Renault to launch Sunny based Scala sedan soon [w/updated images]

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.

Renault Scala First Look!