact-SUV built on the Kwid platform. Renault’s Triber, a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) is due for a launch later this year, which is a 7-seater car based on the Renault Kwid platform. The Triber can be considered as a more upmarket iteration of the Datsun Go+.
According to reports, the new compact SUV will be codenamed – HBC and will launch in 2020. It is expected to be positioned between the Renault Triber, which is placed above the Kwid, and the Renault Duster.
Renault plans to double its annual sales volume to 1,50,000 units in India. Renault plans to achieve this target by launching these two new products, the Triber and HBC, and achieve the break-even as per their mid-term plan. This will increase the brand’s platform portfolio as well as profitability in the Indian market.
The Triber MUV based on the Kwid platform and the new compact SUV the HBC may be powered by a similar engine with more power and displacement. The Renault Triber is expected to be powered by a 1-litre, 3-cylinder petrol with an increased power output of 75-80 PS coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Also, a turbocharged version of the 1-litre engine with an AMT (automated manual transmission) may be developed.
The Renault Duster is powered by a petrol engine, a 1498cc, 4-cylinder motor that makes 106 PS of power @ 5600 RPM coupled to a manual transmission or an X-Tronic CVT automatic gearbox. And a diesel variant that has a 1461cc, engine with 85 PS of power @ 3750 RPM and the same 1461cc block also producing 110 PS of power @ 4000 RPM.
As the HBC sits in between these two cars it could get options from these engines.
In addition to the HBC and the Triber, Renault is expected to bring out facelifts of the Renault Kwid and Duster soon in 2019.