Renault India reveals new AMT-equipped Duster at Auto Expo

Renault India today showcased the face-lifted Duster along with an all-new AMT version of the SUV at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi. Badged the Easy-R, the six-speed automated manual transmission will also debut on the entry level Kwid hatchback. 

The changes in the facelifted Renault Duster include a new twin-slat chrome grille and new headlamps along with LED tail-lights.

Speaking with Autocar Professional at the sidelines of the unveil, Sumit Sawhney, MD and CEO, Renault India, disclosed that the AMT transmission will only be offered in the diesel version of the Duster. AMTs have been well received in the country since they offer the convenience of an automatic while offering the fuel efficiency of a manual.

Sawhney also confirmed that the new Duster would be available in the Indian market in the first quarter of this year. Renault will also launch an all-wheel drive variant of the new Duster.

Renault says that the new Duster has an evolved ‘T4 Electrical & Electronics’ and new ‘CM010’engine compartment which is said to improve the safety quotient. The other new features include auto AC, cruise control and an updated media navigation system.

Speaking about the company's recent ramp up of the dealer network in India, Sawhney revealed that Renault India now has 205 dealerships in the country and will cross the 240 outlets mark by the end of 2016.

Service network expansion is the top priority for Renault India along with ramping up of production in India, Sawhney said.

Given the strong demand for the Kwid, customers have seen long waiting periods of six months and above on the car. According to Sawhney, Renault India is in process of increasing the production of the car to shorten the queues. "We are currently making 6,000 units of the Kwid a month, which will be ramped up to 8,000 this month and to 10,000 units in March. We are looking to bring down the waiting period to less than 2 months on the car," said Sawhney.

Easy-R: affordable two-pedal transmission
Renault says Easy-R takes the strain out of motoring because it is easy to use and provides the convenience of a gearbox without a clutch pedal. It is fitted with computer-controlled electromechanical actuators that perform a surrogate role for the driver, declutching, changing gear and then re-engaging the clutch. The Easy-R automated manual transmission has two operational modes tailored to cover every situation: ‘Drive’ and ‘Manual’ (impulse shift). 

In ‘Drive’ mode, the computer controls gearshifts according to prevailing running conditions. Changes are timed according to factors such as engine revs, vehicle speed, driving style and so on. In ‘Manual’ (impulse shift) mode, the driver assumes full control of gear changes.

Compared with a traditional manual gearbox, the Easy-R automated manual transmission offers:

Ease of use and greater comfort: The ‘Drive’ mode frees the driver from certain actions (disengagement/re-engagement of the clutch and gear selection). The transmission chooses the best compromise between fuel economy and acceleration, so there’s no risk of stalling and the engine will neither labour nor over-rev.

In ‘Manual’ mode (impulse shift), performance becomes even more dynamic and responsive as the driver decides when to select and change gears. They can choose an appropriate gear in the event of a sudden, unexpected passing manoeuvre, or when grip levels are low on snow, for example. All that’s required is to move the lever to the ‘M’ position and choose ‘+’ or ‘–‘ to shift up or down a gear.

In ‘Drive’ mode, the gearbox automatically changes down to access maximum performance should brisk acceleration be needed (kick down). It can downshift one or two ratios to release the engine’s full power – a useful facility, for instance, when emerging from a slip road.

Improved manoeuvrability: In ‘Drive’ mode, the crawl function is optimised. As soon as you lift your foot from the brake, the vehicle automatically moves slowly forwards or backwards without any pressure being applied to the throttle. This facilitates low-speed manoeuvres (such as parallel parking) and – in conjunction with Hill Start Assist – helps to keep the car stable on gentle inclines. It is also a useful asset when proceeding slowly in traffic jams.

- Optimised economy: The automated manual gearbox provides identical fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures to its manual counterpart. As the actuators are required only during gear changes, the Easy-R suffers far fewer energy losses than a conventional automatic transmission.

Quality & durability: The shift from hydraulic to electro-mechanical technology leads to greater driving finesse and improves both durability and reliability. During its development, the Easy-R transmission was evaluated for 130,000 hours on the dyno. Furthermore, every single Easy-R transmission receives thorough quality control checks as it leaves the assembly line.