Renault Kwid 1.0litre to come with AMT; launch likely in mid-2016

French auto maker Renault had showcased Kwid 1.0litre and Kwid AMT at the recently concluded 13^th edition of the Auto Expo in New Delhi. The Kwid hatchback has become an instant hit in the country with over one lakh bookings within four months of its entry into the market.

Although the Kwid variants were showcased at the Auto Expo, the company did not divulge any details regarding the engine and launch of the models. Now Renault has told International Business Times India that the new Kwid 1.0litre, which made its debut at the auto show, will come equipped with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). Renault new Kwid 1.0litre is expected to be launched in the country soon, with the probable launch in mid-2016.

The 1000cc avatar of the Kwid is expected to generate a power of something close to 75bhp. The Kwid 1.0litre AMT will challenge the dominance of Maruti Alto K10 and K10 AMT when launched. 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. The company has recently hiked the prices of the Kwid in the country by up to Rs 11,000.

With the new powerful Kwid, Renault is also expected to offer dual airbags and ABS across all Kwid models, starting from the base variant. Renault is currently offering an optional single airbag only in the top-end RxT variant of the Kwid.