Renault unveils KWID as its new compact hatchback

Renault India has globally unveiled the KWID, their new compact hatchback, in Chennai today. The manufacturer has surprised one and all by the premiere of this new car packed with features and SUV-inspired looks.

The Renault KWID is based on the modular CMF-A platform and is the first car to be based on this platform. It is inspired by Renault's global design language, compact in size and gets 13- or 14-inch wheels. The car's black grille and headlamps are inspired from larger SUVs. The wheel arches and body cladding are testimony to the fact that Renault wants to promote the vehicle as a modern, bold and aggressive vehicle.

The equipment and feature list is something that no other car gets from the company's car line-up as of now. Many features like a seven-inch infotainment system and sat-nav are a segment first. The car gets a digital instrument cluster as standard feature, but airbags are optional.

The new hatchback is expected to be powered by an 800cc three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. There will be no diesel variant of the car, but Renault is claiming that the petrol returns the best-in-class fuel efficiency.

This upcoming KWID hatchback will be manufactured at the Chennai production facility under the Renault-Nissan alliance. The carmaker has made significant cost savings due to the CMF-A platform and with 98 per cent localisation, the company might be able to price the KWID in the Rs 3-4 lakh segment.

The Renault KWID might be launched for the Indian market in the festive season this year and might be exported to some emerging markets like Brasil, China and Russia. The company confirmed that the KWID will not be launched in Europe. In the Indian market, it will compete with the Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon in the entry-level segment.