Renault Kayou (XBA) spotted testing in India

Renault’s upcoming hatchback, the Kayou, has been spotted undergoing trials in Tamil Nadu. Internally called XBA, this entry-level hatchback is going to be globally unveiled on May 20, with an Indian launch expected in the later part of this year.

The spy shots show that like any typical budget hatchback, the XBA will feature compact dimensions with minimal overhangs on both ends and a high roofline. Like its technical partner’s budget hatchback – the Datsun RediGO, the XBA will feature angular lines and a sharply raked windscreen to give it a funky look. Built around Renault’s modular Common Module Family (CMF-A) platform, the Renault Kayou will house a 0.8-litre three-pot petrol engine under the hood. This engine will be available with a five-speed manual as well as a clutchless gearbox, just like Maruti Suzuki’s AMT Easy Drive transmission.

With prices expected to start around the Rs 2.5 lakh mark, the Kayou will rival the likes of the Chevrolet Spark, Tata Nano, Datsun Go and the Hyundai Eon. Like the rest of the Renault range, the XBA will be produced at Renault-Nissan’s manufacturing unit in Oragadam, Chennai, which will also act as the hatchback’s export hub for the French manufacturer’s other global markets.