New Renault Kwid Variant Teased - Launch Soon?

Renault is teasing a new car on its social platforms - and it looks like the Kwid, but with a twist. There are reports that this is going to be a new variant of the Kwid and will be called the Kwid Climber. Also, it is expected to be based on the 1.0-litre variant of the little hatch.

If the Kwid Climber name sounds familiar, it is because the name adorned one of two concept cars shown by Renault at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. The Kwid Climber Concept showed what an off-roading version of the tough-looking Kwid could look like. It featured a higher ground clearance (standard Kwid has 180mm of GC), shorter overhang, redesigned body cladding and knobby tyres. 

The variant of the Kwid has been teased with two images, and both seem to show a car which may also borrow elements from the other concept Renault showed at the Auto Expo - the Kwid Racer. The teasers show a car with a front splitter element on the bumper with orange inserts, roof rails with orange inserts, blue body paint and orange ORVM covers.

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The teasers suggest that the new variant of the Kwid will 'Steal the limelight' and is 'Style redefined' - which point to the fact that it could just be a cosmetic upgrade over the standard car with no mechanical changes. 

The Kwid range in India is currently offered with two engines: a 0.8-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol developing 54PS/72Nm and a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol developing 68PS/91Nm. The smaller engine is only available with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the bigger motor can also be had with a 5-speed automated manual transmission(AMT).

The Kwid Climber edition, when launched, will be the second such variant of the popular car to be offered in India after the 'Live For More' Edition launched in January 2017.

Meanwhile, the Maruti Suzuki Alto seems to be unfazed by the rise of the Renault Kwid in the segment - an average of 21,500+ units of the Alto 800 and the Alto K10 combined have been sold every month in the past half a year.