2016 Auto Expo: Renault Kwid 1.0 Litre - Top 5 Facts

The 1.0-litre engine

In its current guise, the Renault Kwid comes powered by an 800cc engine. As its name indicates, the new Kwid ups the ante with a new 1.0-litre engine whose 4 valves per cylinder DOHC layout has been tuned to ensure low pressure drop and efficient valve lift for higher air filling, thus lending it more usable power at all stages of the rev range. Renault hasn’t divulged power figures of the new engine yet, but we reckon it will produce something in the range of 70 to 75PS, making it more powerful than the Maruti Alto K10.

5-speed AMT Gearbox

Of the two variants showcased at the Expo, the Easy-R is the Kwid that will come with a 5-speed automated manual transmission (AMT). Drawing upon Renault’s extensive experience in Formula 1 racing, the Kwid Easy-R’s AMT box can be operated via a circular knob located on the centre console. The Innovative Shift Control Dial with three modes – Reverse, Neutral, and Drive, has been designed for ease of use while an intelligent control unit automatically optimizes gear shifting in accordance with the driving conditions. Additionally, the Crawl function helps move the car forward and backwards slowly without any throttle input.

Features

The Kwid 1.0-litre is expected to come with ABS and driver airbag as standard, giving it an edge in the safety department. Inside, there’s a 4.1-inch touchscreen that can be used to control the infotainment system. It also boasts of a 300 litre boot space – the biggest in its segment – and 180mm of ground clearance that should come in handy while navigating our less-than-perfect roads.

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Variants

The current Renault Kwid is sold in the country in four variants, viz. Standard, RxE, RxL and RxT. We believe Renault will be offering the Kwid 1.0-litre with the same variants as its 800cc sibling. By the way, the gorgeous Kwid Climber and Kwid racer concepts that were also showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo are just what they are: show cars. We won’t be seeing them in showrooms anytime soon.

Expected Price

The Renault Kwid is expected to be priced around the Rs 4 lakh mark when it is launched here in India, which could be sometime in June/July 2016. It will go up against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 and the Hyundai Eon 1-litre.