Earlier this year, Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corporation announced their investment plan of Rs 5,300 crore in India along with their future product portfolio expansion strategy. The carmakers have lined up four new SUVs, which will start hitting the roads from 2025. All these forthcoming products will be locally manufactured and shared between the sister brands. Renault currently sells three models in India – the Kwid hatchback, Kiger subcompact SUV, and Triber compact MPV. In 2025, the French automaker will unveil the new-generation Renault Duster, which will be followed by its three-row version.
In the mid-size SUV segment, the all-new Duster 5-seater SUV will take on cars like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun. The 7-seater Duster, on the other hand, will compete against the Mahindra XUV700, MG Hector Plus, Hyundai Alcazar, and Tata Safari. Underpinning the CMF-B platform, the new Duster will share most of its design elements with the Dacia Bigster concept.
Showcased back in 2021, the Bigster concept features a narrow grille, an angular bumper with a boxy bonnet, and thin LED headlamps at the front. The side profile is adorned with squarish wheel arches, bold body cladding, and door pillars integrated with rear door handles. At the back, there are Bigster-like Y-shaped taillamps with a trunk lid and a twin pod-style spoiler.
If reports are to be believed, the new Renault Duster could be offered with a 1.5L, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5L turbo GDi petrol engine. While the lower trim will get the FWD setup, the higher trim will come with the AWD drivetrain.
Renault also aims to foray into the electric vehicle (EV) segment with a new A-segment model, which is likely to be the Kwid EV. The electric hatchback is already on sale in select global markets. Nissan will bring in its version of the new Duster (both 5 and 7-seater) and an electric hatch.
