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Renault to launch Sunny based Scala sedan soon [w/updated images]
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Renault is all set to launch a new car in the Indian market. Christened the Scala, this entry level sedan will be a rebadged version of the Nissan Sunny, and will go on sale around Diwali this year
Badge engineering is becoming the mantra of the hour these days in the automotive world, and why not, considering that it lets two separate auto companies dish out two separate offerings, catering to slightly different customers, while keeping costs down for everybody involved. The Renault-Nissan alliance has already done this once before with the Nissan Micra and the Renault Pulse, much in the same way as VW and Skoda do with the Polo and the Fabia. And now, the French-Japanese group has taken one more page out of the VW-Skoda group. Just as Skoda makes the Rapid sedan from VW’s Vento, Renault will be making a new sedan, to be named the Scala, from Nissan’s entry-level sedan, the Sunny.
Renault plans on launching the Scala in India around Diwali time, and as such, will become the French automakers fifth car launched in the country in fifteen months. Of course, mechanically, things should remain the same as the Sunny, and should feature both the same engines that the Nissan currently offers - the 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 99PS of power and the 1.5-litre diesel motor which makes 86PS. But that being said, with the current trends post petrol price hike, there also remains the possibility that we might not see the petrol-powered Scala for a little longer.
Changes should be restricted to more cosmetic tweaks and updates on similar lines to the way Renault did with the Nissan Micra to arrive at the Pulse. Expect some reworked lights, slightly modified front fascia and pretty much not too much else. One good thing is that it will maintain the brilliant interior and boot space that the Sunny offers. And just how much will the Scala will be priced at? Considering that the Sunny checks in at Rs 6-9 lakh, expect to pay a premium of Rs 50,000 for each equivalent variant of the Scala.
Or Renault might just adopt the same strategy that they have used with the Pulse, and simply do away with the very basic entry level models. In any case, keep checking this space for the upcoming drive story of the Scala, which you shall be able to read by the end of this month. But what we do know as of now is that the new re-badged sedan from Renault will carry two petrol and diesel variants. There will also be an additional CVT petrol model on offer to interested customers.
SLIDESHOW: Renault Scala First Look!
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Readers' opinions ( 6 )
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Ritam
Renault should have brought its own European flavored cars in India which are sporty and should have left the Nissan brand make smaller and fuel efficient Japanese cars. Instead by bringing the same products under different brand names and in some cases different pricing, it is killing its own image. If they would have focused on bringing some European safety with the money they would have saved in the badge engineering, they could have had a winner in their hands.
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Namo
I have seen Sunny (nisan version) in Dubai, it is a decent car. It is a short car compared to other sedans by Nissan, it is not a "caaaaaar" as nisan falsly advertising it.
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dennis
Why are they doing this in the Indian market relaunching a same vehicle introduced by nissan ,instead of scala they should have brought renault safrane which would have given fresh look. Scala's front portion is similar to pulse,interior same as that of nissan what makes it apart is only the badging, anyway this will not be a head turner
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Anshuman Accanoor
What's the point? I mean, why is Renault trying to take vehicles which are already in the market, then re-badging them, and reselling it as a Renault product? I've seen some of Renault's own cars, and they are really nice. This, however, would brand them as a company that only owns some badges, and a few body workers who'll tinker these other cars, and make them look a tad different, and then sell them.
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Kinshuk
With current dynamics Sunny is not a head turner anyway and so Scala will be mostly . Renault should introduce Twingo and Megane instead of a staright forward copied form factor , moreover Renault should improve their customer care and should start responding to their inquiries which they are ignoring completely these days after Duster's launch . mind you duster's success won't last long if it continues
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Ramu
Renault is a failure in India since they are still thinking white skin superiority and bringing only third class products to India.
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