Has also started testing in Europe.
Indian Autos Blog reader, Mr. Vikram Kumar, snapped these images of the Renault XBA (reported to be called the Renault Kayou) testing in the city of Chennai recently. Renault announced that it will debut the small car in an event in Chennai on May 20, 2015.
When launched in India (expected to go on sale in the second half of this year), the Renault Kayou will be a sub-4 lakhs offering targeting the likes of the Maruti Alto 800 and the Hyundai Eon. Like its rivals, the Kayou too will be powered by a 0.8-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, though it could get an automated manual transmission apart from a 5-speed manual unit.
The Kayou will debut the CMF-A (Common Modular Family - Affordable) architecture in the Indian market, following which Datsun's third model, codenamed 'I2', will also make use of the same platform. A diesel variant is not planned on both these cars.
Also read: Renault positions Captur above India-made Duster in South Africa
Renault have also started testing the Kayou in Europe, where prices are reported to start from as low as 5,000 EUR (INR 3.61 lakhs). For the European market, the Kayou would be manufactured at a plant in Tangier, Morocco.
Rivals: Tata Nano variants, Datsun redi-Go, Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon
Expected Price: INR 3-4 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch date: May 20, 2015 (unveiling)