Renault India unveiled the Kwid hatchback in 1.0-litre engine and AMT tranmssion avatar in Auto Expo 2016. The company also unveiled the Racer and Climber compact of the Kwid at the show, and the latest reports indicate that 1.0-litre engine equipped Kwid is nearing launch.
A report in NDTV Auto confirms the company is scheduled to launch 1.0-litre model of Kwid in June this year. The report also says the AMT version, which was also on display at Auto Expo, will enter market in the festive season of the year.
The Kwid 1.0-litre is identical to the currently selling 800cc engine equipped model in terms of design, inside and out. The heart will be 1000cc petrol unit that is expected to develop over 65bhp mated to five-speed manual transmission. The 1.0-litre model is also expected to come with better safety features. Dual SRS airbags and ABS can be expected in the top-spec model. Renault is currently offering an optional single airbag only in the top-end RxT variant of the Kwid. The additions will invite a hike in price and the 1.0-litre engine model prices are expected to start at Rs 3.5 lakh.
The AMT version will be available only with the 1.0-litre engine equipped Kwid. The current model of the Kwid draws power from a 799cc three-cylinder petrol motor, which can churn out 53.2bhp at 5,678 rpm and a peak torque of 72Nm. The Kwid, which comes with many segment-first features such as 180mm ground clearance and a 4.1-inch touch-screen infotainment system, is also the first car to be built on the CMF-A platform. It offers the best-in-class mileage at 25.17kmpl.