Renault has just notified IndianAutosBlog.com that its V-Platform hatchback will be revealed on the 29th of this month by Mr Carlos Taveras, the COO of Renault s.a.s. The branding and strategy of the B+ segment hatchback should be discussed during the staging. This is only an unveiling so variants, exact specifications and prices are likely to divulged only at the Auto Expo in January.
IAB can confirm that the small car to be shown in a few days has no connection to the Modus. There has been widespread confusion as the Modus is here on validation tests. Both should not be twinned as the Modus sits on the B-Platform while Renault has made it clear that the small car for our market is its version of the V-Platform. This is not the Clio, Twingo or the Sandero either. It’s an all-new small car designed with inputs from Renault’s designers at the Mumbai studio.
Powertrains are expected to be retained from the Micra. A thorough reskinning will give it very little in common with the Micra.
[Image - Renault Twingo used merely for illustrative purpose and is not related to the premium hatch]
Its raining small cars here in india with cut throat competition is only growing each day.great days ahead for consumers!!
To make this a success Renault should give it in a car that has decent interiors, space and mileage with a VFM-TCO. Not much of frills are required though people are not averse. For example stop start is not perceived a great thing in that crowd. But power windows and power mirror adjustments are. Similarly automatic climate control does not make sense to me as it is pretty hot and have to be cooling all the time.
But i would like to have seat height adjustments and also steering as it makes lot of sense to me. I am not alone there’s pretty big crowd thinking in similar lines. What is required is renault designers need to think.
I agree with you. Some things are not considered essential by a many people. For me, bluetooth, voice activated controls, press stop start, automatic climate control, automatic wipers – rain sensors, parking sensors, the rate of acceleration from 0-100, and cruise control are not important. But high on my list are: bigger alloy wheels, fog lamps, power windows, ABS-EBD, airbags, adjustable seats and steering wheels.
I totally agree with both of you’ll. I hope all Indian hatchback customers think in the same way.. and stop buying “Made for India” cars like Etios twins, Brio and many more. These companies have treated India like some 3rd world country and dumped the most downgraded products.