Priced at Rs 14.40lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the fully loaded petrol CVT and Rs 12.99lakh for the diesel variant, the Fluence will go head to head with the VW Jetta and Skoda Laura.

 

Renault’s petrol motor will develop a modest 137bhp while the diesel will churn out 105bhp of max power. As per the company claims, the diesel powered Fluence will have an efficiency figure of 21.84kpl. The suspension will be well tuned for comfort and the ride is expected to be outstanding. Equipment levels will be on par with the competition and the fully loaded Fluence will sport gizmos like Keyless Start, Bluetooth Connectivity, dual zone climate control, ESP and four airbags to name a few.

 

The Renault’s new saloon is far removed from the Logan’s square lines. It looks terrific from almost any angle and in India will certainly stand out from the mundane and generic styling of its rivals.

 

“The Renault Fluence was designed for the Asian market and hence we are confident that it will not only shake up the segment, but also give the Indian customer their first taste of what Renault is capable of bringing to the Indian market,” said Marc Nassif, Renault India managing director.

 

In India, the Fluence will be assembled from CKD kits shipped in from Renault's Turkey plant, but expect a fair bit of local content which will be essential to keep costs down.

Nassif has also stated that the company is still carrying out feasibility reports for its Ultra Low Cost car which will be jointly developed with Bajaj Auto. "If the ULC really matches our DNA, we will go ahead. If the quality of development matches with the promises we see, we will go ahead," said Nassif.

Renault has claimed it will have 14 dealerships in 12 major cities by the time its Fluence is launched. The car manufacturer will expand its network by the end of this year, establishing 40 dealerships by December 2011 and further targeting 100 dealerships in 55 cities by the next year.

 

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