Renault is preparing to expand the Duster's powertrain line-up with new automatic variants positioned below the existing 1.3-litre turbo-petrol DCT models. During the media drive of the new 1.0-litre turbo-petrol Duster, Renault Group India CEO Stephane Deblaise confirmed to Autocar India that the company will introduce more affordable automatic variants after being asked about the absence of an automatic option in the 1.0-litre range.
Automatic likely to be offered in lower trims
"We will introduce less expensive versions of an automatic. Ever since we launched the car, there are questions from customers about it (no 1.0-litre turbo-petrol automatic), and yes we think there is a kind of gap between the entry versions in the manual 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and the first version we have in automatic, so we will have more affordable automatic versions,” Deblaise said.
When pressed further on whether this would mean an automatic option for the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine or a lower-priced variant of the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol automatic, Deblaise said, “I am not saying what gearbox or engine, but only that we will have a new, less expensive automatic variant.”
Currently, the most affordable automatic in the Duster range is the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol Evolution variant, priced at Rs 14.49 lakh – about Rs 1 lakh more than the top-spec 1.0-litre manual. This leaves room for the introduction of a lower Authentic variant with the 1.3-litre automatic powertrain.
Duster 1.0 automatic also expected
Besides a lower-priced 1.3-litre turbo-petrol automatic, we understand that Renault is also exploring the option of equipping the 1.0-litre turbo engine with an automatic. The engine, also used in the Kiger, comes with a CVT gearbox; however, our sources indicate that both CVT and AMT options are not being considered for the Duster, as they do not provide the necessary drive experience expected in a midsize SUV like the Duster.
More powertrain options planned
Renault has introduced the new Duster range in stages, commencing deliveries of the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol versions first and the 1.0-litre turbo later. A strong-hybrid variant is also expected to join the line-up later this year.
Explaining the staggered rollout, Deblaise said Renault chose to prioritise individual powertrains rather than launch the entire range at once. “We were in a little bit of a hibernation, and you do not go from there to summer in one day, so we wanted to focus first on the 160 horsepower, then on the 100 horsepower, and following that the hybrid,” he said.
With inputs from Sergius Baretto
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
