A diesel variant will not be offered.
Indian Autos Blog reader, Mr. Shriram Neelakandan, snapped these images of the rear of the Renault XBA on the Chennai-Bangalore highway. Codenamed XBA, the small car is likely to be called Renault Kayou when it is unveiled on May 20, 2015.
This month's unveiling in Chennai will mark the world premiere of the small car, and the first world premiere of a global Renault model outside Europe. Reports also suggest that the Kayou, in certain European markets, would be badged a Dacia to better position and price it in the entry-level segment.
Based on the CMF-A platform, the Kayou will be sold with a 0.8-liter three-cylinder petrol engine when it launches in India later this year. Likely paired to automated manual and manual transmissions, the Kayou will compete for fuel efficiency with the likes of the Maruti Alto 800 (India's best selling model) and the Hyundai Eon. A diesel engine will not be offered on the Kayou though.
Also read: Renault Lodgy 110 PS - Review
Renault India's CEO, Mr. Sumit Sawhney, confirmed that the small car will be priced under INR 4 lakhs when launched. It will be manufactured at the Renault Nissan Alliance plant in Oragadam, Chennai, though the company is yet to reveal if it will also export the Kayou from this plant.
Rivals: Hyundai Eon,Tata Nano variants, Maruti Alto, Datsun redi-Go
Expected Price: INR 3-4 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: May 20, 2015 (unveiling)
