Renault India launches more powerful Kwid 1.0 at Rs 3.82 lakh

With a Rs 22,000 difference for 200cc more of power, expect a substantial shift of Kwid buyers to the new Kwid 1.0-litre model.

Renault India has launched a more powerful 1.0-litre variant of its bestselling model, the Kwid at Rs 3.82 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it just Rs 22,000 more than the similarly specced 800cc Kwid. 

The new Kwid is powered by a larger 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine which develops 68hp and 91Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a five-speed manual gearbox as standard though an AMT option is expected to join the line-up in the future. This engine delivers a claimed 23.01kpl, while the 800cc motor is good for 25.17kpl. The airbag-equipped RXT (O) is priced at Rs 3.95 lakh.  

There is little difference cosmetically between the 1.0-litre Kwid with its sibling, with the more powerful variant getting silver-finished wing mirror housings and a checkered strip along the lower door panels. The cabin remains unchanged from the smaller 799cc sibling.

Speaking at the launch today in New Delhi, Sumit Sawhney, country CEO and managing director, Renault India, said: “The Kwid has generated unprecedented success in its category. With the launch of the Kwid 1.0 litre, we look forward to welcoming more customers into the Renault family as we endeavour to aggressively build our presence in India.”

Available only in the top-spec RxT trim, the Kwid 1.0 gets the touchscreen infotainment system from its smaller sibling and a near-identical feature list with the option of a driver airbag. In addition, the Kwid 1.0 comes equipped with seat-belt pretensioners and load limiters, a segment first.

Explaining Renault’s strategy, Sawhney added: “Our roadmap for India is very clear, with an immediate goal of achieving a market share of over 5 percent. We will continue with our product offensive strategy in India, as is reinforced by the Kwid 1.0-litre SCe launch to substantially grow the brand in India. Together, with our product portfolio expansion strategy, we are also significantly increasing our sales and network reach in India. These efforts are matched by a clear strategy to enhance the customer brand experience, with several unique and pioneering initiatives already underway.”

The Kwid has helped Renault India significantly expand its market share. From a just 1.56% share of the Indian passenger vehicle market in July 2015, a year later, the carmaker has expanded its share to 4.66% in July 2016. Given the surging demand for the Kwid, expect the company to cross its targeted 5% market share later this fiscal.

The Kwid, which was Autocar India’s Car of the Year 2016, has been a very successful model for Renault India with the automaker having recorded sales of 75,955 units from September4 2-15 to July 2016. In July 2016, the Kwid sold a total of 9,897 units – its highest monthly sales.

The game-changing Kwid, which boasts a very high 98% level of localisation, also helped its creator Gérard Detourbet win Autocar Professional’s Man of the Year 2015 title, for leading the successful creation of the highly localised hatchback (98%) that represents Renault’s gutsy move in the Indian small car market. 

The Kwid, which has received 165,000 bookings thus far, is slated to touch the 100,000 sales landmark next month.

The launch of the more powerful 1.0-litre Kwid should help further strengthen the brand’s positioning in the segment with key rivals such as Maruti and Hyundai already offering 1.0-litre variants of the Alto and the Eon. It will also see Kwid buyers shift from the 800cc version to the new 1.0-litre variant. 

The Kwid will also make its debut in Brazil next year through the CKD route, as kits supplied by Renault India's Chennai manufacturing facility, the mother plant of the Kwid. 

Recommended: 

- Renault to launch Kwid in Nepal this month

- Renault Kwid - the sum of all parts